Ford Recalls Over 9,000 F-150 Trucks for Potential Steering Defect

Ford Motor Company has issued a safety recall affecting over 9,000 of its 2025 model year F-150 pickup trucks due to a critical defect in the steering system. The recall targets vehicles manufactured between February 23 and March 7, 2025, at the Kansas City Assembly Plant, where a quality control issue may have led to improper installation of a key steering component.

The issue stems from the fastener used to attach the lower intermediate shaft—commonly referred to as the I-shaft—to the steering gear. According to Ford, some fasteners may not have been torqued to the correct specifications, raising the risk of component separation. If the fastener is loose or missing, drivers could lose steering control, significantly increasing the likelihood of a crash. The defect was discovered on March 28, 2025, during a routine pre-delivery inspection when a dealership technician noticed excessive steering play in a vehicle. A subsequent inspection of vehicles under Ford’s control did not uncover further instances at that time.

An internal investigation revealed that an error in the plant’s assembly line process—specifically a misalignment in the error-proofing system used to secure the I-shaft—could allow vehicles to pass final inspection even if the fastener had not been properly tightened. The problem was formally presented to Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group on April 10, 2025, and resulted in an approved field action by the company’s Field Review Committee on May 2. No accidents or injuries have been reported in connection with the defect.

Owners of the affected vehicles will be notified by mail beginning May 26, 2025, and should take their trucks to a Ford or Lincoln dealer for inspection. If the fastener is found to be loose or missing, it will be replaced at no cost. Ford will also offer reimbursement to owners who previously addressed the issue independently, in line with the company’s recall reimbursement policy on file with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Article by multiple RFHC contributors, based upon information from the Ford Motor Company recall submission to NHTSA.

---