Every day of the week, there's a high likelihood of a Ford vehicle being recalled, and this time it's the 2024 F-150 in the spotlight, facing a potential issue of "loss of steering control."
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the concern arises from the potential use of an incorrect fastener to secure the lower steering shaft to the steering gear. Over time, this fastener may loosen or even disengage entirely, posing a significant risk of the steering system separating and resulting in a loss of control for the driver.
The root cause of this safety issue appears to be a straightforward case of human error. The safety recall report points to a mishap where a "box of fasteners intended for another use was incorrectly delivered to the station that secures the lower steering column I-shaft and mixed with the correct fasteners." This oversight occurred at the Kansas City Assembly Plant and went unnoticed initially.
However, on April 11, the discovery of an incorrect fastener prompted an investigation, leading to the revelation of a mix of fasteners with differing sizes (25 mm and 37 mm) and material types (8.8 and 10.9). Upon examination, it was found that while the correct fastener engages seven threads, the incorrect one only fully engages two threads and partially engages three others, significantly compromising the stability of the steering mechanism.
Fortunately, Ford has not received any reports of accidents or injuries related to this recall. Nonetheless, as a precautionary measure, the lower steering shaft fastener will be replaced on affected models. Owners of the impacted vehicles are expected to be notified later this month. However, the scale of the recall is relatively small, affecting only 385 trucks. Considering the F-150's status as the best-selling vehicle in America, this recall may be viewed as a minor hiccup in the grand scheme of things.