Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling ~12,000 2025 model year Super Duty F-250, F-350, and F-450 vehicles. The steering column shifter may have been improperly welded by Nexteer Corporation Mexico and detach from the steering column.
“If the shifter mechanism detaches while the vehicle is not in park, the driver will be unable to engage park. In this case, the vehicle may roll if the parking brake is not manually applied, increasing the risk of a crash. The driver will receive audible warnings and a cluster message indicating that the vehicle is not in park when they open the door or shut off the ignition. If there is a physical key, the driver will notice that the key cannot be removed and is retained in the ignition. The vehicle cluster will remain awake and the driver will receive these audible warnings and cluster message even if the vehicle is shut off,” Ford said in the required safety defect recall filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning.
Chronology
- On 6 February 2025, an issue pertaining to 2025 model year F-Super Duty steering column shifter mechanism detachment was brought to Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group (CCRG) for review after Ford received two related warranty reports on 23 January 2025, and 4 February 2025, respectively. In both warranty cases, the shifter mechanism detached from the steering column when the vehicle was parked, and the vehicle was unable to shift out of park. Ford requested and obtained the warranty return parts for analysis.
- During February and early March 2025, the CCRG investigated the cause for this shifter mechanism detachment and identified the population of affected vehicles. Ford reviewed supplier process records, including cut and etch data and structural pull data for suspect parts. Ford and the supplier also analyzed warranty parts obtained from vehicles. Through this analysis, Ford confirmed that the welds attaching the shifter mechanism to the steering column’s upper jacket had failed because the welds were misaligned due to process deviations at the supplier. The supplier’s traceability data identified 36 suspect column jackets manufactured on 10 December 024. After excluding six internally scrapped parts and two returned warranty parts, Ford identified 28 remaining suspect steering column assemblies that were built into vehicles.
- As of 7 March 2025, Ford is aware of two warranty reports (described above), received 23 January 2025, and 4 February 2025. One of the warranty reports has an associated field report, received 25 January 2025.
- On 7 March 2025, Ford’s Field Review Committee reviewed the concern and approved a field action. Ford is not aware of any reports of accident or injury related to this safety defect.
Dealers will inspect the steering column serial numbers and replace the steering column as necessary, free of charge as required by U.S. safety defect legislation. Owner notification letters are not expected to be mailed until 24 April 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 25S20. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 or go to nhtsa.gov about NHTSA recall25V163 or 25V-163.
Ford Super Duty Pickup Recall – Detaching Steering Columns
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling ~12,000 2025 model year Super Duty F-250, F-350, and F-450 vehicles. The steering column shifter may have been improperly welded by Nexteer Corporation Mexico and detach from the steering column.
“If the shifter mechanism detaches while the vehicle is not in park, the driver will be unable to engage park. In this case, the vehicle may roll if the parking brake is not manually applied, increasing the risk of a crash. The driver will receive audible warnings and a cluster message indicating that the vehicle is not in park when they open the door or shut off the ignition. If there is a physical key, the driver will notice that the key cannot be removed and is retained in the ignition. The vehicle cluster will remain awake and the driver will receive these audible warnings and cluster message even if the vehicle is shut off,” Ford said in the required safety defect recall filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning.
Chronology
Dealers will inspect the steering column serial numbers and replace the steering column as necessary, free of charge as required by U.S. safety defect legislation. Owner notification letters are not expected to be mailed until 24 April 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 25S20. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 or go to nhtsa.gov about NHTSA recall25V163 or 25V-163.