The aluminum driveshaft in the Ford F-250 and F-350 can break in two
The affected models were sold between 2017 and 2022
Only the gasoline powered models are affected
Ford is launching a recall campaign for the 2017 to 2022 model years of the F-250 Superduty and the F-350 Superduty, its largest pickup trucks.
Close to 250,000 units are affected by the recall, which was prompted by reports of damaged driveshafts. The affected vehicles are all powered by gasoline engines, meaning that those equipped with the Power Stroke Diesel are exempt from the recall.
The problem comes from heat and noise insulators located under the body of the trucks which could have been improperly installed. If they come loose, they can start rubbing on the aluminum driveshaft which connects the transmission to the rear axle.
The contact between the driveshaft and the insulators can damage the driveshaft and cause it to fracture. This causes the truck to lose power to the wheels, which could cause an accident. Furthermore, parts of the driveshaft could fall to the ground and get wedged between the road and the truck’s frame, increasing the risk of a loss of control.
Additionally, this failure could cause the trucks to roll away from their parking spots if the parking brake isn’t set, since the transmission can’t hold the truck still if its link with the wheels is removed.
Ford will notify owners of affected vehicles to have their truck inspected by an authorised dealer starting on April 4th. If the insulators are found to be loose, they will be reattached and the driveshaft will be replaced if its shows signs of damage, at no cost to the owners.
