Ford Recalls More Than 223,000 F-150 Trucks Over Fuel Tanks That Could Detach While Driving

More than 223,000 Ford F-150 trucks in the US are under recall after safety regulators said an improperly secured fuel tank could leak or detach while the vehicle is being driven. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a 9 September recall notice that the issue could increase the risk of a fire or cause an engine stall because of fuel loss.

Ford F-150 Fuel Tank Problem Explained

The recall covers certain 2023 through 2027 Ford F-150 trucks. According to the recall notice, the affected vehicles may have front fuel tank straps that were not assembled correctly.

In some cases, the T-slots on the front fuel tank strap were not correctly positioned in the vehicle's frame rail. As a result, the fuel tank may not be properly secured, creating the possibility that it could leak or detach while the truck is on the road.

Ford said it first reviewed the issue on 23 July, when the matter was brought before its Critical Concern Review Group. The company later reported the issue as part of the recall process.

The potential consequences identified in the recall are specific. A fuel leak could increase the risk of fire, while fuel loss could cause the engine to stall. The notice does not say that these outcomes have occurred across the recalled vehicles.

For affected owners, the recall remedy involves an inspection rather than an automatic replacement of every fuel tank. Owners will be instructed to take their vehicles to a Ford or Lincoln dealership, where the fuel tank straps will be inspected and replaced if necessary.

Ford Reports 16 Warranty Claims

Ford said it received 16 warranty claim reports related to the fuel tank issue between June 2018 and 5 August 2026. The company estimates that approximately 1% of the recalled vehicles have the defect.

The warranty reports should not be confused with reports of crashes or injuries. Ford said it is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to the recall.

That distinction is important because the recall concerns a potential safety problem identified through the vehicle manufacturer's review. The available information does not establish that the defect has caused an accident or injury.

Ford F-150 Owners To Receive Notices

Ford said the repair will be provided free of charge. Where fuel tanks are replaced, the replacement tanks will be the same as those in the original vehicles, but they will be properly secured to the frame rail, according to the recall notice.

Notification letters are expected to begin around 21 September and should be completed by 28 September. Owners of vehicles covered by the recall will therefore receive information directly about the inspection and repair process.

The recall affects a large number of Ford F-150 trucks, but Ford's estimate that approximately 1% have the defect means the recall population should not be treated as a count of vehicles known to contain the problem.

The central concern remains the way the fuel tank is secured. If the tank is not properly held in place, the NHTSA notice says it may leak or detach while driving, with fuel loss potentially leading to an engine stall and a leak potentially increasing the risk of fire.

For now, Ford has said it is not aware of any accidents or injuries connected to the issue, while the recall process is set to move forward with owner notifications and dealership inspections later in September.