Ford’s 30,000-Truck Recall Comes Down To One Faulty Cable
Ford is recalling roughly 30,000 F-150 and Super Duty trucks because a tailgate cable can fail under heavy loads, letting the tailgate drop unexpectedly. The recall covers 2026-2027 F-150 models and 2026 F-250, F-350, and F-450 Super Duty trucks built between May 31 and June 16, 2026.
The culprit is a bad crimp on the left-side tailgate cable’s eyelet. NHTSA says a broken crimping die left some cables with an incomplete connection at the bolt end, meaning the cable can detach from its eyelet when something heavy, like a UTV or equivalent load, pushes down on the tailgate. When that happens, the right-side cable alone isn’t built to hold the weight, and the tailgate can drop onto the rear bumper.
What Happens If The Cable Fails, And How To Check Your Truck
There’s no warning light or cluster message if the cable is compromised. Ford’s recall report notes the defect gives no electronic indication to the driver, so owners won’t know anything is wrong until the tailgate actually drops. A sudden drop risks damaging the hinge, the sheetmetal, and the rear bumper, and it can also wreck whatever cargo was riding on the tailgate. Ford specifically flags the risk to anyone standing on the tailgate when it fails, a scenario made more common by the brand’s optional tailgate step.
Not every 2026 or 2027 F-Series truck has the faulty cable installed, so owners need to confirm their specific VIN is affected. NHTSA says VINs become searchable on its website starting December 7, and Ford or Lincoln dealers can also check a VIN directly. The recall carries campaign number 26S78 and covers 30,123 trucks in total.
The Fix Timeline Runs Into Next Year
Owners should expect two separate mailings. Interim notification letters explaining the recall go out between December 14 and 18, 2026, letting owners know their truck is affected even though parts aren’t ready yet. A second round of letters, confirming the remedy is available, is scheduled for January 18 to 22, 2027. When that happens, dealers will replace the left-side tailgate cable at no cost.
Ford says there have been no warranty claims or field reports tied to the issue as of October 19, 2026, meaning the automaker caught this one before it caused real-world damage. Owners with questions in the meantime can call Ford customer service at 866-436-7332 or the NHTSA hotline at 888-327-4236.
Ford’s Recall Count Keeps Climbing In 2026
This tailgate cable issue is Ford’s latest in a long run of 2026 recalls. The automaker has now issued more than 80 campaigns this year, well ahead of Stellantis, Toyota, General Motors (GM), and Hyundai. Earlier in October, Ford recalled over 102,000 F-Series trucks for a separate issue involving speedometers and tachometers that could stick or show inaccurate readings. Other 2026 campaigns have covered seat latch failures, rear camera displays, and engine wiring that could short-circuit on certain SUVs.
CEO Jim Farley has framed the volume as evidence that Ford’s quality team is catching problems proactively rather than letting them pile up. Whatever the explanation, F-Series owners now have one more reason to check their VIN before loading up the bed.
Related posts
Latest Post
No Comments