Ford Motor Company has issued a recall for nearly 42,000 Super Duty F250 and F350 trucks.
The recall follows a finding by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that the left rear axle shaft on affected models "may have been improperly heat-treated" during manufacturing and may break.
The affected vehicles are all 2023 models with single rear wheels and a 10.5-inch rear axle shaft.
NHTSA warns owners that a broken axle shaft can cause "loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway" when the truck is parked. If either of those things occur it could increase the risk of an accident.
According to the automaker, the problem came to light in mid-August when there was a significant increase in warranty claims. No injuries have been reported.
What to do
To learn if your vehicle is included in the recall, enter your 17-digit VIN here.
Vehicle owners should bring their F250 and F350 trucks into a Ford dealership. Mechanics will inspect the left rear axle shaft date code and replace the part if necessary, free of charge.
Ford will send truck owners a notification letter, which is expected to be mailed on Oct. 16, 2023.
