Ford Recalls 103K F-150 Over Damaged Axle Bolts

[Griffalo]

I just called my dealer to schedule to have the recall done. My appt is for Feb 16, 2026!!! That's 6 months from now. I'll be calling other dealers to see if they can get it in sooner. My truck is a 24 XLT with the max tow package. That appt date is one year and 7 days from the day I bought the truck. Can't believe it will take them 6 months to get to it. Glad everyone is getting theirs taken care of.

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[xxlt250rxx]

No C clips thus no cover plate removal.

So, what's involved in the axle swap. What holds it in?

 

[tide1996]

Yep, you’ve gotta pull the diff cover to get to the C-clips. Once the cover’s off, take out the little set screw holding the center pin, slide the pin out, then just push the axle shafts in. That’ll let you see the C-clips so you can pop ’em out and pull the shafts. The video shows it really well starting at 11:45.

 

[Pedaldude]

…The video shows it really well starting at 11:45.

That’s a 2020 with a regular old Semi-Floating axle.

The trucks in question use Ford’s new goofy interpretation of a 3/4 floating axle that was supposed to have the advantages of a Full-Floating axle with less cost. How did that work out for you Ford?

 

[RT21KRH]

I just called my dealer to schedule to have the recall done. My appt is for Feb 16, 2026!!! That's 6 months from now. I'll be calling other dealers to see if they can get it in sooner. My truck is a 24 XLT with the max tow package. That appt date is one year and 7 days from the day I bought the truck. Can't believe it will take them 6 months to get to it. Glad everyone is getting theirs taken care of.

Well that’s interesting. Are you having any issues now, are the bolts broke. I drove mine 4 years and almost 60,000 miles before I had an issue. Got the recall done last week and had put about 800 miles on waiting for the parts.
Unsold 2025’s at dealers now have a recall waiting, there’s 100’s in the Tucson area. Dealers supposed to fix for existing customers first, but who knows.
And no, master tech did not drain or replace any fluid!

 

[Snakebitten]

No C-clips. I assure you.
This axle is tapered in a matter that prohibits it from sliding too far in or out of the tube. About 3/4" of play. However, the bolts purpose is to locate/hold that axle in its furthest outboard location in order to insure the maximum spline surface engagement.

If/when the bolt shears, if you continue to drive the truck (many have, including myself), the splines fret and the axle loses its pressed fit, which increases the wear on the splines enough to potentially fail altogether.

I've had the axles replaced once because of passenger side shearing. I immediately drove the truck home and removed the factory bolts and replaced them with aftermarket. I check them at every tire rotation and change them out every couple of rotations. So far no sign of distress with the axle, spline, or aftermarket bolts.

Eventually I will let Ford replace them with the new designed axles. But frankly I don't like letting a dealership service department even TOUCH my Ford products. I'll save the rant for another day.

 

[FirstTimeFord]

No C-clips. I assure you.
This axle is tapered in a matter that prohibits it from sliding too far in or out of the tube. About 3/4" of play. However, the bolts purpose is to locate/hold that axle in its furthest outboard location in order to insure the maximum spline surface engagement.

If/when the bolt shears, if you continue to drive the truck (many have, including myself), the splines fret and the axle loses its pressed fit, which increases the wear on the splines enough to potentially fail altogether.

I've had the axles replaced once because of passenger side shearing. I immediately drove the truck home and removed the factory bolts and replaced them with aftermarket. I check them at every tire rotation and change them out every couple of rotations. So far no sign of distress with the axle, spline, or aftermarket bolts.

Eventually I will let Ford replace them with the new designed axles. But frankly I don't like letting a dealership service department even TOUCH my Ford products. I'll save the rant for another day.

My sentiments exactly! Even if the work's done perfectly your chances of making it out of the service without a random ding in the body, scratches or issues in the interior are slim. I go out of my way to take great care of my truck. Can't say the same for the service department.

 

[tide1996]

No C-clips. I assure you.
This axle is tapered in a matter that prohibits it from sliding too far in or out of the tube. About 3/4" of play. However, the bolts purpose is to locate/hold that axle in its furthest outboard location in order to insure the maximum spline surface engagement.

If/when the bolt shears, if you continue to drive the truck (many have, including myself), the splines fret and the axle loses its pressed fit, which increases the wear on the splines enough to potentially fail altogether.

I've had the axles replaced once because of passenger side shearing. I immediately drove the truck home and removed the factory bolts and replaced them with aftermarket. I check them at every tire rotation and change them out every couple of rotations. So far no sign of distress with the axle, spline, or aftermarket bolts.

Eventually I will let Ford replace them with the new designed axles. But frankly I don't like letting a dealership service department even TOUCH my Ford products. I'll save the rant for another day.

Yep you are right, I was incorrect. I was thinking about the semi floating axel. By the way that aftermarket bolt looks beefier/and better made

 

[Snakebitten]

Yep you are right, I was incorrect. I was thinking about the semi floating axel. By the way that aftermarket bolt looks beefier/and better made

The factory bolt is so confusing to me. It's very corse and "gnarly" on the threads. When you look at the threads of the axle, they are well machined and perfect, yet the factory bolt will not thread into the axle by finger, like an aftermarket well made bolt does. And the torque spec for the factory bolt is well beyond the "normal" torque spec for a 12x1.75 bolt of that hardness. It feeeeeels like the factory bolt is being over stressed, when you torque to spec. And "brittle" comes to mind when you see one, especially one sheared.

All anecdotal, I admit. But I use a well machined bolt that smoooothly threads in all the way to the shoulder, torqued to ~84 ft lbs. I have no sign of fretting or corrosion. I also added a Belleville washer to potential help with radial movement/flexing.

Again, for about $8.00 I just inspect and replace every few thousand miles. And the last ~10,000 miles have all been towing one RV or another crisscrossing the country east/west/north/south. Truck has been flawless. So far, and admittedly only 3.5 years on this one, it's been the best truck I've ever owned in my ~70 years on the planet.

Where I sit typing this reply :

 

[flixden]

The factory bolt is so confusing to me. It's very corse and "gnarly" on the threads. When you look at the threads of the axle, they are well machined and perfect, yet the factory bolt will not thread into the axle by finger, like an aftermarket well made bolt does. And the torque spec for the factory bolt is well beyond the "normal" torque spec for a 12x1.75 bolt of that hardness. It feeeeeels like the factory bolt is being over stressed, when you torque to spec. And "brittle" comes to mind when you see one, especially one sheared.

All anecdotal, I admit. But I use a well machined bolt that smoooothly threads in all the way to the shoulder, torqued to ~84 ft lbs. I have no sign of fretting or corrosion. I also added a Belleville washer to potential help with radial movement/flexing.

Again, for about $8.00 I just inspect and replace every few thousand miles. And the last ~10,000 miles have all been towing one RV or another crisscrossing the country east/west/north/south. Truck has been flawless. So far, and admittedly only 3.5 years on this one, it's been the best truck I've ever owned in my ~70 years on the planet.

Where I sit typing this reply :

Nice setup!
This is a PB, right?

 

[Snakebitten]

Nice setup!
This is a PB, right?

Yes it is a Powerboost.
I live full time in one RV and travel with one of 4 others, depending on the mission.

I am the dead on bullseye for the Powerboost. Having said that, the RV pictured above is less needy of ProPower than my others. I installed the new Furrion Chill Cube air conditioner on it the day I bought it. That air conditioner is insanely efficient and oversized for that little cabin. I have 8KWH of LFP batteries inside it and a 3.6KW inverter. So it can run self powered WITH the air conditioner for somewhere between 13-18 hours. Especially if parked in the shade.
So with that RV I would only use ProPower to charge the batteries if/when necessary.

Of course the State Park I currently sit has hookups. But I don't have the RV 30Amp chord plugged in. Rather I have a plain old 120V extension chord running from the shore power pedastal to an onboard battery charger. It's typically pulling 200-600 watts keeping the batteries topped off.

 

[FirstTimeFord]

Well, things keep getting better!! I just received my 2nd recall notice in a week from Carfax. Unbelievable! Combine this with the party going on in the streets of Dearborn, I'm really feeling that "Built Ford Tough", "Made in America" Vibe.

 

[flixden]

Well, things keep getting better!! I just received my 2nd recall notice in a week from Carfax. Unbelievable! Combine this with the party going on in the streets of Dearborn, I'm really feeling that "Built Ford Tough", "Made in America" Vibe.

https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/loss-of-brake-boost-another-recall.41266/#post-698344

You are not alone ....

 

[tide1996]

Had my visual inspection completed this morning regarding the axles (all was well), plus the brake booster software updated. Service Rep said they will need to order the axles but they are trickling in so hopefully I will not have to wait till October for the parts. Here's what was on my service ticket regarding the axles..

Inspect vehicles warranty history, both RH and LH axle shaft

assemblies are not updated

with the latest part numbers.

Replace both rear axle and hub assemblies, install rear tires. Includes axle fluid check and

top off.

25S82B 1.0 Hours

Parts $0.00

ML3Z 4234K - SHAFT ASY - REAR AXLE 1

SOR

ML3Z 4234L - SHAFT ASY - REAR AXLE 1

SOR

W718680S439 - BOLT - HEX.HEAD 4

 

[Northwoods Girl]

Expanded to include us who where not originally on it, 2023-2025 now included. Servicing dealers, or at least mine in SoCal was not notified yet. I suspect about the time we get letters they will be calling out.

I saw the notification on Ford Pass app, but when I called my dealership, they wanted me to drop truck off, get inspection then get approval to order the parts for the repair on my 2023. In my opinion, it's a recall and they need to have the parts available to do this repair.

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