Although the Transit is a perfectly capable workhorse, the Ford Motor Company keeps making the E-Series at its Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake. Last redesigned for MY21 (think new instrument cluster and the Super Duty's 7.3-liter Godzilla V8 engine), the E-Series has been hit with a safety recall comprising 16,543 vehicles produced for the 2021 through 2022 model years with dual rear wheels.
More specifically, vehicles assembled between May 11, 2019 and June 17, 2021 in E-350 DRW and E-450 DRW flavors. Recall number 24V-097 is best described as an extension of 22V-089 from February 2022. The first campaign was for an inadequately connected power steering pressure line connected to the hydraulic booster. In case of a loose connection, dealers nationwide were required to replace the power steering pressure line and the jumper line of the so-called Hydroboost unit.
Both campaigns are attached below as PDFs. Turning our attention back to the present recall, FoMoCo was informed about multiple reports of leaks and disconnections at the Hydroboost unit on vehicles that had passed inspection. By inspection, Ford refers to applying torque to the connection, then measuring the gap between the power steering pressure line and hydraulic booster jumper line.
The reports alleged post-inspection failures, which prompted the Dearborn-based automaker to investigate said reports. The NHTSA also contacted Ford in regard to the aforementioned condition due to a complaint alleging post-inspection failure. Ultimately, the Ford Motor Company determined that the inspection procedure detailed above wasn't sufficiently effective. But that's not all, though…
According to a document filed with the federal watchdog, certain dealers had under-inspected the condition by applying less torque than required. Other dealers did not replace the lines, going against Ford's instructions. Ford is aware of 628 warranty reports and one field report for the described condition, received between March 2022 and October 2023 from customers in the US market.
Photo: Ford
The American automaker is also aware of an accident. Thankfully, said accident didn't result in any injuries. Both lines are supplied by Yokohama Industries Americas Inc. of Easley, South Carolina. The replacement lines feature different part numbers because of a revised routing and connection angle. These changes were introduced in E-Series production back in June 2021 based on feedback from assembly plant personnel.
As opposed to the first recall, dealers have been instructed to replace the lines without a prior joint integrity inspection. Owners can expect to be informed about this recall no later than March 29, 2024.
In addition to the Stripped Chassis and E-Series, the Ohio production facility also makes F-350 through F-550 Chassis Cab trucks. The plant's largest products are the F-650 and F-750 medium-duty trucks. Including the $1,995 destination charge, the Stripped Chassis F-53 Class A Motorhome specification carries a starting price of $38,805 at the moment of writing. The heavier-duty F-59 for commercial applications is $38,925.
The Stripped Chassis E-350 DRW and Stripped Chassis E-450 DRW, by comparison, kick off at $36,590 and $38,815 for the 2025 model year. As for the singled-cabbed E-Series Cutaway, the most affordable spec is the E-350 SRW at $39,785.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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