A handful of Super Duty trucks are being recalled for insufficiently tightened wheel hub extender retaining nuts. Ford Motor Company singled out Dana Incorporated for this blunder, with the Dearborn-based automaker identifying a concern with the supplier's assembly process. What kind of concern?
In the event of a system error or a malfunction, the automated torque station can erroneously record torque data from a previously assembled front wheel hub extender for the front wheel hub extender currently in the retaining nut torquing station without performing the required torquing operation. As per documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Ford Motor Company identified multiple instances of improper torquing.
The second largest automaker of the Big Three in Detroit is aware of a single field report of vehicle vibration, front wheel, and front wheel hub extender detachment due to loose retaining nuts. Looking at the glass half full, the manufacturer isn't aware of any reports of injury related to said issue.
The aforementioned report prompted the Blue Oval to initiate an investigation into this problem in October 2023. Dealers have already been instructed to inspect the retaining nuts. If any is found to be loose, dealers are required to replace the wheel hub extender, the hub assembly, and the retaining nuts.
Owners will be informed via first-class mail in the period between November 27 and December 1. In the meantime, owners can easily check whether their Super Duty vehicles are recalled or not by running the 17-character VIN on the NHTSA's website.
Photo: Ford
Affected vehicles were produced for the 2022 and 2023 model years between December 8, 2022 and August 31, 2023. The vehicles in question range from the F-350 and F-450 to the F-550 and F-600. The latter isn't a member of the medium-duty truck family, but rather a combination between the F-550 and F-650. More specifically, the F-600 retains the aluminum bodywork of the F-250 through F-550 while boasting reinforced everything for a higher GVWR.
Exclusively chassis cab, the F-600 comes in either XL or XLT flavors at $57,505 and $60,435 sans destination charge. By comparison, the F-550 starts at $53,845 at the moment of reporting. Lower down the spectrum, the F-450 can be had for as little as $52,745, whereas the F-350 kicks off at $47,665.
The most capable Super Duty line yet comes with a choice of two gas V8s and a turbo diesel V8. The standard 6.8 is more than capable for most peeps, but professionals are likely to pick the 7.3 gasser or much torquier diesel. Speaking of which, the Power Stroke can be had in a grand total of two power outputs.
Designed for B20 fuel, the 6.7-liter Power Stroke develops 475 horsepower and 1,050 pound-feet (1,424 Nm) from the outset. Level up to the high-output version, and you're looking at 500 ponies and 1,200 pound-feet (1,627 Nm) of twist at the crank.
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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