The Ford F-150 recall filed with US safety regulators covers 223,472 pickups whose front fuel tank strap may not be properly attached to the frame. Ford says the tank can leak fuel or detach while the truck is moving. The recall covers 2023 to 2027 model years, and owner letters go out from 21 September 2026.
Which Ford F-150 Trucks Are Covered
The recall is limited to F-150 pickups built inside a specific window, not to every truck of those model years. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the US regulator that oversees vehicle safety, received the report on 9 September 2026.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Vehicle | Ford F-150 |
| Model years | 2023 to 2027 |
| Built between | 4 January 2023 and 27 August 2026 |
| Vehicles covered in the United States | 223,472 |
| NHTSA campaign number | 26V578000 |
| Ford campaign number | 26S69 |
| Report received by NHTSA | 9 September 2026 |
The figure of 223,472 is for the United States. Ford has not published a separate count for other markets, and the campaign numbers above apply to the US recall.
What Is Wrong With the Fuel Tank Straps
A fuel tank retaining strap is the metal band that holds the tank against the vehicle frame. In the recalled trucks, the front strap may not have been properly inserted or engaged when the truck was assembled.
The defect is described in the recall as a fuel tank that “may be improperly secured and leak fuel, or detach from the vehicle while driving”. Reporting on the campaign documentation says the faulty installations happened during periods when camera-based monitoring of the assembly step was not observing it.
Two separate risks follow. A tank that detaches becomes an obstacle in the road, which raises the risk of a crash; a tank that leaks can cause the engine to stall and raises the risk of fire.
How Many Failures Have Been Reported
Ford has logged 16 warranty claims worldwide that may relate to the condition. No crashes or injuries were known to have been reported when the campaign documentation was prepared.
That gap between 16 claims and 223,472 recalled trucks reflects how vehicle recalls are scoped. The population is drawn from the whole build window in which the assembly problem could have occurred, rather than from trucks with a confirmed fault, which is why the inspection step comes before any replacement.
The recall notice does not include a do-not-drive or park-outside instruction, both of which manufacturers issue separately when they judge them necessary.
How Owners Can Check Whether a Truck Is Included
Inclusion is decided by the vehicle identification number, not by the model year alone. The official route runs through the regulator and the dealer network.
- Find the VIN: the 17-character vehicle identification number appears on the dashboard where it meets the windscreen, on the driver’s door jamb, and on registration and insurance paperwork.
- Search the regulator’s database: enter the VIN in the recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Ford’s affected VINs became searchable there on 14 September 2026.
- Watch for the letter: Ford expects to begin mailing owner notification letters on 21 September 2026.
- Contact a dealer: quote Ford campaign number 26S69. Ford’s customer service line is 1-866-436-7332, and the NHTSA vehicle safety hotline is 888-327-4236.
A VIN search returns open recalls that have not yet been repaired on that specific vehicle, which is why it is the check that settles the question for any individual truck.
The Repair, and What It Costs
Dealers will inspect the fuel tank straps and replace them where necessary, free of charge, according to the recall notice. Inspection comes first, so not every truck in the recall will receive new straps.
Ford has not published a figure for how long the inspection takes or how many trucks it expects to need replacement parts. Owners of used trucks bought from a private seller may not be on Ford’s mailing list, which is what the VIN lookup is for.
Why This Is Not the 2011 Ford Fuel Tank Recall
Searches for a Ford fuel tank strap recall also surface a much larger campaign from 2011, and the two are unrelated. That recall covered about 1.1 million vehicles, including 1997 to 2004 F-150s, 1997 to 1999 F-250s and 2002 to 2003 Lincoln Blackwoods.
The cause there was corrosion: straps weakened by road salt in cold-weather states could break, dropping the tank. The 2026 recall concerns trucks built from 2023 onwards and an assembly step, not rust on ageing vehicles.
Ford has issued other campaigns in recent weeks, and separate recalls this month have covered Jeep SUVs over tyre pressure monitoring and the Toyota C-HR EV in the US and Canada. Each carries its own campaign number and its own remedy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Trucks Are in the Ford F-150 Recall?
Model year 2023 to 2027 Ford F-150 pickups built between 4 January 2023 and 27 August 2026, totalling 223,472 vehicles in the United States. Inclusion is determined by the individual vehicle identification number.
How Do Owners Find Out If a Truck Is Affected?
Enter the 17-character VIN in the recall lookup on nhtsa.gov/recalls, the US regulator’s database. Ford’s affected VINs became searchable there on 14 September 2026, and owner letters are due to be mailed from 21 September 2026.
Does the Repair Cost Anything?
No. The recall notice says dealers will inspect the fuel tank straps and replace them where necessary free of charge, under Ford campaign number 26S69.
Have Any Fires, Crashes or Injuries Been Reported?
Ford logged 16 warranty claims worldwide that may relate to the condition, and no crashes or injuries were known to have been reported when the campaign documentation was prepared.
Has Ford Told Owners to Stop Driving These Trucks?
The recall notice does not include a do-not-drive or park-outside instruction. Ford describes the risks as fuel leakage, which can cause a stall or fire, and tank detachment, which can create a road hazard. Owners with questions can contact a Ford dealer or the NHTSA vehicle safety hotline on 888-327-4236.
Is This the Same as the 1.1 Million Vehicle Ford Recall?
No. That was a 2011 campaign covering older F-150, F-250 and Lincoln Blackwood models whose fuel tank straps corroded from road salt. The 2026 recall concerns an assembly issue on trucks built from January 2023 onwards.
