Ford has been in the hot seat this week with a serious brake recall for its large SUVs, becoming the second brake issue for Ford in the past month. However, the Blue Oval is facing another significant issue, but this time it's for its top-seller, America's favorite truck and second bestseller, the Ford F-150, hit by a manufacturing blunder that could lead to a potential loss of steering.

According to documents published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the problem lies with a specific bolt that connects the intermediate shaft (or I-shaft) to the steering gear. The fastener might not have been tightened correctly at the factory. In some cases, it may even be missing. A total of 9,181 units of the 2025 Ford F-150 are covered by the recall, built between February 23 and March 7, 2025, albeit only 1% is estimated to be affected by the defect.

Despite Ford pulling all the stops to improve its quality control, the issue stems from a fault within Kansas City Assembly Plant. Apparently, the company had changed how labor was distributed on the line, causing the quality control system to become misaligned with the tool used to tighten this fastener. Because of this, the system might have wrongly confirmed the bolt was secure, even when it wasn't.

This is a serious safety hazard, mind you. If the bolt fastener is loose or missing, it could cause parts of the steering system to separate, which could lead to the driver losing steering control. There are tell-tale signs, though. A rattling noise could come from the steering system while driving or even excessive steering play, which was how Ford discovered the issue during a pre-delivery inspection.

Fortunately, only one warranty claim has been recorded for this latest recall, and it was before the vehicle was sent to the customer. As of April, there were no accidents or injuries reported connected to the defect. The automaker has also laid down the remedy for the issue, which should be a quick one.

Ford will notify owners this month, instructing them to bring the vehicle to a dealership where the steering fastener will be inspected and replaced if necessary - at no cost to the owner, of course. Those who had theirs repaired outside the recall process may also be reimbursed. Dealers have already been notified, so if you're among the owners of an MY2025 F-150, we suggest that you contact your Ford dealership as soon as possible.

Source: NHTSA via Carscoops