Ford Australia has issued a safety recall for 3,745 F-150 pickups because a manufacturing fault may leave the fuel tank strap poorly secured to the frame rail. If the strap detaches while driving, fuel can leak and, in the presence of an ignition source, start a vehicle fire. The recall (REC-006747, campaign 26S69) covers certain F-150 utes built between 2023 and 2026.
What owners should do
Affected owners will be contacted in writing by Ford and asked to book their vehicle in with an authorised Ford dealer, where the inspection and repair are carried out free of charge. Owners who want to check now can look up their VIN on the national register at vehiclerecalls.gov.au, or call the Ford Customer Relationship Centre on 13 36 73. The F-150 is Ford Australia's flagship full-size pickup, remanufactured to right-hand drive locally, and it sits well above the top-selling Ford Ranger on price.
Cartell Assessment
A loose fuel tank strap and the chance of a fire is about as serious as a defect gets, and 3,745 vehicles is a big slice of the local F-150 fleet. The fix is free and straightforward, so there is no reason to put off the dealer visit.
AU Outlook
It is another recall for the locally remanufactured F-150, which has had several since launch. Expect Ford to keep tightening its local quality checks as F-150 volumes grow.
