Can a Ford wheel come off? Lug nut and hub recalls
⚠ 1 of these recalls carries a do-not-drive advisory.
Ford's wheel recalls are few but serious in kind: all three involve a wheel that could separate from the vehicle. Two hit the heavy F-53 and F-59 chassis lines — 2018 F53 stripped chassis with 22.5-inch front wheels whose hub studs were not properly heat treated, and 2025-2026 F-53 and F-59 vehicles whose front axle hub assembly is missing the spindle nut and cotter pin. The third is the 2023 Bronco and Ranger, where driver's side lug nuts may have been improperly tightened; that one is the only recall here with a do-not-drive instruction. In every case the front hub area is where the problem lives.
Warning signs to watch for
- Visibly loose lug nuts on the driver's side wheels of a 2023 Bronco or Ranger
- A change in how the vehicle handles, which the 2018 F53 notice ties to broken front wheel studs
- Loss of steering or braking control if a front wheel separates
- The F-53 and F-59 notice is explicit that a front wheel coming off gives you no warning beforehand
Is it safe to keep driving?
These split. The 2023 Bronco and Ranger lug nut recall is the strict one: owners are advised not to drive until a dealer has inspected and, if necessary, retightened the lug nuts. The other two carry no park-it order. Ford has not told 2018 F53 owners to stop driving, but the notice says to have the studs inspected before any long trip or heavy load. The 2025-2026 F-53 and F-59 missing spindle nut has no stop-driving order either, yet it is urgent — get it inspected right away.
What the free repair involves
All three are hands-on wheel work, no software involved. On the 2023 Bronco and Ranger, dealers inspect the driver's side lug nuts and retighten them if needed. On the 2025-2026 F-53 and F-59, they inspect and replace the front axle spindle nut and cotter pin as necessary. On the 2018 F53, they replace any suspect front wheel hub studs. Every repair is free of charge.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| critical | 2 |
| high | 1 |
Models affected most
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-14 | Ford F-53 and F-59 front hub missing spindle nut | critical |
| 2023-04-20 | Ford Bronco and Ranger wheels may have loose lug nuts · do not drive | critical |
| 2018-07-16 | Ford F53 chassis front wheel studs may break | high |
Common questions
I cannot drive my 2023 Bronco to the dealer. What do I do?
Ford advises owners not to drive these vehicles until the remedy is completed, so call your dealer or Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 and arrange to have the vehicle brought in rather than driving it there yourself.
Can I just retighten the lug nuts myself?
The recall calls for a dealer to inspect and, if necessary, retighten the driver's side lug nuts, free of charge. Doing it yourself does not close the recall out and does not confirm nothing was already damaged.
What should I check on an F-53 or F-59 chassis before a trip?
For the 2018 F53, the notice says to have the front wheel hub studs inspected before any long trip or heavy load. For the 2025-2026 F-53 and F-59, the missing spindle nut should be inspected right away.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.