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Ford E-350, E-450 and F-550 rear axle may fail

NHTSA campaign 20V099000 · Reported 2020-02-21 · Ford Motor Company

high How serious is it? About this label

This is serious because the failure can happen suddenly and leave you stuck in traffic or let the vehicle move on its own, so get it inspected as soon as possible and always set the parking brake when you park.

What's wrong, in plain English

The rear axle on these vehicles may have left the factory with too little gear oil inside. Without enough oil, the rear axle can fail and the driveshaft, the spinning shaft that sends power to the rear wheels, can come apart underneath the vehicle. If that happens, you can suddenly lose the ability to drive. On top of that, if the parking brake is not set, the vehicle can roll away on its own. Dealers will check the fluid, top it up, or replace the axle free.

What you should do

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm your vehicle is part of recall 20S09.
2. Contact a Ford dealer right away to have the rear axle fluid inspected and corrected at no charge.
3. Call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 if you need help arranging the repair.

Affected vehicles (3)

2020 Ford F-550
2021 Ford E-350
2021 Ford E-450

Who to contact

Ford — official Ford recall lookup

Customer service: 1-866-436-7332

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

The bigger picture

Ford transmission, driveshaft and wheel recalls: which ones are urgent? · all 55 Ford recalls in this area

Official notice

Component: POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 F-550 and 2021 E-350 and E-450 vehicles. The rear axle differential fluid may be below the minimum level, possibly resulting in a failure of the rear axle assembly and driveshaft separation.
Safety risk: If the driveshaft separates, there may be a loss of drive, increasing the risk of crash. Additionally, if the parking brake is not applied, unintended vehicle movement can occur and increase the risk of injury or crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear axle differential fluid level and adjust it, or replace the rear axle as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 19, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S09.

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.