Recall 25V866 affects 6,819 2026 Ford F-350 Sd and F-250 Sd trucks for rear axle shaft defects. Repair is free at franchised Ford dealers.
Ford is recalling 6,819 2026 F-350 Sd and F-250 Sd trucks under recall 25V866 because a heat-treatment defect can let the right rear axle shaft break. A broken axle shaft can cause loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway when placed in park, and the Ford dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The right rear axle shaft on the 2026 Ford F-350 Sd and F-250 Sd is the metal shaft that carries power from the rear axle assembly to the right rear wheel. On trucks with single rear wheels and a 10.5-inch rear axle, it helps the wheel turn under engine power and supports the driveline load when the truck accelerates.
On affected trucks, the right-hand shaft was improperly heat-treated during manufacturing. The shaft was processed twice without a proper quench, which means the metal did not receive the intended hardening and cooling cycle. That manufacturing error can leave the shaft weaker than the corrected replacement part. Under use, the shaft can fracture and break the power path to the right rear wheel.
If the shaft fractures, an owner can hear rear axle noise or lose motive power while driving in two-wheel drive operation. Those symptoms are the warning signs Ford identified for this recall.
Who's affected?
Covers both F-250 Sd and F-350 Sd single-rear-wheel trucks with the same right-side rear axle shaft.
| 2026 Ford F-350 Sd | drive axle |
|---|---|
| 2026 Ford F-250 Sd | drive axle |
| Units affected | 6,819 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific truck is included.
What's the safety risk?
A broken rear axle shaft can cut drive power or let the vehicle roll away after it is placed in park, increasing crash risk. Rear axle noise or sudden loss of motive power is a warning sign. If your VIN is included, park securely, use the parking brake, and call a Ford dealer about repair timing. Repair will be free at any franchised Ford dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2026 Ford F-350 Sd or F-250 Sd is included in this recall.
- Review the owner notice Ford mailed on January 15, 2026, or call Ford customer service if you did not receive it.
- Contact a franchised Ford dealer and ask about the free inspection of the right rear axle shaft date code.
- Schedule the axle-shaft replacement if the inspection shows the right rear axle shaft was improperly heat-treated.
- Reference recall number 25V866 and Ford recall 25SD8 when you call the dealer.
- Park on level ground and set the parking brake until the dealer confirms the axle shaft does not need replacement or completes the repair.
What happens at the repair
Once the dealer repair is available, a Ford technician will inspect the right rear axle shaft date code and replace the axle shaft if the inspection shows it is covered by recall 25V866. Parts and labor are free under the recall. Ford used its general reimbursement plan for this campaign. If you've already paid out of pocket for a related axle shaft repair, bring documentation to the service desk and ask how to submit it through Ford's standard reimbursement plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| December 12, 2025 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 15, 2025 | Dealer notification began |
| December 15, 2025 | Dealer notification ended |
| December 15, 2025 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| January 15, 2026 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 25V866?
Recall 25V866 covers 6,819 2026 Ford F-350 Sd and F-250 Sd trucks with a right rear axle shaft that was improperly heat-treated during manufacturing and can break. A Ford dealer will inspect the date code and replace the axle shaft as needed for free.
What should I do if my 2026 Ford F-350 Sd or F-250 Sd is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific truck is included in recall 25V866. If it is, contact a franchised Ford dealer to schedule the right rear axle shaft inspection. Reference recall 25V866 or Ford recall number 25SD8 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Ford will inspect the right rear axle shaft date code and replace the axle shaft as necessary free of charge at a franchised Ford dealer.
What is the safety risk?
A broken rear axle shaft can cause loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway when the truck is placed in park. Either condition can increase crash risk. If your VIN is included, arrange the free dealer inspection and axle shaft replacement.
When were owners notified about this Ford recall?
Ford mailed owner notification letters on January 15, 2026. VINs became searchable for this recall on December 15, 2025. If you bought the truck used or never received a letter, check your VIN and call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 with recall number 25SD8.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/25V866000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-866-436-7332 |
| NHTSA recall # | 25V866 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 25V866000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 19, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →