Ford F-150 Owners Told To Watch For This Strange Rattle Before Trouble Hits

Full-size trucks are capable of hauling incredibly big and heavy loads when outfitted with the right equipment. But Ford has been forced to recall its massively popular F-150 full-size truck after discovering that its heavy duty tow pack isn’t particularly HD after all, which could be worrying for the thousands of Americans who like to pull big boats and trailers.

Related: Ford Surges To 93 Recalls And This Time It Forgot Something You Should Hear

Exactly 103,174 examples of the combustion-powered F-150 built between January 2023 and May 2025 are being recalled, though only owners whose trucks are outfitted with the Max Tow package and beefy 9.75-inch HD rear end need worry.

The problem at the core

Ford found that the rear axle hub bolts on trucks equipped for pulling big loads could break off due to fatigue. If this happens it could allow micro movement between the hub splines and the axle shaft splines which are meant to remained locked together.

Throw in a corrosive environment in snow belt states or wading in warmer regions and the result might be wear in the splines that could ultimately see a truck rolling away, or not providing drive when in two-wheel drive mode.

The chances of this happening are slim – Ford estimates only 1 percent of the 103,000 trucks are affected, though it’s already dealt with 194 warranty claims. But no one wants to invite disaster when you’re talking about a truck that could be towing a 13,500 lb (6,120 kg) trailer. Not even Ford’s accountants who must be tearing their hair out at news of the Blue Ovals’ record 96th recall this year.

Fixes in motion

F-150s currently in production, and likely to stay on sale until the next F-series arrives in 2028, have an updated rear axle with redesigned spline geometry, larger contact area and an M24 stud and nut. And when the recalled trucks return to their local dealerships late this summer, that’s what they’ll get, too.

Until that happens, owners are being told to listen out for a rattle that could mean the hub bolt is loose inside the wheel cap.