Ford F-150 Recall: 3745 Pickups Face Fuel Tank Fire Risk

The Ford F-150 recall announced this month covers 3745 pickups in Australia, and the problem sits right under the tray. Ford says a fuel tank strap may not have been properly secured to the frame rail during manufacture, which means it could detach while the vehicle is moving.

If that happens, fuel can leak. Add an ignition source and the result can be a vehicle fire, with a risk of injury or death to the people inside, other road users and bystanders.

The recall, REC-006747 under Ford campaign 26S69, was published on 16 October 2026. It applies to certain 2023 to 2026 F-150 vehicles, identified by VIN rather than by a simple build-date range.

Your F-150 fuel tank could come loose on the road

This is not a software glitch you can live with until your next service. A fuel tank is one of the heaviest and most safety-critical parts hanging off a full-size pickup, and the straps are what keep it where it belongs.

The good news is that the remedy is straightforward. Ford will write to owners of affected vehicles and ask them to contact an authorised Ford dealer for an inspection and repair, free of charge.

Do not wait for the letter if you want certainty sooner. The official notice on the federal government's vehicle recalls site includes the list of affected VINs, and Ford's Customer Relationship Centre is on 13 36 73.

Check the VIN before you assume you are clear

Because the recall is defined by VIN, a 2024 truck parked next to yours might be affected while yours is not, or the other way around. Your VIN is printed on your registration papers.

Once you have it, compare it against the official VIN list or give Ford your number over the phone. If your truck is on the list, book the inspection now rather than leaving it until a dealer has a backlog of letters to work through.

If you notice a fuel smell or see a wet patch under the tank before then, tell the dealer when you call. That is information they will want before the booking date.

This is not the F-150's first recall in Australia

The fuel strap issue joins a list of earlier F-150 campaigns. In April 2026, Ford recalled 6832 F-150s from the 2021 to 2026 range because the trailer module software could lose communication with the vehicle while a trailer was connected.

That fault could reduce trailer braking performance and stop the turn signals working as intended. For a truck many Australians buy specifically to tow a boat, caravan or horse float, that one mattered.

In January 2024, a smaller recall covered 443 F-150s from the 2022 and 2023 range. The steering intermediate shaft could separate from the steering rack, and owners were told to stop driving immediately until it was repaired.

Buying a used F-150? Make the recall part of the deal

The F-150 is an expensive truck, new or used, so a buyer has every right to ask hard questions. Before you hand over a deposit, run the VIN against every open F-150 recall, not just this one.

Ask the seller for written proof that each relevant recall has been completed, ideally a dealer invoice or service record showing the work. A licensed dealer selling a used F-150 should be able to confirm recall status before delivery. If they cannot, make completion a written condition of sale.

Private sellers are a different story. Some genuinely will not know about a campaign that was published days ago, so you need to check it yourself. An open recall is not automatically a reason to walk away, since the repair is free, but it is a reason to slow down.

If you are weighing the F-150 against something smaller, it is worth browsing used utes in Victoria on Carseekers to compare dual-cab alternatives and prices before you commit to a full-size pickup.

Do not let a recall cost you at the negotiating table

A fresh recall headline can be used against you in both directions. A seller might play it down to keep the price firm, while a buyer might use it to push for a discount on a truck where the fix costs the owner nothing.

The fair position sits in the middle. If the recall work has been done and documented, it should not move the price. If it has not, the inconvenience of getting it done is a reasonable thing to raise, but it does not justify a big markdown on its own.

What you are really paying for is the truck's condition, history and paperwork. Our earlier coverage of the Ford Transit Custom fire risk recall follows the same rule: confirm the fix, then judge the vehicle on everything else.

How can Carseekers help?

If you are shopping for a Ford F-150, Carseekers can help you compare pricing without doing the dealer rounds yourself, so you can focus on the questions that matter, including recall status and service history. Start with the Ford F-150 model page.

A full-size pickup is a big purchase, and the finance deserves the same scrutiny as the truck. Loanseekers can help you compare car-finance options before you sit down in the dealer's finance office, subject to lender requirements.