Investigations
Loss of Power Brake/Steering Assist Post 22V-089 Inspection.
NHTSA Recall Query RQ24003 — open, opened 2024-02-27 and involving the FORD E-350.
NHTSA investigation RQ24003 is a Recall Query opened on 2024-02-27 and currently open. The subject of record is FORD E-350, which places this file inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue for FORD. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2024-02-27 — NHTSA updates that field whenever an Information Request goes out, a supplement is filed, or a status change is recorded in the public docket.
A Recall Query like RQ24003 evaluates whether a previously issued recall is actually fixing the problem. NHTSA opens an RQ when owners continue to report the original defect after the recall remedy is installed, or when completion rates fall short of the agency's expectations for that risk tier.
Investigators summarized the matter as follows: "On February 16, 2022, Ford Motor Company (Ford) issued a safety recall (NHTSA Recall 22V-089) for 2021-2022 Ford E-350 and E-450 vehicles equipped with dual rear wheels. The remedy involved inspecting the connection betw..." Investigations are the early-warning layer of the federal auto-safety system, sitting upstream of formal recalls and defect orders. Whether this one closes without action or escalates into an Engineering Analysis, the full history stays in the ODI archive so researchers, litigators, and buyers can pull the paper trail at any time. Related FORD files, listed below, give context on whether this is an isolated concern or part of a broader pattern across the brand.
Investigation Summary
On February 16, 2022, Ford Motor Company (Ford) issued a safety recall (NHTSA Recall 22V-089) for 2021-2022 Ford E-350 and E-450 vehicles equipped with dual rear wheels. The remedy involved inspecting the connection between the power steering pressure line and the hydraulic brake booster unit to prevent a sudden loss of power steering fluid, updating parts as necessary. This leak could result in a lack of power steering and power brake assist, increasing the risk of a crash. From July 2023 through December 2023, The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eleven consumer complaints alleging power steering line detachments after the vehicles had passed their inspection. The vehicles in the complaints include ambulances and a wheelchair lift-equipped school bus. In a meeting with Ford about the post-remedy failures on January 26, 2024, Ford informed ODI that they would file a new recall to update the power steering pressure line components on any vehicle that had not yet been inspected and also any vehicle which had passed inspection within the last twelve months. However, vehicles which had passed inspection more than twelve months ago would not be included within the scope of the new filing. ODI is opening this Recall Query (RQ) to evaluate the scope and remedy effectiveness of Ford's new recall (NHTSA Recall 24V-097). To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
About This Investigation Type
A Recall Query (RQ) evaluates the effectiveness of a previously issued recall. NHTSA opens an RQ when consumer complaints suggest that a recall remedy may not be adequately addressing the safety issue, or when the recall completion rate appears insufficient.
Other FORD Investigations
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Timing Belt Failure
Underbody shields detachment
B-Pillar Trim Detachment
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Data from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Cross-references: NHTSA recall campaign API and NHTSA FARS where fatality records overlap. PlainCars does not rate or recommend vehicles. Learn more.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.