Ford is recalling approximately 30,000 F-150 and Super Duty trucks from the 2026 and 2027 model years over a tailgate support cable that could fail under heavy loads. The problem could cause the tailgate to drop unexpectedly, potentially damaging the truck or cargo and creating an injury risk.

The voluntary repair campaign affects the automaker’s best-selling pickup lineup, including the 2026–2027 F-150 and 2026 F-Series Super Duty models, covering the F-250, F-350 and F-450.

Ford F-150 Recall Targets Tailgate Support Cable

The recall centers on the left-side tailgate support cable, which helps keep the tailgate level with the truck bed when it is open. The cable’s eyelet crimp, which allows it to be detached from the vehicle when the tailgate needs to be removed, is the component that could fail.

Under certain heavy-load conditions, the eyelet may break. If that happens, the right-side cable may not be strong enough to prevent the tailgate from folding down completely.

A sudden failure could damage the tailgate hinge mechanism, body sheet metal, rear bumper or cargo resting on the tailgate. It could also cause injuries to anyone standing on the tailgate when the cable fails.

The recall affects only the left-side cable, rather than both support cables.

How Owners Can Check if Their Ford Truck Is Affected

Not every 2026 or 2027 F-Series truck is included in the recall. The potentially defective cable may not have been installed in certain vehicle identification number sequences.

Owners can determine whether their truck is affected by checking their VIN through the NHTSA website or contacting a local Ford or Lincoln dealer.

Owners of affected vehicles are expected to receive two notifications by mail. The first notification will inform them of the recall, while a second notice should arrive in January when replacement parts become available for installation.

Ford Recall Numbers Remain High in 2026

Ford issued more recalls than any other automaker in 2025 and ranked second behind Stellantis in 2024. CEO Jim Farley has maintained that the high number of campaigns reflects the company’s efforts to identify and address problems through its quality control operations.

However, the automaker’s increased focus on reliability, including hiring engineering specialists and appointing a new quality executive, has not reduced its recall activity over the past year.

Through the first nine months of 2026, Ford remained the manufacturer with the most voluntary safety or reliability repair campaigns.

Some of those recalls involved more serious issues than the tailgate cable problem. More than 10,000 Bronco SUVs were recalled over incorrectly installed piston domes, while another half-million off-road vehicles were recalled because engine wiring could short-circuit and cause a fire.

Several Ford and Lincoln models, including the Bronco, Bronco Sport, Edge and Explorer, were also recalled over rearview camera display problems. Other vehicles faced potential seat latch failures that could lead to crashes or serious injuries.

Millions of Ford Recalls Can Be Fixed With Software Updates

Ford and Lincoln recalled more than 12 million vehicles in 2026, but the automaker says 6.3 million of those vehicles can be repaired through an over-the-air software update.

That approach allows affected owners to receive certain fixes without bringing their vehicles to a dealership, reducing the amount of personal time required to address the recall.

Jim Farley Says Ford Reliability Still Needs Work

Despite improvements in some areas, Ford acknowledges that its vehicle reliability still has room to improve.

During the automaker’s recent earnings call, Farley said there was still “much more to do” before Ford’s dependability reached the level he wanted.

With Ford issuing twice as many recall campaigns as the second-ranked automaker in 2026, the company’s latest comments underscore the ongoing challenge of improving vehicle quality.

The latest F-Series tailgate cable recall adds another repair campaign to Ford’s growing list as the automaker continues working to address reliability concerns across its lineup.