Ford Recalls 30,123 F-150 and Super Duty Trucks Over a Tailgate Cable That Can Drop Under Load

Ford is recalling 30,123 trucks because the left-side tailgate cable may fail under certain heavy load conditions and let the tailgate drop onto the rear bumper. The recall covers 2026-2027 F-150 models and 2026 F-250, F-350, and F-450 Super Duty trucks built between May 31 and June 16, 2026, under NHTSA campaign 26V689 (Ford 26S78).

The culprit is a bad crimp on the cable's eyelet: NHTSA says a broken crimping die left some cables with an incomplete connection at the bolt end, so the cable can detach when something heavy — such as a UTV or equivalent load — pushes down on the tailgate. Ford says there have been no warranty claims or field reports tied to the issue as of October 19, 2026, meaning the automaker caught this one before it caused real-world damage.

Owners should expect two mailings: interim notification letters between December 14 and 18, 2026, explaining the risk even though parts are not ready yet, and a second round confirming the remedy is available, scheduled for January 2027. Dealers will replace the left-side cable. VINs become searchable on NHTSA's website starting December 7. It is Ford's latest in a long run of 2026 recalls — more than 80 campaigns this year, by one count, well ahead of its rivals.