NHTSA Is Weighing an Investigation Into Ford 7.3L Camshaft and Lifter Failures

NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation will determine whether to grant or deny a petition alleging camshaft and lifter failures in 7.3L gasoline engines in 2021-2022 Ford E-350 and 2021 Ford F-59 and F-750 vehicles. The petition was logged on November 9, 2026, and covers about 54,787 vehicles.

A defect petition is how owners and outside parties ask NHTSA to look at a problem the manufacturer has not recalled. The agency reviews the petition, the available failure reports and any manufacturer data, then decides whether to open a formal investigation — which can end in a recall, a finding of no defect trend, or further testing.

The 7.3L “Godzilla” V8 is Ford’s big gasoline workhorse, used in commercial vans, stripped chassis and medium-duty trucks — vehicles that tend to rack up high miles under heavy loads. A camshaft or lifter failure in that kind of service can mean a sudden loss of power or a dead engine, which is why the petition argues the issue deserves a federal look.

Nothing is decided yet. Owners of the affected trucks should watch for NHTSA’s decision on the petition, and any owner who has had a camshaft or lifter failure can file a complaint at NHTSA.gov — those complaints are the evidence the agency weighs when deciding whether to investigate.