The problem
Vehicle description: medium duty trucks and chassis-cabs. An automatic locking front wheel bearing adjusting nut was damaged during installation or removal by incorrect tools or an incorrect torque specification was used.
The risk
This condition can cause the nut to rotate freely and lose torque. It could rotate until it is no longer connected to the front spindle and allow the front wheel to separate from the vehicle.
The fix
Dealers will replace the front wheel bearing adjusting nuts with castle nuts and cotter pins.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 98V-041 (98V041000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Component | Suspension › Front › Wheel bearing |
| Report date | February 24, 1998 |
| Owners notified | April 15, 1998 |
| Vehicles affected | 1,600 |
| Initiated by | Manufacturer |
Vehicles covered
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 98V-041 repair free?
Yes. Ford dealers will fix the problem at no cost: Dealers will replace the front wheel bearing adjusting nuts with castle nuts and cotter pins.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 1,600 vehicles built in a certain window. Check your 17-character VIN with our VIN recall check or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.