The problem
Vehicle description: medium duty trucks and chassis-cabs. One or more of the four rivets on the lower steering shaft flex coupling May not have been crimped during the sub-assembly process.
The risk
If a rivet is not crimped, the flex joint can rotate on the shaft and there would be a reduction in or loss of steering control.
The fix
Dealers will inspect the lower steering shaft rivets and replace any shafts with uncrimped rivets.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 98V-116 (98V116000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Component | Steering › Gear box (other than rack and pinion) |
| Report date | May 29, 1998 |
| Owners notified | May 26, 1998 |
| Vehicles affected | 90,000 |
| Initiated by | Manufacturer |
Vehicles covered
Owner complaints about the steering
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 98V-116 repair free?
Yes. Ford dealers will fix the problem at no cost: Dealers will inspect the lower steering shaft rivets and replace any shafts with uncrimped rivets.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 90,000 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.