2023 Ford F-250 SD Axle Shaft Recall (23V595)
Ford Motor Company · 41,555 vehicles · Reported August 25, 2023
Ford Motor Company is recalling 41,555 2023 Ford F-250 SD; 2023 Ford F-350 SD vehicles. 5-inch rear axle shaft. The left rear axle shaft may have been improperly heat-treated during manufacturing and may break. A broken rear axle shaft can result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 23V595 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 23V595000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 23S49 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | August 25, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2023 Ford F-250 SD; 2023 Ford F-350 SD |
| Units affected | 41,555 |
| Component | Power Train > Axle Assembly > Axle Shaft |
| Safety risk | A broken rear axle shaft can result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2023 Ford F-250 SD in recall 23V595?
5-inch rear axle shaft.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Super Duty F250 and F350 vehicles equipped with single rear wheels and a 10.5-inch rear axle shaft. The left rear axle shaft may have been improperly heat-treated during manufacturing and may break.
Is it safe to drive a 2023 F-250 SD with recall 23V595?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A broken rear axle shaft can result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A broken rear axle shaft can result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your F-250 SD shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the axle shaft, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 23V595?
Recall 23V595 covers 41,555 vehicles: 2023 Ford F-250 SD; 2023 Ford F-350 SD.
NHTSA lists 41,555 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Ford | F-250 SD |
| 2023 | Ford | F-350 SD |
What is the fix for the F-250 SD axle shaft recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect the left rear axle shaft date code and replace the axle shaft as necessary, free of charge.
Dealers will inspect the left rear axle shaft date code and replace the axle shaft as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 17, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S49.
When was recall 23V595 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 23V595 to NHTSA on August 25, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as October 17, 2023.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| August 25, 2023 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 23V595000. |
| October 17, 2023 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 37 months ago. If your F-250 SD was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my F-250 SD is part of recall 23V595?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V595 is open on your F-250 SD, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 23V595000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should F-250 SD owners do about recall 23V595?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 23V595000 applies to your F-250 SD.
- Call a Ford dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Keep a simple log of any axle shaft symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are F-250 SD owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 84 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 11 of them about the transmission.
Since recall 23V595 was reported on August 25, 2023, owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 2 of them (18%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the transmission and were received on or after August 25, 2023, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related transmission issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 84 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 11 of them involve the transmission. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2023 Ford F-250 SD: 43 complaints in total, 7 about the transmission
- 2023 Ford F-350 SD: 41 complaints in total, 4 about the transmission
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-350 SD. The contact stated that there was a whirring sound coming from the vehicle since the vehicle was purchased. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact stated that the failure persisted.
2023 Ford F-350 SD owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11640691, filed February 4, 2025
Vehicle randomly hesitates to shift (slip/flare), usually from 3-4 or 8-9 gears. It is sometimes accompanied by a clunk/slam before/after engaging the higher numbered gear. It seems to happen more often when the transmission is at/approaching normal operating temperature. The slip/flare has been becoming more frequent and is now randomly accompanied by the clunk/slam.
2023 Ford F-350 SD owner, OH, NHTSA complaint 11756450, filed August 12, 2026
The transmission delay shift from 3rd to fourth gear can be seconds then slams. I'm in Minnesota and when the roads are slick it WILL make the truck swing sideways when it goes into 4th. Well known problem but my truck doesn't have a tsb so everything is fine.
2023 Ford F-350 SD owner, MN, NHTSA complaint 11578344, filed March 19, 2024
Can recall 23V595 make my F-250 SD a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Transmission problems tend to come back. Harsh shifts, slipping, delayed engagement and sudden loss of drive power often return after a dealer reflashes software or replaces a part, and each return trip to the dealer is another repair attempt on the record.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
A typical pattern: an owner reports the transmission slipping, and the dealer can't verify it. Six months later, NHTSA issues a recall for the same problem. Because the recall confirms the defect, the mileage offset goes back to that first visit.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your F-250 SD been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Ford F-250 SD recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 23V595
Did the recall 23V595 fix work?
Since recall 23V595 was reported on August 25, 2023, owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 2 of them (18%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed October 17, 2023.
Is the 23V595000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my F-250 SD is part of recall 23V595000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Will a transmission software update fix the problem for good?
Sometimes. Many owners report that shifting problems return after an update. If yours does, go back to the dealer and make sure the visit is written up.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 23V595000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Ford. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.