NHTSA safety investigation
NHTSA Investigation DP26011
Defect Petition · Ford Motor Company · ENGINE
This investigation is open. That is not a finding that a defect exists.
NHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
What NHTSA is examining
The agency's own description of the inquiry, quoted as published
Camshaft and Lifter Failure in Ford 7.3L Gasoline Engines
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition on June 13, 2026, requesting an investigation into camshaft and lifter failures in Ford 7.3L gasoline engines used in 2021-2022 Ford E-350 and 2021 Ford F59 and F-750 vehicles. The Petitioner alleges that insufficient oil lubrication at low idle (~6 psi) causes severe wear on lifter rollers and camshaft lobes, leading to catastrophic engine failure and sudden loss of motive power while driving at highway speeds with little to no warning. The petition further alleges that Ford Motor Company was aware of the root cause and released a software calibration patch raising idle speed to ~1,000 RPM, but failed to initiate a public safety recall or notify vehicle owners. The petition itself can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI number 11764421. This defect petition has been opened to evaluate the issue and determine whether to grant or deny the petition.
An investigation is a separate record from a recall and from a manufacturer communication. A manufacturer campaign to repair a safety defect or a failure to meet a federal safety standard.
Investigation details
Identifiers, dates and outcome as recorded by NHTSA
- Action number
- DP26011
- Investigation type
- Defect Petition (DP)
- Status
- Open
- Manufacturer
- Ford Motor Company
- Component
- ENGINE
- Opened
- Oct 23, 2026
- Closed
- Not recorded
- Associated recall campaign
- None recorded — the inquiry is ongoing
Vehicles named in this investigation
4 model years across 3 models
Being named here means NHTSA included the vehicle in the scope of its inquiry. It is not a statement that these vehicles have a defect.