Today's trail report

Four Ford recalls lead the day: F-150 Raptor and Bronco campaigns, with a fuel tank that can detach and a rear axle that can lock up

By The OffRoading.News Desk

Good morning. Lead with the Ford truck recalls; they carry the most immediate risk. All three F-150 campaigns name the F-150 in NHTSA's summaries, but NHTSA's covered-vehicles list identifies the F-150 Raptor in each — so a standard F-150 is not necessarily affected, and the VIN lookup is the answer. Under campaign 26V-578, Ford is recalling F-150s whose fuel tank may be improperly secured and can leak fuel, or detach from the vehicle while driving; dealers will inspect and replace the fuel tank straps, as necessary, free of charge. Here the two NHTSA fields disagree: the summary gives the range as 2023–2027 F-150 vehicles, while the covered-vehicles list gives the F-150 Raptor for model years 2023–2026 — they differ on the final year, so check your VIN. Under 26V-576, certain 2026 F-150 Raptors may have had incorrect rear axle tail bearings installed, which can cause rear wheel lock-up or driveshaft separation; the remedy is a free rear axle tail bearing replacement. Under 26V-577, certain 2026 F-150 Raptors may have stabilizer rod fasteners that were not tightened properly, allowing the rod to shift out of position; dealers will replace the fasteners free of charge. None of these three carries a stop-ride order. Ford's customer service line for all of them is 1-866-436-7332, and VINs are searchable on NHTSA.gov — 26V-577 since September 10, the other two beginning September 14.

The fourth Ford campaign, 26V-580, covers certain 2026 Broncos: NHTSA reports the right-hand-side side curtain air bag mounting bracket may have a metal burr that can tear the air bag during deployment. Dealers will increase the space between the bracket and air bag; interim letters were expected September 15, with the remedy anticipated in October.

Two more, from NHTSA. Campaign 26V-571: Toyota is recalling certain 2024 Tacoma Hybrid, 2025 Tundra Hybrid and Tundra, and 2026 RAV4 Hybrid, 4Runner i-Force Max Hybrid and 4Runner vehicles because the load carrying capacity modification label may show inaccurate added weight values, failing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 110; the fix is a free label replacement (Toyota, 1-800-331-4331). Campaign 26V-562: Chrysler (FCA US) is recalling certain 2021–2023 Grand Cherokee L and 2022–2023 Grand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee 4XE vehicles whose rear coil springs may be incorrectly installed and detach from the vehicle while driving; dealers will replace the rear coil spring lower isolators, free of charge, and it replaces recalls 26V051 and 23V413 (FCA, 1-800-853-1403).

Check your own capacities and any torque figures in the service manual — never a guessed number, because a wrong value on suspension or a fuel tank strap is how these failures start.

On public land: RideApart reports that mandatory oil and gas leasing could affect up to 400,000 acres of public land in Colorado, and profiles motorcycle instructor and veteran Joel Mayne, who is fighting it. Outside reports the Forest Service confirmed it is working with ICE after five campers were arrested on Washington public lands near Granite Falls.

In products and industry: Off-Road.com covered Kawasaki's 2027 Teryx KRX 1000 TR, a narrower build than the standard KRX, and MetalCloak's three new suspension systems for the fourth-generation Toyota Tacoma. Dirt Wheels reported CFMOTO VanEperen Racing's Z10 competition debut at Crandon; Off Road Xtreme covered nearly 2,000 4x4s at the Summer 4-Wheel Jamboree in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania; and Carscoops looked at the 2027 Honda Passport TrailSport. UTV Action ran the Moose Offroad bed box enclosure, Outside talked overlanding with builder Nick Scherr from Overland Expo 2026, and RideApart teased snowmobile season with Klim's Perfect Winter series.