Pickups are among the best-selling vehicles in America, so when a defect appears the number of trucks involved can be enormous. These campaigns range from fire risks to software glitches and cover several decades of models. Here are ten of the largest recalls to hit pickups, including one that is still unfolding.
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1. Ford F-150 (2015-2018): Sparks Behind the Seat Belt
The biggest campaign involved 2015-2018 F-150 trucks, and SlashGear’s recall rundown says about 2 million were recalled in 2018 because seat-belt pretensioners could spark fires, with 23 smoke or fire incidents reported.
Pretensioners are meant to tighten belts in a crash, so a fault that causes ignition is especially unsettling. Counts differ between outlets, and a Jalopnik report puts the American total lower, but both sources agree this was among the largest pickup campaigns ever. Owners of affected trucks should confirm completion of the remedy with a dealer using the vehicle identification number, since a fix only counts once it is done.
2. Ram 1500 (2019-2024): Stability Control Switches Off
Ram 1500 trucks from 2019-2024 were recalled in 2024, and the same SlashGear list says 1.2 million were affected by an ABS software glitch that could switch off stability control.
Stability control helps a driver keep a truck on course in a slide, so losing it unexpectedly raises crash risk. Software fixes are usually delivered at a dealer, which makes this one far easier to resolve than a hardware repair. Drivers who skipped the dealer visit can still look up open campaigns by vehicle identification number and schedule the repair at no cost.
3. Dodge Ram 2500 (2003-2008): Tie Rods That Could Fracture
Heavy-duty Dodge Ram 2500 trucks built from 2003-2008 were part of a 2013 action, and SlashGear’s tie rod entry counts 1.2 million trucks recalled over tie rods that could fracture, with six crashes and two injuries linked to the defect.
A broken tie rod can cost a driver steering control, which explains the seriousness of the remedy. The relatively low number of crashes compared with the number of trucks shows how a recall often addresses risk before harm spreads. Used buyers can also check for open campaigns before purchase, which takes only a few minutes and avoids inheriting an unresolved safety issue.
4. Toyota Tundra (2007-2008): Frame Corrosion Spreads
Toyota’s 2007-2008 Tundra was swept into a roughly 1.5 million-truck action, and a further SlashGear section says it also covered the 2005-2010 Tacoma and the Sequoia, all linked to frame corrosion.
Rust that weakens a frame is a structural problem rather than a minor annoyance, and it often appears in regions that salt their winter roads. The scale made this one of the most significant campaigns in the company’s American history. Since the vehicles spanned several model years and body styles, owners should not assume that a truck outside the listed range is automatically free of the problem.
5. Ford F-150 (1997-2004): Rusty Straps, Eight Fires
The 1997-2004 F-150 appears in a Jalopnik recall list, which says 1.1 million trucks were recalled in 2011 for rusting fuel-tank straps blamed for eight fires.
A strap that fails can let a tank sag, a hazard that grows as trucks age and collect road salt. Because many of these pickups remain on the road, owners of older examples should confirm that the repair was completed. Recall repairs are free to the owner regardless of age, so there is no reason for the owner of a long-serving pickup to let this one sit.
6. Ram 1500 (2013-2016): Software and Airbag Trouble
Ram’s 2013-2016 pickups were recalled over airbag and pretensioner software, and Jalopnik’s second Ram entry says about 1 million trucks were included, with one death and two injuries tied to the problem.
Airbag systems rely on precise programming, so a flaw can leave occupants unprotected when it matters. This recall is notable because it involved a fatality, which raised the stakes beyond the usual remote risk of a defect. Recall notices arrive by mail, but address changes and used sales can cause owners to miss them, which makes proactive checking worthwhile.
7. GMC Sierra (power tailgate): Tailgates That Open on Their Own
GM broadened a power tailgate action in 2024, and the Jalopnik tailgate item says it grew to 820,000 Silverados and Sierras after 100-plus reports of tailgates opening by themselves.
An open tailgate can drop cargo onto the road behind a truck, which is a hazard for following drivers. The campaign had started much smaller, and its expansion shows how early reports can reveal a larger pattern. The pattern is common in the truck world, where many parts can fail and fixes tend to arrive long after the first complaints.
8. Toyota Tacoma (2005-2011): Leaf Springs That Break
The 2005-2011 Tacoma comes up again in another Jalopnik recall entry, where 690,000 trucks were recalled because rear leaf springs could fracture and puncture the fuel tank.
A punctured tank brings fire risk, which is why the remedy involved replacement parts rather than inspection alone. Tacoma owners have heard from Toyota more than once, so this model carries a longer recall history than its reputation suggests. Large totals like this also show how a single supplier or design choice can ripple across multiple nameplates and many production years.
9. Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (6.2L V8): Engine Recall in Progress
GM’s 2025 L87 engine recall covered nearly 600,000 trucks and SUVs, according to a CarComplaints recall article, with the 6.2L V8 in the Silverado 1500 among the affected vehicles.
This campaign stands out because the fix concerns the engine itself rather than a peripheral part. Engine replacement is a much heavier repair than a software update, and the size of the recall makes it a major item for the automaker. Buyers should expect fresh details as the automaker, regulators and owners learn more about the cause and the final remedy.
10. Ford Super Duty (2025-2026): Gauges That Can Lie
The newest campaign involves the 2025-2026 Super Duty, and a Carscoops recall story says Ford is recalling 102,159 trucks, 91,588 of them Super Duty pickups, because analog gauges can give false readings.
Wrong readings could hide speed or fuel information, so the risk is practical rather than dramatic. Ford will replace the instrument cluster at no charge, and this recall is still active, so owners should check their trucks against the notice. Anyone with a 2025 or 2026 Ford truck can look up the campaign number or vehicle identification number to see whether the cluster is on the list.
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