Summary
The Ford E450 Cutaway Chassis Cab has 5 recalls spanning 2009 to 2021, with the most serious affecting 2021 models where a power steering fluid leak can cause simultaneous loss of power steering and power brake assist, forcing the driver to push much harder on the brake pedal and extending stopping distances.
The 2021 issue is worth noting for owners who had a prior related repair performed, as that earlier service did not fully resolve the underlying problem and this recall provides an additional fix. On 2016 models equipped with the 6.8L engine and an optional trailer brake controller, the controller can fail to activate the trailer brakes when the driver presses the brake pedal during towing, leaving the trailer without independent braking. Going back to 2011, certain vehicles have a windshield with air trapped between the glass layers that gradually forms visible bubbles when the vehicle sits in hot conditions, reducing visibility through the affected area. The 2009 model year, in the school bus prep package configuration, has a fuel tank protection bracket mounted out of its intended position on the frame rail, which can allow the frame edge to contact the fuel tank in a crash and raise the risk of fuel leakage.
