Topline
Ford issued a recall Thursday for more than 4 million vehicles, including some of its top-selling F-series pickup trucks, over a software glitch that auto regulators said could increase the risk of a crash, marking one of the largest single-manufacturer recalls in recent years.
The automaker issued a record number of recalls last year.
Gado via Getty Images
Key Facts
Ford’s recall involves roughly 4.3 million F-250, F-150, Expedition, Maverick, Ranger, E-Transit and Lincoln Navigator vehicles from the 2021 through 2026 model years, according to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration filing.
The vehicles may be affected by a software glitch that could cause the taillights and turn signals on trailers towed by the cars to malfunction, according to the filing.
Drivers who may have affected vehicles may see a pop-up message indicating a “trailer brake module fault” or a “blind spot assist system fault,” according to Ford, which said it was not aware of any accidents or injuries related to the issue.
Ford was first notified of the issue in October 2025 and received more than 400 warranty claims identifying the defect as of Feb. 4.
Ford said it planned to release an over-the-air software update to fix the defect starting in May, or drivers can take their vehicles to Ford or Lincoln dealerships for a free repair.
Surprising Fact
Ford issued 153 recalls in 2025, the most ever by a single manufacturer in a single year in the U.S., involving about 12.9 million vehicles. That’s more than the next four automakers—Chrysler (53), Forest River (36), General Motors (28) and International Motors (26)—combined.
Key Background
Recalls of more than 2 million vehicles are rare and have occurred only a handful of times in recent years. Tesla recalled more than 2 million vehicles in December 2023 over a flaw in its Autopilot system, after an investigation found it failed to adequately detect if the driver was paying attention while the system was engaged. The automaker recalled another 2 million cars in February 2024 for small font sizes on warning panels, which the NHTSA said might increase the risk of a crash. Ford, across its record-breaking recall year in 2025, pulled 1.45 million vehicles in September because of an issue with rearview cameras that could result in a “blank, distorted or inverted image” as drivers reverse.