Ford's 4.4 Million Recall Is a Huge Black Eye For a Company That's Reeling From Recalls and Billions Lost on EV Programs, But There Is 1 Good News

Ford is recalling 4,380,609 of its most popular vehicles because of a software issue that can deactivate turn signals and brake lights while the vehicles are towing. The glitch can also stop the brakes from working entirely. The recall is massive, affecting mostly Ford trucks, like F-150s and F-250s, but it also affects some SUVs and Transit Vans. A Recall Safety Report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration lists the vehicles affected. The numbers are staggering, with nearly 3.5 million F-Series trucks being recalled alone. 

Ford Vehicles Being Recalled:

• 2021-2026 Ford F-150            
•     2,297,857
• 2022-2026 Ford F-250 SD         
•     1,135,063
• 2022-2026 Ford Maverick        
•     412,105
• 2022-2026 Ford Expedition       
•     317,604
• 2024-2026 Ford Ranger            
•     129,836
• 2022-2026 Lincoln Navigator     
•     75,029
• 2026-2026 Ford E-Transit          
•     13,115

In January, U.S. News and World Report called the F-150 and the Expedition the "Best Vehicles for the Money.". The annual awards recognize vehicles that deliver the strongest combination of quality and value in its class. Ford is driving off with two awards in this year’s rundown. The 2026 F-150 wins the “Best Full-Size Truck for the Money”, and the 2026 Ford Expedition takes home the award for “Best Large SUV for the Money”. The Ford F-Series of trucks just cemented its 49th year as the best-selling truck in America. 

What is Causing the Problem

According to the Recall Safety Report, a software problem with the Integrated Trailer Module can cause the trailer to lose communication with the towing vehicle. If the trailer stops communicating with the vehicle, the trailer could lose its brake lights and turn signals. In some cases, the trailer could also lose its brakes. However, the loss of communications can occur with-or-without a trailer connected at the vehicle’s startup. Not having working tail and brake lights violates federal motor vehicle rules and is dangerous. 

According to NHTSA, “Inoperable trailer lighting and trailer braking functions can reduce a driver’s ability to control an attached trailer and make the attached trailer less visible to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.”

The only warnings that drivers will get is that “Customers will see a Pop-up message on the instrument panel cluster (IPC), indicating a "Trailer brake module fault," and the turn signal telltale will fast flash. Additionally, a "Blind Spot Assist System fault" message may appear on the IPC.”

How Ford Will Fix the Problem

Ford is aware of 407 customer warranty claims or complaints about the tail and brake light issues. Ford says it is not aware of any accidents, injuries, or fires attributed to this condition.

Ford is working on a software fix for the Integrated Trailer Module. Some of the vehicles can be fixed with an over-the-air software update but others will have to be taken to dealers to get the patch. It is unclear how many can be fixed OTA. Ford will begin mailing notification letters to owners in mid-March. The NHTSA number for this recall is 26V104. The Ford number for the recall is 26C10. All repairs will be free of charge. 

This is a huge black eye for a company that is already reeling from a record number of recalls and billions lost on EV programs. The only good news is that no one has been hurt by the problems with the tail and brake lights. 

Ford Photo

Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin.

Follow Mary Conway at @MaryConwayMedia and send her car news tips for future stories.