Ford issues multiple safety recalls covering more than 615,000 U.S. vehicles

Ford has opened at least two safety recalls affecting roughly 615,964 U.S. vehicles and is managing several larger recall campaigns this month that together touch millions of its trucks and SUVs. Company filings list about 604,533 vehicles for "a potentially failing windshield wiper motor that could reduce driver visibility" and about 11,431 vehicles tied to a driveshaft friction issue; the driveshaft description in the filing was incomplete and requires further detail from agency documents.

Separately, Ford reported a separate recall covering 412,774 model year 2017–2019 Ford Explorer SUVs because a rear suspension toe link can fracture. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said, "Toe links help maintain rear wheel alignment. If one breaks, it can cause changes in vehicle handling and raise the risk of a crash." Ford said dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links with a revised, stronger design at no charge, and that dealer notifications were expected to begin Feb. 25 with owner letters mailed starting March 9. The company said it is not aware of any injuries tied to the fracture issue.

In another action described in company notices, about 40,655 vehicles are being recalled for battery failures and brake pedal defects that regulators say could increase crash risk; technical details and model lists for that recall were not included in the initial summary filings. A separate recall affecting 272,645 vehicles involves a defect in the integrated park function that could allow a vehicle to roll away even when drivers believe it is in park. That action covers a large portion of Ford's newer electrified lineup, including 2022–2026 F-150 Lightning trucks, 2024–2026 Mustang Mach-E crossovers and 2025–2026 Maverick pickups; Ford said it will remedy the issue at no cost with an update to the integrated park module delivered either over-the-air or at dealerships.

A larger software-related campaign in recent filings affects ITRM, the Integrated Trailer Module, and covers nearly 4.4 million U.S. vehicles equipped with specific trailer feature codes. The company said the defect can "disable trailer stop lamps and turn signals, and trailer braking on certain configurations," a condition that "can reduce a driver’s ability to control an attached trailer while making it less visible to other drivers." The remedy is an ITRM software update, and over-the-air deployment is expected to begin in May 2026; owners may also have the update installed at dealers at no charge. Ford said it is not aware of any accidents, injuries or fires related to that issue.

These recalls reinforce a broader trend: more defects now stem from software and integrated systems as well as traditional hardware failures, complicating how automakers and regulators identify, notify and remedy safety risks. Industry data show elevated recall counts at Ford last year, increasing the cumulative repair burden on dealers and parts suppliers and raising potential warranty and service costs for the automaker. For owners, over-the-air fixes speed some remedies but large hardware programs require parts deliveries and service capacity at dealers, which can create delays.

Vehicle owners should check their VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls or Ford.com/recalls for the latest notices and repair instructions. Journalists and regulators will be watching whether VIN overlaps exist across these actions, how quickly OTA and dealer repairs are completed, and what the aggregate cost and service impact will be as Ford balances quality fixes with its electrification rollout.