Ford Recalls 422,000 Vehicles Over Windshield Wiper Failure Risk

Ford Motor Co. recalled 422,613 vehicles after determining that windshield wiper arms on certain full-size SUVs and heavy-duty pickups could fail entirely mid-use, leaving drivers without forward visibility in rain or snow. The defect, rooted in a supplier error at Trico's facility in Mexico, affects the 2021-2023 Ford Expedition, the 2021-2023 Lincoln Navigator, and the 2022-2023 F-Series Super Duty lineup spanning the F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, and F-600.

The latch retention plate in the wiper arm assembly may have been incorrectly staked at the supplier, causing damage from stripping of the engagement surfaces. In practice, that means affected vehicles can exhibit one of three failure modes: wipers that operate erratically, fail to operate at all, or detach from the vehicle. Any of those outcomes on a rain-soaked highway can eliminate a driver's sightlines instantly, with no warning.

Ford noted more than 1,500 warranty reports tied to the concern, representing 1,533 unique VINs globally. The company said it is not aware of any crashes or injuries linked to the defect. Ford traced the issue back to January, when reports of stripped wiper arm splines in some Expedition and Navigator vehicles were reviewed.

Owners of potentially affected vehicles were expected to be able to search VINs on NHTSA.gov as of April 1. The 17-character VIN appears on the lower left corner of the windshield, on the vehicle registration card, and often on insurance documentation. Entering that number at NHTSA.gov will confirm whether a specific vehicle falls under this recall. Owners may also contact Ford customer service directly at 1-866-436-7332.

Notification to dealers was expected to occur on April 1, with mailing of notices to interim owners expected to begin April 13 and be completed by April 17. The remedy is expected to include an inspection of windshield wipers and their potential replacement, with wiper arms that don't pass inspection being replaced. All inspections and replacements are free of charge at authorized dealerships.

The recall lands as Ford faces intensifying federal scrutiny over its overall quality record. Ford logged 153 recalls in 2025 affecting more than 12.9 million vehicles, according to NHTSA data, far outpacing Honda, which had the second-highest total with 53. Ford executives have attributed the volume to a deliberate push to find and fix problems faster, saying the company doubled its safety team over two years and began testing critical systems to failure. Initial quality for products rolling off the line in 2025 is described as among Ford's best ever, though that trajectory has done little to reduce the backlog of defect investigations on earlier model-year vehicles.

NHTSA will monitor Ford's remedy completion rate on this recall, tracking whether dealers clear the backlog before the next rain season puts untreated vehicles on the road. Regulators will also watch whether the scope expands: Ford's filing left open the question of whether additional model years or variants share the same Trico-sourced components. Until owner notification letters arrive the week of April 13, the fastest path to certainty is a VIN search at NHTSA.gov or a call to a Ford dealer.