Ford recalls 4,380,609 vehicles over trailer module software flaw

Ford is recalling 4,380,609 trucks, vans and SUVs after engineers identified a software flaw in the vehicles' Integrated Trailer Module that can disable trailer lighting and, in some configurations, trailer braking. The recall was filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration under campaign number 26V104000, and the company said repairs will be performed at no cost to owners.

The defect can cause the trailer module to lose communication with the host vehicle, typically at startup, producing audible and dashboard clues such as a "Trailer Brake Module Fault" message, a rapidly flashing turn signal and, in some cases, a "Blind Spot Assist System fault." NHTSA warned that "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."

Ford's filing lists the affected vehicles by model, model year and production dates. The largest groups are 2021–2026 Ford F-150 pickups (2,297,857 units built Jan. 8, 2020 to Feb. 6, 2026) and 2022–2026 Ford F-250 Super Duty trucks (1,135,063 units built Apr. 5, 2021 to Feb. 6, 2026), which together account for more than 3.4 million recalled vehicles. Other affected models include the 2022–2026 Ford Maverick (412,105 units), 2022–2026 Ford Expedition (317,604 units), 2024–2026 Ford Ranger (129,836 units), 2022–2026 Lincoln Navigator (75,029 units) and 2026 Ford E-Transit (13,115 units). Ford began investigating the issue in October 2025 and completed the recall filing in late February 2026.

Ford says the remedy will be a software update. "The remedy for this program is an ITRM software update." The company plans to deliver that update over the air to compatible vehicles beginning in May 2026, with owners also able to receive the update at Ford and Lincoln dealers. Drivers will not be charged for the repair. In Canada Ford of Canada confirmed that more than 600,000 units are affected there and says many Canadian vehicles may receive the update earlier, though the company has said broadly that OTA deployment across regions is expected to be complete by the end of May.

A technical description of the failure explains that the software issue "allows for a race condition between the ITRM and the CAN Standby Control bit (STBCC) during the start-up. If the correct conditions are met, the ITRM will be powered on but won't be able to communicate with the vehicle." Ford estimates roughly 1 percent of the recalled population will exhibit the defect, and the company told regulators it is not aware of any accidents, injuries or fires related to the problem as of the filing.

Beyond individual vehicle risk, the recall raises broader public safety and equity questions. Many rural households, small-business contractors and emergency-service tow operators rely on trailer connectivity for work and livelihoods. Where over-the-air updates are not available or where dealer access is limited, owners may face delays in repairs that increase crash risk for towed loads and other road users. Public agencies that regulate vehicle safety will need to monitor remedy rollout and prioritize outreach to commercial fleets and communities with limited dealership access to reduce disparities in exposure to the defect.

Owners can check their vehicle identification number with NHTSA using campaign number 26V104000 and should watch for notification from Ford about OTA completion or dealer-available repairs.