- Ford is recalling millions of its vans, trucks, and SUVs.
- A software bug affects the integrated trailer module logic.
- Federal pressure ultimately reversed Ford’s initial stance.
Ford and recalls go together like the Detroit Lions and losing, but the automaker just had a mic drop moment. In this case, it’s a massive recall involving 4,380,609 vehicles.
That’s a jaw-dropping number and it’s even more shocking when you consider the automaker sold 2,204,124 vehicles in the United States last year. To give you even more perspective, Ford sold 828,832 F-Series trucks in 2025.
More: Ford’s Handing Out Quality Bonuses After Setting A Recall Record
Speaking of models, recalled vehicles include the 2026 E-Transit, 2022-2026 Expedition, 2021-2026 F-150, and 2022-2026 F-250. They’re being joined by the 2022-2026 Maverick, 2024-2026 Ranger, and 2022-2026 Lincoln Navigator.
According to the government, the integrated trailer module may lose communication with the vehicle. If this occurs, the trailer could lose its ability to brake as well as signal turns and braking. As a result, the models fail to comply with federal safety standards.
A Software Glitch At Startup
Ford first became aware of the issue last October when it learned a “software error can randomly occur within the integrated trailer module control logic, resulting in the module losing communication with the vehicle.” The automaker initially dismissed concerns as the problem occurs at startup and a warning message is displayed in the instrument cluster.
Read: Ford Recalled More Cars Than The Next 9 Brands Combined Last Year
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration begged to differ and pointed out the “criticality of trailer lighting” and the fact the vehicles could be in violation of federal safety standards. Facing that pressure, the Blue Oval eventually backed down and decided to conduct a recall.
A Rare ‘Race Condition’ Fault
This isn’t a good look for Ford, but that’s been a pretty common occurrence these days. Regardless, the automaker is aware of over 400 warranty claims related to the issue.
The problem is being blamed on a software vulnerability that allows for a “race condition” to occur between the integrated trailer module and CAN Standy Control bit. If this occurs, the module will be powered on, but unable to communicate with the vehicle.
Only 1% of the recalled vehicles are believed to have the defect, but that still equates to 43,806 of them. To address the issue, Ford will update the integrated trailer module software. This can be done by dealers or via an over-the-air update.
