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Ford's Recall Nightmare: Over Half a Million Vehicles Hit by New Defects and Stop-Sales

Published 4 weeks ago3 minute read
Ford's Recall Nightmare: Over Half a Million Vehicles Hit by New Defects and Stop-Sales

Ford Motor Company has faced an unprecedented year for recalls in 2025, setting a new record at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) by July with 94 recalls affecting over 6.3 million vehicles. This trend continues with several significant new recalls impacting popular models like the F-150, Super Duty trucks, Ranger, Explorer, and Lincoln Aviator, underscoring a challenging period for the automaker concerning manufacturing defects.

One notable recall targets 355,656 2025 and 2026 Super Duty trucks and 2025 F-150 pickups. The issue revolves around the instrument panels, specifically the digital display located between the speedometer and tachometer, which may remain blank or in a standby state after certain ignition cycles. This critical malfunction occurs if the instrument panel receives a CAN bus signal to wake up during a specific, narrow window of its sleep entry sequence. The consequence is severe: drivers would be unable to monitor their speed or receive crucial warnings, such as check engine, ABS, or other vital messages. Fortunately, the resolution for this problem is a straightforward software update. Owners whose vehicles are not capable of over-the-air (OTA) updates or lack access to mobile dealer repair services will need to bring their trucks to a dealership. Ford strongly advises against driving affected vehicles due to the safety hazards associated with a non-functional instrument panel. Instead, dealerships are instructed to arrange complimentary towing for these pickups, and owners should not be charged for the recall service. Furthermore, any prior charges for repairs directly related to this blanking cluster issue should be reimbursed by Ford Motor Company.

Another substantial recall impacts 100,900 current-generation Ford Ranger pickups from the 2024 to 2026 model years, specifically those built between December 9, 2022, and July 29, 2025. This safety concern centers on the curtain airbags, which were found to be susceptible to tearing during deployment. The defect was initially discovered during a NHTSA safety audit, where a 2025 Ranger marginally passed a side impact test. Subsequent investigation by Ford and a third-party lab revealed that a small, 15/32-inch slit had torn in the curtain airbag, causing it to prematurely deflate. Ford's deeper analysis pinpointed the inner reinforcement flange for the airbags as the cause, capable of inducing similar tears and pressure loss. To rectify this, Ford will implement the addition of a protective shield for the curtain airbags; the airbags themselves do not require replacement. While owners are not currently advised to park their Rangers, the necessary parts for the fix are not yet available. Ford anticipates that owners will be notified, and repairs will commence in the second half of December.

Lastly, a widespread recall affects over 210,000 2025 Ford Explorer, Police Interceptor Utility, and 2025 Lincoln Aviator models. This issue stems from a potentially defective Body Control Module (BCM), referred to by Ford as BCMC, which is manufactured by Aptiv Services and may have an improperly soldered printed circuit board. The malfunction can lead to a variety of electrical problems, most notably inoperative trailer lights and the display of a

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