Ford has announced a recall affecting over 600,000 vehicles in Canada and 4.3 million in the U.S. due to a software defect that could lead to trailer brake malfunctions and exterior light failures. The recall impacts specific models of popular Ford vehicles, such as select F-150s from 2021 to 2026, Super Duty trucks from 2022 to 2026, Rangers from 2024 to 2026, and Mavericks from 2022 to 2026.
To address the issue, Ford will provide an over-the-air software update for the affected vehicles. Customers will have the option to receive the update through mobile service or by visiting a Ford dealer. The software update is expected to be available for most Canadian vehicles by the end of March and for all vehicles by the end of May.
The software glitch can disrupt communication between the vehicle and a trailer, resulting in non-functional stop lamps and turn signals on the trailer, as well as potential loss of braking function. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warned that malfunctioning trailer lights or brakes could compromise the driver’s ability to control the trailer, increasing the risk of accidents.
Drivers will receive a “Trailer Brake Module Fault” message and rapid flashing of the turn signal indicator if their vehicle experiences communication loss with the trailer. Ford has identified 407 incidents possibly linked to the recall but reported no accidents or injuries associated with the issue.