Ford Motor is recalling roughly 4.38 million vehicles in the US after identifying a software defect that could disable trailer lighting and braking functions.
The recall applies to certain 2021–2026 F-150, 2022–2026 Super Duty (F-250–600), 2024–2026 Ranger, 2022–2026 Expedition, 2022–2026 Navigator, 2022–2026 Maverick and 2026 Transit models.
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The US carmaker said a fault in the Integrated Trailer Module (ITM) may cause the unit to lose communication with the vehicle, typically during start-up.
If this occurs while a trailer is connected, the trailer’s stop lamps and turn signals may fail to operate and, in vehicles equipped with a “High series” trailer module, trailer braking capability could also be lost.
Ford said the defect leads to non-compliance with US federal safety requirements and raises crash risk due to reduced trailer control and visibility.
Drivers affected may see a “Trailer Brake Module Fault” warning in the instrument cluster, rapid turn-signal flashing and, in some cases, a “Blind Spot Assist System fault” alert.
The company plans to correct the issue through an over-the-air (OTA) software update to the ITM or via dealer or mobile service appointments.
The update is expected to be available for most vehicles from 17 March, with OTA rollout across all affected vehicles targeted by May.
According to data compiled by Forbes, Ford issued 153 recalls in 2025, the highest number ever recorded by a single manufacturer in the US in one year, covering about 12.9 million vehicles.
In October, Ford issued a recall for roughly 1.45 million vehicles in the US due to defective rearview cameras, which could heighten the risk of a crash.
The recall affected a range of 2015–2020 modelyear vehicles, including the Explorer, Escape, Mustang, Flex, Fiesta, CMax, Taurus and Fusion, as well as the Lincoln MKT and MKZ.
A month earlier, Ford recalled around 1.9 million vehicles globally for faulty rearview cameras, a move that impacted about 1.45 million vehicles in the US, approximately 122,000 in Canada and around 300,000 in other markets.
In November 2024, the company agreed to pay a $165m civil penalty after a US government probe found it had not promptly recalled vehicles with defective rearview cameras.
Other manufacturers have also announced recent US recalls.
Japanese Carmaker Nissan Motor, for example, has recalled about 643,000 Rogue SUVs over powertrain-related issues.
