If you own a Ford or Lincoln, there’s a good chance you need to read this.
Ford has issued a recall covering more than 4.3 million Ford and Lincoln vehicles due to a defect involving trailer lighting and brakes. It’s one of the largest recalls Ford has seen in recent memory, and it affects some of the brand’s most popular and widely-owned vehicles. If your vehicle is on the list, this isn’t something to set aside and deal with later.
Which Vehicles Are Affected?
The recall covers a broad range of Ford and Lincoln models across multiple model years. On the Ford side, affected vehicles include:
- 2021–2026 F-150 trucks
- 2022–2026 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, and F-600 trucks
- 2022–2026 Maverick trucks
- 2022–2026 Expedition SUVs
- 2024–2026 Ranger trucks
- 2026 E-Transit cargo van
- The only Lincoln model affected is the 2022–2026 Navigator.
If your vehicle falls within those years and models, you’re likely included.
What’s the Problem?
The defect centers on the integrated trailer module, which may lose communication with the vehicle while towing. When that happens, the brake lights and turn signals can fail, or worse, the vehicle can experience a loss of brake function altogether.
A brake failure while towing a trailer isn’t a minor inconvenience. It’s a serious safety hazard. One that puts the driver, passengers, and everyone else on the road at significant risk. The fact that this Ford vehicle brake recall affects millions of vehicles already on the road makes it all the more urgent.
Ford’s proposed fix is a software update to the integrated trailer module, which can be performed by a dealer or delivered via an over-the-air update at no cost to the owner. Notification letters are expected to be mailed starting March 17. In the meantime, owners with questions can contact Ford directly at 866-436-7332 (recall number 26C10) or visit the NHTSA website to check their vehicle identification number.
A Recall Isn’t Always the End of the Story
Here’s something many vehicle owners don’t fully understand: a recall addresses a known defect, but it doesn’t automatically resolve every problem that defect may have caused, and it certainly doesn’t account for owners who have been dealing with these issues long before Ford officially acknowledged them.
Every time an auto manufacturer recalls vehicles, there are owners in the background who have already been through the wringer. They’ve made multiple trips to the dealership. They’ve been told the problem couldn’t be reproduced. They’ve driven away with a vehicle that still didn’t feel right. They’ve filed complaints and gotten nowhere. And all the while, they’ve been driving a vehicle that, depending on the circumstances, may qualify as a lemon under state or federal law.
If that sounds familiar, you have more options than you might think.
When a Recall Points to a Bigger Problem
Recalls are, by definition, acknowledgments that something went wrong. Acknowledging that a defect exists, that it’s widespread, and that the manufacturer knew or should have known about it. For consumers who have been experiencing related problems and haven’t been able to get them resolved, a recall can actually strengthen a lemon law claim.
The key factors that matter in a lemon law case are whether the defect substantially impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle, and whether the manufacturer has had a reasonable opportunity to fix it. Brake failures and lighting malfunctions clearly meet the safety threshold. And if you’ve already made multiple service visits trying to get those issues addressed or your vehicle has spent extended time waiting on repairs, you may have a valid claim.
Lemon laws exist precisely for situations like this. They’re designed to hold manufacturers accountable when they put defective vehicles on the road and fail to make things right for the people who bought them.
Krohn & Moss: On Your Side When Manufacturers Aren’t
If you’ve been dealing with brake issues, lighting failures, or other persistent problems with your Ford or Lincoln, and you haven’t been able to get a real resolution, it’s worth talking to someone who knows the lemon law inside and out.
Krohn & Moss, Ltd. Consumer Law Center® has spent decades fighting for consumers who were sold vehicles that turned out to be defective. Whether your situation is directly tied to this recall or involves a separate ongoing defect, our team can evaluate your case and help you understand your rights.
You shouldn’t have to keep driving a vehicle you can’t trust. And you shouldn’t have to fight a billion-dollar manufacturer alone.
Krohn & Moss Ltd. offers free case reviews and has the experience to back it up. Reach out today, because a recall notice doesn’t mean you’ve been made whole. It just means Ford finally admitted what you may have already known.
Contact Krohn & Moss, Ltd. today for a free case consultation.
