Ford has announced a recall of over 600,000 vehicles in Canada and approximately 4.3 million in the U.S. due to a software malfunction that could lead to trailer brake failure and malfunctioning exterior lights. The affected vehicles include select models of popular Ford vehicles such as F-150s spanning from 2021 to 2026, Super Duty trucks from 2022 to 2026, Rangers from 2024 to 2026, and Mavericks from 2022 to 2026.
Ford plans to address the issue by providing an over-the-air software update for the impacted vehicles. Customers can also opt for mobile service or visit a Ford dealership to have the update installed. The software update is expected to be accessible for most Canadian vehicles before the end of March and for all vehicles by the end of May.
The software glitch may disrupt communication between the trailer and the vehicle when towing, resulting in non-functional stop lamps and turn signals on the trailer. In severe cases, the trailer’s braking system may also fail. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has warned that malfunctioning trailer lights and brakes can compromise a driver’s ability to control the trailer, potentially increasing the risk of an accident.
Ford advises that drivers will receive a “Trailer Brake Module Fault” notification and notice rapid flashing of the turn signal indicator if their vehicle experiences communication loss with the trailer. While Ford has reported 407 incidents possibly linked to the recall issue, there have been no reported accidents or injuries associated with it.
