Dive Brief:
- Ford Motor Co. has recalled over 4.3 million vehicles because the integrated trailer module may lose communication with the vehicle when a trailer is connected due to a software fault, potentially causing a loss of trailer brake and turn signal lights, or trailer brake function, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- The recall involves 2021-2026 model year F-150 pickup trucks; 2022-2026 F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 Super Duty pickups and Maverick pickups; 2024-2026 Ranger pickups; 2023-2026 F-600 Super Duty pickups; 2022-2027 Lincoln Navigator and Expedition SUVs and 2026 E-Transit cargo vans. About 1% of recalled vehicles are estimated to have the defect.
- Ford will issue an over-the-air software update at no cost to fix the error, though owners can also visit Ford or Lincoln dealers to have the update installed. Owner notification letters are expected to begin mailing March 23, and the remedy software is expected to be available in May.
Dive Insight:
The recall affects a wide range of Ford F-Series truck models and SUVs equipped with an integrated trailer module, including roughly 2.3 million F-150 pickups, the company’s best-selling vehicle in the U.S.
When connected to a trailer for towing, the integrated trailer module controls the operation of the trailer lighting, and in some vehicle configurations, the trailer’s brakes.
Drivers may receive a warning of the issue at startup, via a notification on the instrument panel reading “trailer brake module fault” accompanied by the turn signal symbol flashing quickly. An additional “blind spot assist system fault” warning may also appear on the instrument panel.
If this fault occurs, the trailer module will be “powered on” but unable to communicate with the vehicle. The loss of communication can occur upon startup with-or-without a trailer attached after the vehicle exits a “sleep mode” state, per the report.
Trailer lighting that fails can limit visibility of the trailer for other drivers and increase the risk of a crash, according to the recall report. In addition, inoperable trailer brakes can reduce a driver’s control of the vehicle, which also increases the risk of a crash.
The trailer module was sourced from Michigan-based Tier 1 supplier Horizon Global and manufactured at its plant in Reynosa, Mexico, per the recall report.
On Oct. 21, 2025, Ford’s Software and Digital Design Critical Concern Review Group became aware of a “software anomaly” within the integrated trailer module that could lead to the unit losing communication with the vehicle when a trailer is connected.
The software defect existed for both “Low” and “High” series versions of the integrated module, with the low series version controlling trailer lighting itself and the high series unit managing operation of both trailer lighting and trailer brakes.
However, on Nov. 6, 2025, Ford’s CCRG closed its review of the issue, concluding that it wasn’t in violation of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards due to the presence of warning signals and the fact that the vehicle would be stationary if a driver receives any error messages.
But in December, the NHTSA met with Ford for its monthly review and shared its concern that inoperable trailer lighting may indeed violate Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, and the agency’s viewpoint of the “criticality of trailer lighting,” per the report.
On Jan. 20, The automaker’s CCRG reopened its investigation and requested additional data about potential claims related to the issue. While Ford’s investigators were initially aware of 57 warranty claims potentially related to the trailer module problem. But as of Feb 4, the automaker identified 405 warranty claims and two vehicle owner questionnaires believed to be related to the fault.
Ford’s Field Review Committee then approved the recall on Feb. 13.
The initial recall was filed with NHTSA on Feb. 20. But Ford filed an amended report on Feb 26, which expanded the recall population to 4,381,878 vehicles with the addition of six additional models.
Ford is not aware of any accidents or injuries stemming from the trailer module software defect. The remedy software will prevent the loss of communication from occurring.
Ford has now issued 17 vehicle recalls since Jan. 1, totaling more that 7.3 million vehicles, according to NHTSA data. The automaker also issued 147 vehicle recalls in 2025 totaling nearly 12.9 million vehicles. Ford’s recall count last year was the highest-ever by an automaker in a single calendar year.
However, the automaker said last year that it’s focused on improving quality at its Kentucky Truck Plant where many of the recalled vehicles were produced.
Ford’s latest recall follows a similar FCA US recall of more than 450,000 pickup trucks and SUVs for an inoperable trailer tow module causing a loss of trailer lighting or trailer brakes.
