Ford is recalling 4.3 million trucks and SUVs to fix a towing software bug

Source: Ars Technica

Recall Overview

Last year, Ford set a new industry record by issuing 152 safety recalls—almost twice the previous high set by General Motors in 2014. More than 24 million vehicles were recalled in the United States, and over half (13 million) were Ford or Lincoln models. By contrast, Tesla issued 11 recalls affecting just 745 000 vehicles.

In 2026, Ford is again leading the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recall chart, with ten recalls already on the books this year. The latest is a major one, affecting almost 4.4 million trucks, vans, and SUVs.

Affected Models

• Ford Maverick – model years 2022‑2026
• Ford Ranger – model years 2024‑2026
• Ford Expedition – model years 2022‑2026
• Ford E‑Transit – model year 2026
• Ford F‑150 – model years 2021‑2026 (2.3 million units)
• Ford F‑250 Super Duty – model years 2022‑2026
• Lincoln Navigator – model years 2022‑2026

Technical Issue

The recall concerns the vehicles’ Integrated Trailer Module (ITRM), which synchronizes trailer lights and brakes with the towing vehicle. According to the recall notice, a software vulnerability within the ITRM can create a race condition with the CAN Standby Control bit (STBCC) during initial power‑up. If this occurs, the trailer may lose its lights and brakes, and a pop‑up alert will appear on the instrument display.