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

Ford is making headlines again as it initiates a significant recall involving approximately 4.4 million of its trucks and SUVs. This decision comes on the heels of last year's record-setting 152 safety recalls, almost double the previous benchmark set by General Motors in 2014. In total, over 24 million vehicles were recalled in the U.S. last year, with more than half of those—around 13 million—being Ford or Lincoln models. The automaker's challenges continue into 2026, where it currently leads the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's recall list with ten recalls already documented this year. The latest recall targets several popular models, including the Ford Maverick (2022-2026), Ford Ranger (2024-2026), Ford Expedition (2022-2026), Ford E-Transit (2026), Ford F-150 (2021-2026), Ford F-250 SD (2022-2026), and the Lincoln Navigator (2022-2026), with the F-150s alone accounting for 2.3 million units. At the heart of the issue lies a software vulnerability within the vehicles’ integrated trailer module. This flaw could potentially create a race condition between the module and the CAN Standby Control bit during the vehicle's initial power-up. In practical terms, this means that if the flaw occurs, trailers may lose their lights and braking functionality, posing a serious safety risk. Drivers will also receive a warning alert on their main instrument display to indicate the issue.