>> Continued From the Previous Page <<
That includes some of the company’s most popular vehicles, such as the F-150, Bronco, Explorer, Expedition, Maverick, Edge, Mustang, and the Transit van.
Nearly every one of those vehicles has been recalled at least once between 2020 and 2026.
The lone exception was the Ford GT, a limited-production supercar with a price tag around $500,000. Production of the vehicle ended in 2022, and only a small number were ever built.
For ordinary drivers buying vehicles off dealership lots, there were effectively no exceptions.
Sixteen models. Every mainstream vehicle recalled.
The Latest Recall Hits Millions of Trucks
The most recent recall illustrates just how massive Ford’s quality crisis has become.
In February 2026, the automaker recalled roughly 4.3 million trucks. The recall affected several popular models including the F-150, Ranger, Super Duty pickups, Expedition SUVs, and Mavericks.
According to the company, a software defect could disable trailer brake systems and turn signals while a vehicle was towing.
The recall spans model years from 2021 through 2026.
That means drivers who purchased brand-new trucks this year are already affected.
But that issue is only one piece of a much larger pattern.
Separate recalls targeted more than 312,000 F-150s, Broncos, and Expeditions due to electronic brake booster failures that could occur at highway speeds.
Another recall involved roughly 355,000 trucks where the dashboard could go completely dark during startup, leaving drivers without a speedometer, warning lights, or fuel gauge.
Electric vehicles were not immune either.
Ford’s F-150 Lightning and Maverick models were recalled after reports that the vehicles could fail to lock into park and potentially roll away.
Meanwhile, other models faced fire risks from cracked fuel injectors, while the electric Mustang Mach-E was recalled because electronic door latches could trap passengers inside the vehicle.
Record-Breaking Recall Numbers
Ford’s recall totals have reached historic levels.
In 2025 alone, the automaker issued 152 separate recalls affecting approximately 12.9 million vehicles.
That number shattered the previous record for recalls in a single year. The previous high mark was 77 recalls issued by General Motors in 2014.
Ford’s total nearly doubled that record.
By comparison, Honda issued 53 recalls during the same year.
Leadership and Strategic Shifts
Many critics point to decisions made after CEO Jim Farley took control of the company in 2020.
That same year marks the beginning of the recall surge.
During Farley’s tenure, Ford committed massive investments toward electric vehicle development, including the Mustang Mach-E and the F-150 Lightning pickup.
Farley recently acknowledged some of those early EV design challenges during an interview with Car and Driver.
He said he would have designed the Lightning “totally differently” and admitted he was “absolutely flabbergasted” when Ford engineers studied Tesla’s vehicle architecture.
Ford discovered that its Mach-E wiring harness was significantly heavier and far more complex than Tesla’s system.
Those engineering decisions, critics say, highlight how difficult Ford’s transition toward electric vehicles has been.
Production of the F-150 Lightning reportedly ended in December 2025 after only three years of production.
Falling Stock and Growing Concerns
Investors have also felt the impact.
Ford’s stock price has fallen roughly 54 percent from its 2022 peak as the company struggles to restore quality and confidence in its vehicles.
Company leadership insists the high recall numbers demonstrate a more aggressive approach to safety.
Ford says it is identifying problems earlier and voluntarily fixing them before accidents occur.
Still, many customers are frustrated after paying tens of thousands of dollars for vehicles that later required multiple safety repairs.
Modern pickup trucks routinely sell for $60,000 to $80,000 or more, raising expectations for reliability.
Yet some buyers have found themselves returning to dealerships repeatedly to address issues ranging from braking systems to electronic failures.
A Reputation Built Over Generations
For decades, Ford trucks symbolized durability and American manufacturing pride.
Many longtime owners still drive older models that have lasted hundreds of thousands of miles.
But the company now faces a difficult challenge.
Restoring trust among customers who once believed Ford built the toughest trucks on the road.
For millions of drivers dealing with recall notices, warning lights, and service appointments, that promise is being tested like never before.
