Ford Recalls More Than Four Million F 150 and Expedition Vehicles Across United States After Dangerous Trailer Brake Software Glitch Emerges

If you drive a Ford pickup or SUV and tow anything — a boat, camper, work trailer — you might want to pay attention.

More than four million Ford vehicles are being recalled after a software glitch raised serious safety concerns.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, roughly 4.4 million vehicles could be affected.

The issue centers on a piece of software tied to the Integrated Trailer Module (ITRM), the system that allows a vehicle to communicate properly with an attached trailer.

When that communication fails, it’s not just a minor inconvenience.

Taillights, brake lights, turn signals, and trailer brakes may stop working properly — creating a scenario that could easily lead to a crash.

What Exactly Went Wrong

The problem is rooted in software, not hardware.

The ITRM can unexpectedly lose communication, especially when the vehicle exits what’s known as “sleep mode.”

That means even if you don’t have a trailer attached, the fault can still trigger.

Drivers may see a dashboard alert reading “Trailer Brake Module Fault.”

That’s the system’s way of warning that something isn’t functioning correctly.

Without proper communication between the vehicle and a trailer, braking and signaling can become unreliable.

That puts both the driver and surrounding motorists at risk, especially at highway speeds or in heavy traffic.

The Models Caught Up in the Recall

Several high-profile and high-volume models are included.

Among them is the iconic Ford F-150, with roughly two million units affected.

The heavy-duty Ford F-250 is also impacted, with more than one million vehicles recalled from model years 2022 through 2026.

Other vehicles involved include:

• Ford Expedition (2022–2026)

• Ford Maverick (2022–2026)

• Ford Ranger (2024–2026)

• Ford E-Transit (2026)

• Certain multipurpose passenger vehicles produced between 2021 and 2026

The numbers are staggering. Over 317,000 Expeditions, around 400,000 Mavericks, nearly 130,000 Rangers, and more than 13,000 E-Transit vans are included.

No Crashes Reported — But The Risk Is Real

Ford stated it is not aware of any crashes, injuries, or fires linked directly to this software problem.

Still, federal safety regulators determined the issue creates noncompliance with federal safety standards.

In a statement shared with Bloomberg, Ford acknowledged the malfunction could reduce a driver’s ability to control a trailer while also making the vehicle less visible to others on the road.

And in towing situations, visibility and braking are everything.

How Ford Plans to Fix It

The solution, thankfully, doesn’t require tearing apart your vehicle.

Ford will issue an over-the-air software update beginning in May.

Owners won’t need to visit a dealership unless they prefer to.

For those who want peace of mind sooner, Ford and Lincoln dealers will provide the update free of charge.

Over-the-air updates have become more common across the industry, allowing manufacturers to correct issues remotely.

Tesla popularized the model years ago, and legacy automakers like Ford have increasingly adopted it to streamline recalls.

Why Trailer Technology Matters More Than Ever

Modern trucks aren’t just about horsepower and torque anymore.

Today’s towing systems rely heavily on software integration.

Brake controllers, lighting synchronization, sway control — they’re all governed by digital modules.

As vehicles become more technologically advanced, software glitches can create real-world safety risks.

That’s why recalls tied to coding errors have surged industry-wide over the past decade.

Ford, one of America’s oldest automakers, has invested billions in digital transformation.

But with that innovation comes vulnerability to technical faults that weren’t part of the automotive equation decades ago.

Impact and Consequences

Driver Safety: The most immediate concern is the risk of collisions caused by malfunctioning brake lights or trailer braking systems.

Brand Reputation: A recall of this scale — over four million vehicles — inevitably puts pressure on consumer confidence.

Regulatory Scrutiny: Large recalls tend to draw increased attention from federal safety regulators, particularly when they involve core driving functions like braking.

Financial Cost: Even software fixes carry costs, from engineering time to dealership servicing and communication campaigns.

Still, Ford’s ability to deploy an over-the-air update could soften both the financial and reputational blow.

What’s Next?

1. Owner Notifications: Affected drivers will receive official recall notices with instructions.

2. Software Rollout in May: Over-the-air updates will begin distribution.

3. Dealer Support: Service centers will provide immediate updates for concerned customers.

4. Monitoring: Regulators and Ford engineers will monitor for further reports of system faults.

If additional issues surface, the recall scope could expand.

For now, officials emphasize this is a preventative action.

Summary

Ford is recalling approximately 4.4 million vehicles due to a software malfunction in the Integrated Trailer Module that could disrupt trailer brake and lighting communication.

While no crashes or injuries have been reported, the glitch poses a serious safety risk.

A free over-the-air software update will begin in May, with dealership fixes available immediately for drivers who prefer in-person service.

Bulleted Takeaways

• Ford is recalling about 4.4 million vehicles over a trailer communication software glitch.

• The issue affects brake lights, turn signals, and trailer braking systems.

• No crashes or injuries have been reported so far.

• Impacted models include F-150, F-250, Expedition, Maverick, Ranger, and E-Transit.

• Over-the-air updates will begin in May at no cost to owners.

• Drivers can visit Ford or Lincoln dealerships for immediate updates.

• The recall highlights growing software-related risks in modern vehicles.

If you own one of these models and regularly tow, it may be wise to check your vehicle’s recall status and schedule the update as soon as it becomes available.