Ford Vehicle Recalls Set New Record in 2025, Exceeding 150 Actions

Millions of Ford vehicles were recalled in 2025 for faulty engines, brakes, transmissions and more.

U.S. automaker Ford issued more vehicle recalls in 2025 than any other car manufacturer in a single year, citing safety concerns affecting millions of vehicles, including electric cars, SUVs and pickup trucks.

However, according to a press release issued in mid-2025, Ford attributed the surge in recalls to doubling its safety and technical team over the past two years, while expanding critical system testing for powertrains, steering, braking and other components. The company argued that the record number of recalls, which had already been reached by July, reflected improved oversight and faster identification of potential defects.

Ford Investigations

The explanation came as Ford continued to face heightened regulatory scrutiny, following a $165 million fine in late 2024, the second-largest fine that the U.S. National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) ever issued, over a recall the agency said was conducted too slowly to protect customers.

NHTSA issued the fine in November 2024 after investigating a 2021 Ford recall that initially excluded some vehicles with potentially defective rearview cameras, finding that the company also failed to provide complete and accurate information about the full scope of possible malfunctions.

On the heels of the fine, NHTSA announced two subsequent Ford investigations. The first involved a 2024 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator seatbelt recall, which did not address problems with seatbelts in certain models that were not part of the initial recall.

The second investigation was due to at least 15 vehicle owner reports of receiving a repair for a 2024 Ford Bronco Sport and Maverick Truck recall over battery malfunction risks, yet still experiencing problems with sudden power loss.

Ford Recalls

The investigations came amid a historic volume of recalls for the automaker in 2025, affecting millions of vehicles across dozens of models.

At the end of 2024 and start of 2025, Ford recalled more than half a million vehicles due to potential fuel pump failures in certain Ford trucks, as well as another Bronco Sport and Maverick vehicle battery defect.

In total, NHTSA data shows that Ford issued at least 153 vehicle recalls in 2025, including one for more than 850,000 vehicles due to failing fuel pumps, and another for nearly 1.1 million vehicles over a potential defect in the rearview camera software.

The recalls covered numerous Ford vehicles from recent years, including the following models:

Individuals who want to know if their specific year, make and model of Ford vehicle is covered under any open recalls should visit the NHTSA website, where they can enter their license plate, VIN number or other vehicle information to download any relevant recall reports.

Ford Lawsuits

In addition to the many recalls issued by Ford throughout 2025, lawsuits were also filed across the country, raising concerns that issues related to defective vehicles may lead to auto accidents or other life-threatening situations.

In December, a wrongful death lawsuit was brought by a woman who claimed that some Ford pickup trucks have a “roof-crush defect”, and that the company has failed to warn owners or address the problem. This defect allegedly led to the death of the woman’s husband in a vehicle rollover accident.

In another instance, two California men filed a complaint, alleging that the Ford Mustang Mach-E could trap children and pets inside during emergency situations due to a design defect in which the electronically latching doors have no way of opening from the outside when the vehicle’s battery dies.

A Mustang Mach-E recall was issued in June 2025, following multiple reports of individuals being unable to exit the electric vehicle. Federal regulators reported that they had received at least six incident reports of owners who were unable to open the vehicle door after the battery lost power. In at least two cases, children were trapped inside.

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