Ford has recalled more than 600,000 vehicles in Canada and around 4.3 million in the United States due to a software glitch that may cause trailer brakes not to function and exterior lights to fail.
The recall will affect certain models of Ford’s most popular vehicles, including some 2021-2026 F150s, 2022-2026 Super Duty Trucks, 2024-2026 Rangers and 2022-2026 Mavericks.
Ford said it would issue an over-the-air software update for all affected vehicles. Customers will also be able to use the mobile service or visit a Ford dealer to get the update.
The update will be available for all vehicles by the end of May.
When pulling a trailer, the software issue can cause the trailer to stop communicating with the vehicle, causing the trailer's stop lamps and turn signals not to light up. In some cases, the trailer's braking function might also be lost.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, trailer lights or brakes that do not function can reduce the driver’s ability to control the trailer, increasing the risk of a crash.
Ford said a “Trailer Brake Module Fault” message will appear for drivers, and the turn signal indicator will flash rapidly if a vehicle does not experience the communication loss.
The company said it is aware of 407 incidents that may be related to the recall issue, but no accidents or injuries are tied to them.
