Which Ford vehicles are affected by the latest brake recall?
If you drive a 2025 Ford Bronco, Ranger, Expedition, F-150, or a Lincoln Navigator, this one’s for you. Ford has announced a recall impacting over 312,000 of these popular trucks and SUVs due to a braking issue that could increase stopping distances. That’s not a typo—more than 300,000 vehicles are involved, making this one of the automaker’s most significant recalls of the year. The problem centers on the electronic brake booster, a crucial component that helps you stop quickly and safely. When it fails, you might find yourself needing a lot more road to come to a halt. Not exactly the kind of surprise anyone wants behind the wheel.
What exactly is wrong with the brakes?
Here’s where things get technical, but stick with me. The electronic brake booster module in these vehicles can enter a so-called faulted state while you’re driving. Translation: the system that helps amplify your braking power suddenly checks out, leaving you with only the basic, unassisted brakes. The real kicker? This can happen even when advanced driver assistance features are active—so the tech that’s supposed to keep you safer might actually be caught off guard by the same glitch.
Ford’s investigation traced the issue to the booster motor itself, which is apparently a bit too sensitive to normal (but rare) voltage fluctuations. When the voltage surges, the motor can shut down, and you lose brake assist until the car’s computer goes through a full sleep cycle—usually after you’ve turned the vehicle off and back on. Not ideal if you’re in the middle of traffic.
How did Ford discover the problem?
The story started in mid-May, when Ford spotted a vehicle with a sudden loss of brake boost. That single case triggered a deeper look, and soon, more drivers came forward with similar experiences. By the time the dust settled, Ford had logged 37 warranty claims and one reported low-speed crash linked to the issue. Thankfully, there haven’t been any injuries so far, but the potential for a more serious accident is real. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been closely involved, underscoring the seriousness of the defect.
What’s Ford doing to fix it?
Ford isn’t just sitting on its hands. The company plans to roll out a software update for the electronic brake booster module. The fix is designed to make the system more resilient to those pesky voltage blips, ensuring you keep full braking power even if the electrical gremlins strike. If you own one of the affected vehicles, you’ll have two options: wait for the over-the-air update to hit your car (a process that’s becoming more common in the auto world), or swing by your local dealership and have a technician install the update for you.
The update is expected to be available later this month, so keep an eye out for notifications from Ford or Lincoln. It’s a straightforward fix, but don’t put it off—brake assist is one of those features you don’t want to gamble with.
How common are recalls like this, and should you be worried?
Recalls are more common than most people realize, especially as vehicles become more reliant on complex electronics. According to the NHTSA, there were over 1,000 vehicle recalls in the US in 2023 alone, affecting millions of cars. Ford, in particular, has had a busy year—this marks their 94th recall campaign. While that number might sound alarming, it’s worth noting that recalls are a sign the system is working. Automakers and regulators are catching problems before they turn into widespread disasters.
Still, the sheer scale of this recall highlights the challenges of modern vehicle design. As cars pack in more tech, the opportunities for something to go sideways increase. The good news? Over-the-air updates mean fixes can happen faster than ever, sometimes without you even leaving your driveway.
What should you do if your vehicle is part of the recall?
First, don’t panic. If you haven’t already received a notice from Ford or Lincoln, you probably will soon. In the meantime, drive with extra caution and be alert for any changes in brake feel or stopping distance. If you notice anything unusual, contact your dealer right away. And when the update becomes available, get it done as soon as possible—either wirelessly or at the dealership.
If you’re curious whether your vehicle is affected, you can check your VIN on the NHTSA recall website or Ford’s own recall portal. It’s a quick way to get peace of mind.
Why do these issues keep happening, and what does it mean for the future?
It’s easy to get frustrated with the constant stream of recalls, but there’s a bigger picture here. Modern vehicles are marvels of engineering, packed with sensors, computers, and software. Each new feature brings benefits, but also new risks. The auto industry is still learning how to balance innovation with reliability, and sometimes, that means fixing problems on the fly.
Experts say that as over-the-air updates become the norm, recalls like this will become less disruptive. Instead of waiting weeks for parts or appointments, many fixes will happen in the background. But the lesson for automakers is clear: rigorous testing and robust design are more important than ever.
The big takeaway? Car safety isn’t about perfection—it’s about smarter adjustments. Start with one change this week, and you’ll likely spot the difference by month’s end.