Ford Recalls Over 3,500 Transit Vehicles for Software Defect

Ford Motor Company has issued a recall for 3,506 Transit vehicles from model years 2022 and 2023 due to a software defect that affects the Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC). The vehicles, classified under medium and heavy buses, may not properly illuminate telltales or gauges, potentially breaching federal safety standards and posing a significant risk to driver and passenger safety.

According to Ford’s records, some vehicles were mistakenly recorded as having completed a prior safety recall (22C11 / 22V-415), although the correct software update had not been successfully installed. This could result in the IPC failing to display critical warning indicators as required under Section 5.3.1 of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS 101). Ford has emphasized that there have been no reported accidents or injuries linked to this issue.

The underlying cause stems from the service tool used during vehicle repairs, which did not upload the appropriate software version. A detailed audit, initiated in late 2024, revealed that 87.8% of previously remedied vehicles had the correct update, but a subset still lacked the necessary fix. The recall, listed under NHTSA Recall No. 25V339 and Ford’s internal reference 25C19, is a continuation of efforts to address these deficiencies.

Ford will notify affected owners via mail, advising them to visit a Ford or Lincoln dealer to receive a no-cost IPC software update. Dealers will validate the correct software installation before closing the service action. Additionally, Ford has a reimbursement program in place for owners who may have previously paid out-of-pocket for related repairs. Dealer notifications are set to begin on June 23, 2025, with owner notifications following in a phased rollout concluding by June 30, 2025.

Article by multiple RFHC contributors, based upon information from the Ford Motor Company Part 573 Safety Recall Report 25V339.

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