Ford and Lincoln Issue Major Recalls for Over 2 Million Vehicles Due to Safety Concerns

Ford Motor Company, in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has announced a series of recalls affecting a significant number of Ford and Lincoln vehicles. These recalls address potential safety defects in various models, ranging from inoperative windshield wipers to driveshaft separation and issues with infotainment systems and driver’s seat software. The affected vehicles include numerous Ford Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, Ford Escape, Lincoln Corsair, Ford F-250 SD, Ford F-350 SD, Lincoln Navigator, Ford Bronco, and Ford Edge models. Owners of these vehicles are advised to take immediate action by contacting a Ford or Lincoln dealer for inspections and repairs, which will be performed at no cost.

One of the most widespread recalls involves the front windshield wiper motors in approximately 360,000 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles manufactured between July 2020 and December 2021. The defect stems from a potential misalignment of the motor’s cover terminal with its brush card terminal. This condition can lead to intermittently operating or completely inoperative windshield wipers. Reduced visibility due to malfunctioning wipers in certain weather conditions increases the risk of a crash. Ford will inspect these wiper motors and replace them if necessary. Affected owners can expect notification letters starting in March 2026.

Another significant recall impacts over 240,000 Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair vehicles from the 2020-2022 model years. These vehicles are also subject to the windshield wiper motor defect described above, with the same potential safety risks. Ford will conduct inspections and replace the affected wiper motors free of charge, with owner notifications beginning in March 2026.

In addition, Ford is recalling nearly 10,000 Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty trucks from the 2025-2026 model years. These trucks are equipped with a rear driveshaft that may separate due to insufficient friction weld penetration. This separation can lead to a loss of motive power while driving, elevating the risk of a crash. The issue was traced to a specific welder experiencing spindle degradation. Ford will inspect these vehicles and replace the rear driveshaft if it is from the affected production run. Owners will be notified starting in March 2026.

A separate recall affects approximately 1,200 Lincoln Navigator vehicles from the 2026 model year. These vehicles may experience inadvertent driver seat movement while driving at speeds below 5 mph. This occurs due to a software error in the obstacle detection system that can cause the seat to continuously attempt to move to the rear of the track if it encounters an obstacle during a low-speed adjustment. Unintended seat movement can impair a driver’s ability to control the vehicle, increasing crash risk. The remedy involves updating the driver’s seat module software to remove the automatic reversal feature. Owner notifications are expected to begin in late March 2026.

Furthermore, a large number of vehicles, totaling nearly 900,000, are being recalled due to issues with their infotainment systems. This includes 2020-2022 Ford Escapes and Lincoln Corsairs, as well as 2020-2024 Lincoln Aviators and Ford Explorers. In these vehicles, the SYNC screen image on the center display may flip or invert after an ignition cycle. This can affect the display of buttons, camera guidelines, and the rearview camera image when in reverse, potentially leading to non-compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 111 regarding rear visibility. A reduced view of what is behind the vehicle increases the risk of a crash. Ford is currently developing a software update for this issue, with owner notifications for interim remedies expected in April 2026.

Finally, over 840,000 Ford Bronco and Ford Edge vehicles from various model years (2021-2026 for Bronco, 2020-2024 for Edge) are subject to a recall due to a potential issue with the Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM). Under certain operating conditions, the APIM can experience a temporary thermal shutdown, lasting up to five minutes. During this shutdown, the rearview camera image is unavailable when the vehicle is in reverse. This can reduce the driver’s visibility and increase the risk of a crash. The defect is linked to the APIM reaching high temperatures due to its proximity to HVAC ducts and the audio head unit, exacerbated by high ambient cabin temperatures. Ford is working on a software update to address this, with remedy owner notifications anticipated to begin in late March 2026.

In all cases, owners are advised to contact their local Ford or Lincoln dealer to schedule a service appointment. They can also obtain specific information regarding their vehicle’s recall status by calling Ford’s toll-free line at 1-866-436-7332 or by using the Ford Online Automotive Service Information System (OASIS) database, accessible through dealers. The VINs for these recalls will be searchable on the NHTSA website starting March 4th or March 5th, 2026, depending on the specific recall.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from Ford Motor Company and NHTSA Part 573 Safety Recall Reports.

---