- Ford has already damaged the document for many security recollects in a yr
In 2014, Normal Motors set the document for essentially the most security recollects an automaker issued in a yr. Amid a scandal over defective ignition switches, the automaker referred to as again vehicles for pressing repairs 77 instances.
Ford has issued 89 recollects to date in 2025. The yr is 53% over.
Ford has issued extra recollects in 2025 than the subsequent 5 automakers mixed.
What Is a Recall?
- A recall is a legally required free repair for a security downside
Federal legislation requires automakers to repair questions of safety with their vehicles at no cost. The legislation additionally requires them to try to contact registered homeowners to allow them to know of the issue. The federal authorities’s Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) oversees the method.
Virtually each automaker points a number of recollects yearly. Automakers constantly inform us their greatest frustration within the course of is homeowners who ignore recall notices.
Not each high quality downside is a security downside. Peeling paint received’t set off a recall, however a defective airbag or a component that may fall off into site visitors will.
The legislation technically lets automakers off the hook 15 years after a automobile is first offered. However many automakers proceed to restore even older automobiles at no cost. In significantly threatening instances, they could even ask drivers to cease utilizing vehicles altogether and order sellers to cease promoting them till they’re fastened.
Ford Had Been Making Progress
- Ford led the auto business in recollects for a number of years, however did higher in 2024
The information is especially devastating for Ford as a result of the corporate had been making progress on an previous recall downside.
Ford led the auto business in recollects in each 2022 and 2023. It paid a $165 million nice and entered right into a consent decree with NHTSA requiring a plan to deal with its recall downside.
Final yr, the corporate employed a brand new head of high quality and held tens of 1000’s of automobiles for additional inspections earlier than delivering them to sellers. It appeared to be working. In 2024, Tesla and Stellantis shared the doubtful recall crown.
So, What Occurred?
- A software program audit pressured Ford to repeat some older recollects
- Even with out these repeats, the corporate leads the business in recollects
There’s no single rationalization for Ford’s nightmare 2025 recall difficulty. However there’s an evidence for greater than a 3rd of it. Thirty-three of the 89 have been partial repeats of previous recollects.
Many recollects in right this moment’s vehicles relate to software program issues. Early this yr, Ford found an issue with the way in which its sellers uploaded software program fixes.
The system they used may often report success even when an add failed. Ford developed a brand new course of to repair that, and launched an audit of software-related recollects from prior years.
“The overwhelming majority of recall repairs have been profitable, with the right software program model put in on the related module,” Ford says. However, in lots of prior recollects, a small proportion of vehicles didn’t get the right replace.
Sellers believed they’d, and returned the vehicles to homeowners as fastened.
Ford’s audits recognized the vehicles that have been lacking the updates. Thirty-three instances to date in 2025, the corporate has issued a second recall to deliver again these vehicles to have the right software program put in.
Take away these 33, nonetheless, and Ford nonetheless has 56 recollects, barely greater than midway via the yr. Ford may beat GM’s 2014 document even with out the software program audit at that tempo.
What Is Ford Doing About It?
- Ford has employed extra inspectors and elevated inside testing
- Executives are spending time on manufacturing facility flooring
Ford has taken a number of steps to deal with the difficulty.
An organization spokesperson advised business publication Automotive Information that Ford “has greater than doubled its crew of security and technical specialists up to now two years and considerably elevated testing to failure on vital methods reminiscent of powertrains, steering, and braking.”
The corporate can also be “turning to in-house options reminiscent of AI-powered software program methods to assist catch defects extra rapidly,” AN stories.
Fan website Ford Authority stories executives have additionally begun conducting “gemba walks” — a Japanese approach that entails visiting manufacturing facility flooring to review how work is carried out and work together straight with front-line employees.
