Ford Motor Company has recalled approximately 4.38 million trucks and SUVs after a software defect was found to disable trailer braking and lighting systems while towing, a failure the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says increases the risk of a crash.
The recall was filed with NHTSA on Feb. 20 under campaign number 26V104000, with Ford's internal reference number 26C10. It covers certain 2021-2026 F-150, 2022-2026 Super Duty, 2024-2026 Ranger, 2022-2026 Expedition, 2022-2026 Lincoln Navigator, 2022-2026 Maverick, and 2026 Transit vehicles.
The F-150 alone accounts for more than 2.3 million of the affected vehicles, with Super Duty trucks representing more than 1.1 million additional units.
Defect disables trailer lights and braking at startup
The problem involves the Integrated Trailer Module (ITRM), a software-driven component that manages communication between the truck and an attached trailer. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2026/RCLRPT-26V104-3946.pdfA software vulnerability can trigger a race condition during startup, causing the module to power on but lose contact with the vehicle., causing the module to power on but lose contact with the vehicle.
When that happens with a trailer connected, the trailer's stop lamps and turn signals stop working. On trucks equipped with a "High series" ITRM, trailer brake function is also lost — a condition NHTSA determined puts affected vehicles out of compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108.
Drivers experiencing the fault may see a "Trailer Brake Module Fault" message on the instrument cluster and rapid flashing of the turn signal indicator. A "Blind Spot Assist System Fault" message may also appear.
Ford reported 405 U.S. warranty claims linked to the issue as of Feb. Ford reported 405 U.S. warranty claims linked to the issue as of Feb. 4. The company says it is not aware of any accidents or injuries attributed to the defect. Ford estimates approximately 1% of the 4.38 million affected vehicles actually exhibit the fault.
Software fix available now at dealers, OTA rollout through May
Ford's fix is an ITRM software update at no charge, available through a dealer visit, Ford mobile service, or an over-the-air update for eligible vehicles.
Dealers will be notified March 17, 2026, with owner notification letters expected to begin mailing March 23. VINs will be searchable at nhtsa.gov/recalls starting March 17. Ford expects OTA deployment to be completed across all affected vehicles by May 2026.
Owners can also contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 and reference recall number 26C10.
Part of a broader pattern of Ford recall activity
This recall is the latest in an extended run of quality-related actions for Ford. The automaker issued 153 recalls in 2025 covering more than 12.9 million vehicles, more than double GM's previous single-year record of 77 set in 2014. Recent actions have included a 694,000-vehicle fuel injector recall and a 272,645-vehicle parking module defect affecting electric and hybrid models.
Ford has attributed the elevated recall volume to a proactive strategy of finding and fixing defects quickly.
