Ford is recalling 4.38 million (more) trucks and SUVs due to a defect with its Integrated Trailer Module (ITRM) software. Some vehicle owners have reported issues while towing, including the trailer stop lamps, turn signals, and brakes not working as intended.
Essentially, due to the issue with the ITRM software, various towing function signals may be lost after the module fails to communicate with the vehicle during setup. While there are no reported accidents or injuries, vehicles with the impacted ITRM software no longer comply with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108 for lighting equipment.
Ford vehicles getting recalled this time
As you can piece together, the Ford vehicles impacted by this recent recall are larger SUVs and trucks that are more often used for towing. You will know your vehicle has experienced issues with the ITRM if you see a “Trailer Brake Module Fault” pop-up, the turn signal flashes rapidly, or you get a “Blind Spot Assist System Fault” message. This likely means the ITRM lost connection during startup and can’t communicate with your vehicle.
Here are the specific models with the flawed ITRM software:
- 2021–2026 Ford F-150: 2,297,857 units
- 2022–2026 Ford F-250 Super Duty: 1,135,063 units
- 2022–2026 Ford Maverick: 412,105 units
- 2022–2026 Ford Expedition: 317,604 units
- 2024–2026 Ford Ranger: 129,836 units
- 2022–2026 Lincoln Navigator: 75,029 units
- 2026 Ford E-Transit: 13,115 units
Ford has filed the recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), meaning you can search up your vehicle to see if it’s part of the recall and get a free repair. First, search your VIN on the NHTSA website. If your Ford is part of the most recent recall, you can wait for an over-the-air software update that is being deployed in May 2026 or you can take your vehicle to a dealer to have it updated without charge.
Those who miss the news will still get a notification by mail between March 17th and March 27th.
Ford keeps recalling its vehicles, but is that actually a bad thing?
It’s only mid-March and I feel I’ve seen a Ford recall in the headlines about every other day. I can’t even keep track anymore. I think Ford just recalled 1.74 million SUVs due to the infotainment system overheating and shutting down. Then another 605,000 SUVs had some windshield wiper issues. My colleague has reported that every model built since 2020 (except one) has been impacted by a recall at this point.
Before all of the headlines in the past few weeks, Ford was already the car brand with the most recalls, according to NHTSA records. It’s definitely not helped Ford beat the stereotypes. But why is Ford issuing so many recalls? Are their vehicles actually poorly made death traps?
“There’s no obvious answer to why Ford has to undertake more recalls compared to any other automotive brand,” said Pete Gillett, Chief Executive of Marketpoint Recall, to Automotive World. “Modern vehicles are extraordinarily complex machines. A single car contains tens of thousands of components sourced from global supplier networks, alongside increasingly sophisticated software and electronics. When something goes wrong anywhere in that ecosystem, it can trigger a recall that affects large numbers of vehicles, not least when you consider the paramount importance of safety.”
From the research I’ve done over the past few months, it seems like most of Ford’s recalls are pretty tame. Most are nowhere near dangerous. In all honesty, you probably never got any of those error messages if you have a Ford vehicle with ITRM software. Ford estimates that only 1% of vehicles with this exact software model have the latest defect. Still, it’s sorta like eating from a large bowl of Skittles knowing there is one in there that’s poisoned, as the saying goes.
Gillett added: “The issue of automotive recalls goes way beyond Ford. All automotive brands need to be proactive. That means having systems in place to identify affected vehicles quickly, communicate directly with drivers rather than relying on passive notices, and track responses as the recall unfolds.”
