As of this writing, Ford has issued more recalls in 2024 than any other automaker except for one – Stellantis – doling out 63 versus 72 for the latter. While Ford recalls in 2024 are on track to rank second, this is actually an improvement over recent years, when it has topped that list on more than on occasion. Regardless, not all Ford recalls are created equally in terms of seriousness or scope. In that regard, here are the top five biggest Ford recalls issued in 2024, in terms of how many vehicles each one impacts.
5. Ford Maverick Taillights Deactivate
Back in April, The Blue Oval recalled 242,669 2022-2024 Ford Maverick pickups after discovering that the Body Control Module (BCM) in those vehicles may inadvertently deactivate one or both rear tail lights. The fix for this problem was quite simple at least, as dealers only have to update the Maverick’s BCM software.
4. Ford Maverick Rear Camera Freezes
The Maverick also holds the distinction of having the fourth-largest of all Ford recalls of 2024 after the automaker recalled 273,701 pickups equipped with the Connected Touch Radio (CTR) from the 2022-2024 model years over an issue where the rearview camera image may freeze when the vehicle is in reverse. To fix this problem, dealers were instructed to update the CTR software.
3. Maverick, Bronco Sport Low Battery Issue
In April, a total of 456,565 2021-2024 Ford Bronco Sport and 2022-2023 Maverick vehicles were recalled after the automaker discovered that their body and power train control modules may fail to detect a change in the 12-volt battery state of charge. Dealers were instructed to recalibrate the body control module and power train control module to rectify this particular issue.
2. Ford F-150 Transmission Woes
This past June, a grand total of 552,188 Ford F-150 pickups from the 2014 model year were recalled for a loss of signal that may occur between the transmission output shaft speed sensor and the powertrain control module that can cause the transmission to unexpectedly downshift into first gear, regardless of vehicle speed. Dealers were instructed to update the powertrain control module software to fix this problem.
1. Ford Explorer Trim Pieces Detach
The biggest of all Ford recalls in 2024 – affecting 1,889,110 different 2011-2019 Ford Explorer models – was issued after the automaker discovered that the A-pillar trim retention clips on those vehicles may not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach. As such, dealers were instructed to inspect and replace those trim pieces as needed.
Comments
It’s now pretty universal (except in here, ahem) that it’s not the number of recalls but the number of vehicles involved. Ford is currently in the #3 slot (surprise!), behind Stellantis and Honda (another surprise), as of last weekend, anyway.
Recalls are not bad. They are fixes for problems that are reported early by owners or by Ford itself. My 2014 Fusion Hybrid had three recalls, yet my vehicle never had problems related to the recalls or on any other issue.
They should do something about the Maverick hybrid 12V batteries. Utter junk, thousands are having problems with them. Ford just replaced mine after only 11 months in service.