Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for a trailer brake fade recognition system that may be used in future Ford vehicles, Ford Authority has learned.
The patent was filed on January 29th, 2024, published on July 31st, 2025, and assigned serial number 0242784.
The Ford Authority Take
Ford has filed a few patents that revolve around future towing technology as of late, including one that would allow for the use of adaptive cruise control with aftermarket trailer brake controllers. The automaker also recently published a patent for a system that could estimate the remaining useful life of parts as well. Put those two ideas together, and we’ve somewhat got the concept for this newly published patent, which presents us with an idea for a trailer brake fade recognition system.
The concept behind this new patent filing is relatively simple – it presents us with an idea for a system capable of adjusting a vehicle’s speed based on inputs gathered while a vehicle is towing a trailer. The system would be able to do this by changing the gain of torque commands to the trailer, using data such as the weight of the load being towed, as well as other pre-selected variables. In the event that trailer fade occurs, the system could also instruct the driver to pull over and allow the systems to cool if necessary.
“Submitting patent applications is a normal part of any strong business as the process protects new ideas and helps us build a robust portfolio of intellectual property,” Ford said in a statement. “The ideas described within a patent application should not be viewed as an indication of our business or product plans. No matter what the patent application outlines, we will always put the customer first in the decision-making behind the development and marketing of new products and services.”
Comments
Towing adjustments make MUCH MORE sense then a tire wear sensor,
or the tire inflation speaker count notification.
Ford has ALWAYS been GREAT with planed obsolescence!
Water pumps in first and second gen Taurus had to be changed at 65,000 miles like clock work.
Why not just put all the information for product life in the manual?
They know when it will need replacement.
Ford can’t even control their own brakes let alone a trailer’s.