by Automaker Ford has announced two new recalls concerning the E-Transit electric vans, as well as Escape and Lincoln Corsair crossovers. These campaigns could bring the company’s total number of recalls in 2025 to 150.
Transmission Problems in Electric Vans
The first recall affects 32,160 E-Transit electric vans from model years 2022-2025. These vehicles have been found to have a powertrain defect that can lead to a sudden loss of power while driving and a risk of rolling away even when parked.
Regulator documents indicate that in the electric vans, the left rear half-shaft may not be fully inserted into the main drive module. This causes premature wear of the splines, which can subsequently lead to insufficient engagement.
Ford learned about the problem in May after a technical teardown of a 2025 model year van, during which a leak from the left rear half-shaft seal was discovered. The investigation revealed that the technological specifications for insertion force and retention verification, provided for the assembly process, proved insufficient to fully secure the half-shaft.
To date, the company is aware of four warranty claims possibly related to this defect, but no accidents have been reported. The manufacturer estimates the defect is present in 5% of the recalled vehicles. Unfortunately, a ready solution to fix the problem is not yet available. Owners will receive notifications, and the expected date for fixes is no earlier than March 2026.
Recall Due to Unsecured Seat Belts
The second campaign concerns 780 Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair crossovers from model years 2025-2026. A problem with the mounting of the rear seat belt retractor mechanisms has been identified in them.
According to the documents, the bolts of the seat belt retractor mechanism may have been insecurely fastened due to improper repair at additional stations during vehicle assembly at the plant.
The problem became known after reports from workers at the Louisville plant about five warranty cases related to jamming or noise from the right rear seat belts during retraction. Inspection confirmed that the cause was improper attachment of the retractor mechanism to the body’s D-pillar.
Fixing this defect is significantly simpler. Dealerships will inspect the bolts securing the seat belt retractor mechanisms and, if necessary, tighten or replace them. Notifications to owners are planned to be sent out this week.
These two new recalls bring Ford closer to the grim milestone of 150 campaigns per year, which could become a record for the company. The situation with the E-Transit is particularly concerning, as the defect is serious and a ready solution to fix it is not yet available, forcing thousands of owners to wait for repairs for at least several months. This could impact the operational activities of companies using these vans. In the case of the crossovers, the problem is fortunately localized and easily remedied, minimizing inconvenience for owners. However, such a frequency of recalls raises questions about quality control at the production and assembly stage, especially for new electric models.
