by At this point, Ford might as well set up a dedicated RSVP hotline just for recalls. Its latest action brings the 2025 total to a record-setting 106, and the year’s not even close to done. This time, nearly half a million vehicles in the United States are being called back due to a potential brake fluid leak that could compromise stopping performance.
Which Models Are Affected?
The recall covers 497,624 vehicles in the USA, including 2015MY to 2018MY Ford Edge and 2016MY to 2018MY Lincoln MKX SUVs. Both of these models use a similar brake system, and the questionable hoses were fitted in vehicles manufactured between June 2014 and December 2017.
While the company estimates that only about 1 percent of the SUVs might suffer from the flaw in question, Ford said it’s moving forward with the recall out of caution (though avoiding another round of pointed emails from regulators probably didn’t hurt either). In the meantime, dealers have been instructed to hold off on delivering any in-stock vehicles tied to the recall until a solution is in place.
More: There’s No Stopping Ford’s Recall Machine
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the problem lies with the rear flexible brake hose that can rupture and leak fluid. If that happens, it could cause the brake pedal to travel farther than normal or activate the red brake warning light. In more serious scenarios, stopping distances may stretch dangerously long. So far, Ford says no injuries or accidents have been reported in connection with the defect.
The root cause of the hose failure is still a bit of a mystery. That said, Ford did notice a sharp drop in cases after a 2017 material change, when it replaced the polyvinyl alcohol braiding with a polyethylene terephthalate weave. Complaints first surfaced in 2021, but only after a steady trickle of new cases and prodding from NHTSA did the automaker agree to launch a field action.
So, What Now?
While a final solution is still in the works, Ford plans to start mailing out recall notices on September 8, 2025, with a follow-up once the actual repair is ready to roll. As usual, repairs will be carried out free of charge at Ford or Lincoln dealerships. In the meantime, owners can check their vehicle’s status by contacting customer service or using the OASIS VIN lookup tool.
This latest campaign comes on top of around 356,000 F-Series trucks recalled earlier this week over instrument clusters that can fail at startup. Ford drivers might want to keep a close eye on their mailboxes this year.
