Large-Scale Recall Due to Three Separate Problems
The automaker Ford continues its series of recalls, announcing three new campaigns. In total, they concern 616,280 vehicles due to three separate technical malfunctions.
The Largest Campaign Concerns Windshield Wipers
The most extensive action covers 604,533 crossovers, including Ford Escape and Explorer models from 2020-2022, as well as the Lincoln Aviator and Corsair. These vehicles have a wiper motor installed that may fail, leading to reduced visibility.
Ford learned about this problem back in 2021 but initially did not consider it “to pose an unreasonable risk to traffic safety.” The manufacturer also predicted a low frequency of the defect occurring.
However, in November 2025, Ford resumed the investigation after an increase in the number of failures. The study found that the problem may be related to an assembly defect at the Valeo company’s production facility. During the production of the wiper motor, the terminal of the cover could be misaligned relative to the terminal of the brush plate. This poor contact over time leads to a loss of electrical conductivity.
The company ultimately decided to conduct a recall. So far, 1,374 warranty claims related to this issue are known. Dealerships will inspect and replace the front wiper motors as needed. Unfortunately, spare parts are not expected until May.
Driveshaft Problem in Heavy-Duty Pickups
The second recall concerns 11,431 F-250 and F-350 pickups from the 2025 and 2026 model years. They have been found to have poor-quality welding that could lead to the separation of the rear driveshaft and “sudden loss of power.”
During final testing at the Kentucky Truck Plant, three Super Duty series pickups experienced driveshaft separation in the thermal welding zone between the shaft tube and the end yoke. This prompted a stop-shipment order and an investigation.
Together with the supplier Dana, it was discovered that one of the welding machines had wear, preventing it from reaching “sufficient speed to ensure acceptable welding energy.” This results in a weak weld that can fail. Ford reports six warranty claims related to this problem. To fix it, dealers will check the driveshaft serial number and replace it if necessary.
Silent Reverse Motion in Vans
The third recall concerns 316 E-350 and E-450 vans from the 2026 and 2027 model years. They have been found to have a problem with the reverse signal connector, which may become disconnected, causing the system not to emit an audible signal when reversing.
Plant employees noticed the problem last November: “the frame harness connector and the reverse signal connector were mated but not secured.” The investigation showed that the cause lies in an incorrect vehicle frame harness connector that was “accidentally substituted.” To resolve the issue, dealers will replace the connector with a new one that will function properly.
This series of recalls demonstrates how crucial quality is at all stages of production, from individual supplier components to final assembly. The wiper incident is particularly illustrative, as ignoring a potential problem in the early stages led to large-scale consequences several years later. For owners of the mentioned models, it is important to monitor official communications and contact dealerships for inspection, even if no immediate symptoms have appeared yet. Such preventive measures can prevent dangerous situations on the road.