Ford's Airbag and Electronic Issues in Over 314,000 Vehicles Widen, the Recall Saga Continues
Ford Motor Company has announced a recall of 314,021 vehicles due to two separate issues. The recall involves 100,900 2024-2026 Ford Rangers and 213,121 SUVs, including the 2025 Ford Explorer and 2025 Lincoln Aviator.
The first issue, affecting the Rangers, is due to improperly soldered components on the printed circuit board assemblies of the body control module. This issue may cause the side curtain airbags to tear during deployment, increasing the risk of injury during a crash. Ford is installing protective shields to separate the side curtain airbag from sheet metal in affected Rangers. Vehicles with less than 9,000 miles (14,484 km) will have the body control module C replaced. For vehicles with over 9,000 miles, dealers will perform a functional check on the body control module and replace it as necessary.
Ford became aware of the issue in June after reviewing warranty claims involving inoperative side windows that were fixed by replacing a body control module. The company isn't aware of any incidents related to the issue, but has identified 21 warranty claims potentially related to it.
The second recall affects the SUVs and was prompted by an Ejection Mitigation audit test in June. The test showed that the truck barely passed, revealing an approximately 0.5-inch (12 mm) slit near the top of the cushion of the side curtain airbag. The cause was determined to be the interaction of the airbag with the B-pillar inner reinforcement flange.
Ford's track record does not inspire confidence, as this recall comes after a series of recalls in recent years. However, the company is taking immediate action to rectify the issues and ensure the safety of its customers. The affected vehicles will be repaired by authorized Ford and Lincoln dealerships.
It's worth noting that the recalled vehicles may also experience issues related to the power window/mirror switches, error messages, glove box light, vanity lights, dome lamps, alarm, rear defroster, USB charger, 12V power point, air conditioning system blowing warm air, and trailer taillights failing to illuminate when towing. Ford urges affected customers to contact their local dealership for more information and to schedule a repair appointment.
Ford remains committed to the safety and satisfaction of its customers and is working diligently to address these issues. Customers are encouraged to stay informed and to follow the instructions provided by Ford regarding the recalls.
