Ford issues urgent recall for nearly 500,000 vehicles over serious brake issue

America’s most iconic automaker has issued another recall, extending its record-breaking pace. 

Ford Motor posted another safety bulletin with federal safety regulators: this time, the recall impacts nearly 500,000 vehicles in the US. 

The issue involves a brake fluid leak, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Thursday.

A ruptured hose in the brake system may cause fluid to leak, lengthening stopping distances and increasing the risk of a crash, the report said.

Ford said it has not received any reports of accidents or injuries linked to the issue. There have been 64 warranty claims, three field reports, and 16 customer complaints from the problem.

The recall includes two mid-size SUVs built between 2015 and 2018: the Ford Edge and its luxury sibling, the Lincoln MKX. 

Lincoln’s recall spans the 2016 and 2018 model years. The NHTSA estimates 1 percent of the recalled vehicles have the defect.

Ford tells the Daily Mail that impacted Edge and MKX vehicles may show one of two warnings — altered brake feel or a red brake fluid alert on the dashboard. 

Ford is recalling some 2015 through 2018 model year Edge SUVs over a fluid leak

The company does not currently have a parts supply ready to fix the vehicles. 

Owners will receive a notice from Ford when their cars can be brought to the dealership for a free replacement part.  

Separately, Ford is also recalling over 213,000 vehicles due to faulty tail lights and 100,900 vehicles because of the risk of a tear in the airbag when deployed, according to the auto safety body. 

Yesterday, the American automaker recalled 355,000 trucks because of a software glitch.  

Altogether, Ford has issued 105 recalls this year. That is the most any automaker has ever issued in a full year, and there are still three months left in 2025. 

The next five most recalled major automakers — Chrysler, Volkswagen, GM, Mercedes-Benz, and Honda — have issued a combined 87 safety bulletins this year. 

Ford has led the auto industry in safety recalls in three of the past four years. 

This year’s issues with parts and updates span all manner of systems — the company has issued bulletins for engine part issues, technical glitches, seatbelt problems, accessory batteries, loose electrical connections, and door jams. 

Ford’s CEO said in a 2024 earnings call that the company is spending millions to fix parts issues

Ford has been adjusting its hardware manufacturing processes to address the automaker’s record-breaking recalls

Ford says around half of its recalled vehicles will receive over-the-air updates to fix their cars 

Ford tells the Daily Mail that around half of its recalls are resolved through over-the-air updates that don’t require a trip to the dealership.

The company is aware of its parts problem and is spending top dollar to address manufacturing issues with a slate of AI scanning technology and mobile scanners. 

In a 2024 earnings call, Ford CEO Jim Farley said the company spent $4.8 billion annually on recalls.

The top boss unveiled a ‘build and hold’ model for several US-built models.

After the products finished rolling through Ford assembly plants, the car company held trucks in giant parking lots, allowing engineers to assess their build quality.

Farley said the new process helped the company avoid 12 safety and technical recalls. It also temporarily cut into profits.

‘Our earnings may be a little lumpy,’ he said during an April 2024 earnings call.

‘What we’re going to see long term is fewer recalls and lower warranty costs because of this new process.’

A majority of Ford’s vehicles — around 77 percent — are assembled in the US.