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Ford exterior lighting recalls: headlights, tail lights and brake lights
Ford's exterior lighting recalls fall into three repeating patterns. The biggest is brake lights that glow with no pedal pressed — Whelen lamps on 2017-2018 F-550, E-350, E-450 and F-450 ambulance and fire truck upfits, the 2022 Maverick's ABS module, and a wrongly installed stop light switch on 2025 F-53 and F-59 chassis. The second is body control module software on 2022-2024 Mavericks, which can shut off one or both rear tail lights or skip the fast-flash turn signal warning; Ford re-recalled those trucks after earlier repairs were done wrong. The third is daytime running lamps that never dim, on 2018-2020 F-150 and 2018-2019 Super Duty. Newest: burnt LED driver diodes on 2025 Mustang, Mustang Mach-E and Lincoln Nautilus.
Warning signs to watch for
- Headlights, daytime running lights or front turn signals that do not come on after you start the vehicle
- Brake lights lit while your foot is off the pedal, or staying dark when you press it
- One or both rear tail lights out, or rear lights that flicker and work only intermittently
- Daytime running lamps staying at full brightness after you turn the headlight switch on, drawing flashes from oncoming drivers
- A rear turn signal that has failed with no fast-flashing warning on the dash to tell you about it
Is it safe to keep driving?
No recall in this group carries a do-not-drive or park-outside instruction, so you can keep driving while you wait for an appointment. Ford's 2025 F-53 and F-59 notice also raises a rollaway concern, so always set the parking brake and do not leave the vehicle parked unattended without it. For the rest, drive defensively: have someone stand behind the vehicle to confirm the brake lights, tail lights and turn signals still work, and take extra care at night if headlights or daytime running lamps are involved.
What the free repair involves
Repairs split by cause. Dealers replace hardware where it is broken: LED driver modules on the 2025 vehicles, the F-53/F-59 stop light switch, Ranger rear light connectors, and the Whelen brake lights on emergency upfits. Where the fault is software, they reflash the body control module or the ABS module. Everything is free, and none of these is an over-the-air update — the vehicle goes to the dealer.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| high | 2 |
| medium | 16 |
| low | 8 |
Models affected most
Every recall in this group
Common questions
My Maverick was already repaired for the tail light recall. Why did another letter arrive?
Ford issued follow-up recalls in February 2025 for 2022-2024 Mavericks repaired incorrectly under 24V-293 and 23V-848. The dealer reflashes the body control module software again — once for the tail lights shutting off, once for the missing turn signal warning. Both are free.
Are the ambulance and fire truck brake light recalls Ford's responsibility?
No. Those campaigns were filed by body builders — Excellance, Taylor Made, Unruh Fire, Blanchat and FES — on Ford E-350, E-450, F-450 and F-550 chassis fitted with Whelen brake lights. Whelen or the upfitter replaces the lights free, so contact them rather than Ford.
How do I know whether the daytime running lamp recall applies to my F-150?
The 2020 campaign covers 2018-2020 F-150 trucks with high series LED headlamps and Autolamp on/off functionality, where the daytime running lamps stay lit instead of dimming to parking lamps. Check your VIN with NHTSA's recall lookup or a Ford dealer to confirm.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.