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Ford Exterior Lighting Recalls Involve False Brake Signals and Failures
Incorrect brake signals recur across the Ford-based emergency vehicle notices, particularly 2017-2018 F-550 fire trucks and ambulances with Whelen brake lights. Those lights may illuminate without the brake pedal being pressed, depending on vehicle wiring. Separate Ford truck notices concern daytime running lights that fail to dim on certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2018-2019 F-250, F-350, and F-450 Super Duty trucks. Other repeated themes involve LED modules: parking light flicker on certain 2022-2023 Bronco Sport and 2022 F-150 vehicles, and exterior light failures on certain 2025 Mustang, Mustang Mach E, and Lincoln Nautilus vehicles. The 2019 Ranger notice concerns rear light connector terminals; the 2025 F-53/F-59 notice concerns a stop light switch.
Warning signs to watch for
- February 2020 F-150 recall: daytime running lights remain activated instead of dimming when switched from Autolamps to Headlamps On.
- September 2022 Bronco Sport/F-150 recall: parking lights flicker when headlights are activated.
- August 2025 Mustang/Mustang Mach E/Nautilus recall: affected headlight functions may fail; Nautilus rear lighting may also fail.
- January 2026 F-53/F-59 recall: brake lights illuminate unexpectedly or fail to illuminate when the brake pedal is activated.
- November 2019 Ranger recall: rear lights work intermittently or do not work.
Can you keep driving? What the notices say
The supplied exterior lighting notices do not tell owners to stop driving or park outside. This applies to the F-150 and Super Duty daytime running light notices, the Bronco Sport/F-150 parking light notice, the Mustang/Mustang Mach E/Nautilus LED module notice, the F-53/F-59 brake light switch notice, and the Ranger rear light connector notice. The supplied Watts Manufacturing, Excellance, FES, Blanchat, Taylor Made, and Unruh Fire brake light notices likewise do not tell owners to stop driving.
What the free repair involves
Free repairs depend on the notice. The F-150 and Super Duty dimming recalls require body control module reprogramming. The September 2022 recall replaces LED Driver modules; the August 2025 recall inspects and replaces them as necessary. The F-53/F-59 notice replaces the stop light switch. Ranger connectors are inspected and replaced if necessary. The listed Whelen brake light notices specify free replacement.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| high | 4 |
| medium | 22 |
| low | 1 |
Models affected most
Where owners report exterior lighting problems most
NHTSA owner complaints filed under exterior lighting for the Ford models and years in this guide. Complaints are unverified reports and are not limited to the recalled defects.
| Vehicle | Exterior lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2019 Ford Ranger | 14 |
| 2024 Ford Mustang | 8 |
| 2025 Ford Mustang | 5 |
| 2018 Ford F-150 | 2 |
| 2026 Ford F-350 SD | 1 |
Every recall in this group
Common questions
Why would brake lights turn on without pressing the pedal?
The listed Whelen emergency vehicle notices say this can happen depending on the vehicle's specific wiring. Separately, the January 2026 F-53/F-59 notice identifies an incorrectly installed switch that can cause unexpected illumination or failure to illuminate when braking.
Which Ford trucks have daytime running lights that fail to dim?
The February 2020 notice covers certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks with specified LED headlamps and Autolamp functionality. The November 2019 notice covers certain 2018-2019 F-250, F-350, and F-450 Super Duty trucks. Both specify free body control module reprogramming.
Does the Mustang lighting recall also affect rear lights?
The August 2025 notice lists failures of headlight, daytime running light, front position light, and front turn signal functions in the affected headlight. It specifies possible rear tail light, rear turn signal, and rear position light failures on Nautilus vehicles only.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.