Home › Ford › F-550 › 19V226000

Ford F-550 First Responder Brake Lights Activate Wrongly

NHTSA campaign 19V226000 · Reported Mar 22, 2019 · Watts Manufacturing, LLC

medium How serious is it? About this label

Brake lights turning on unexpectedly can confuse other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving.

Key facts

NHTSA campaign number	19V226000
Reported to NHTSA	Mar 22, 2019
Manufacturer	Watts Manufacturing, LLC
Part affected	Exterior Lighting:brake Lights
Vehicles covered	1 model/year combination, model years 2019
Do-not-drive advisory	No
Park-outside advisory	No
Repair	Free at any franchised dealer

What's wrong, in plain English

Certain first responder vehicles built on Ford F-550 chassis with Whelen brake lights may have wiring that turns the brake lights on even when the brake pedal hasn't been pressed. Because of this, the lights don't meet federal lighting safety requirements.

What you should do

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm your vehicle is affected.
2. Contact Watts Manufacturing customer service at 1-785-404-6003, or a Whelen dealer.
3. The brake lights will be replaced for free.

Where do I find my VIN, and what do I tell the dealer?

Your VIN is the 17-character code on the lower left of the windshield, on your registration and usually on your insurance card. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether this recall is still open on your car. When you call the dealer, say you have an open safety recall and give them NHTSA campaign number 19V226000. More in how recalls work.

Affected vehicles (1)

2019 Ford F-550

Who to contact

Ford — official Ford recall lookup

Customer service: 1-866-436-7332

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

The bigger picture

Ford Exterior Lighting Recalls Involve False Brake Signals and Failures · all 27 Ford recalls in this area

Other Ford F-550 recalls

Feb 21, 2020Ford Trucks May Have Rear Axle, Driveshaft Failurehigh
Aug 28, 2019Ford And Lincoln Front Seat Recliners May Failhigh
Jun 5, 2019Ford F-550 back-up camera image may appear reversedmedium
May 29, 2019Ford F-450 and F-550 Backup Camera May Reversemedium
May 29, 2019Ford F-550 Ambulance Backup Camera May Show Reversed Imagemedium
May 13, 2019Ford F-550 Fire Truck Brake Lights Turn On Wronglymedium

All 13 F-550 recalls

Official notice

Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
Summary: Watts Manufacturing, LLC (Watts Manufacturing) is recalling certain 2019 First responder vehicles built on Ford F-550 chassis and equipped with Whelen brake lights. Depending on the specific wiring of the vehicle, these brake lights may illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Safety risk: If the brake lights incorrectly illuminate, it can confuse other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Watts Manufacturing will notify owners and Whelen dealers will replace the brake lights, free of charge. The recall began March 19, 2019. Owners may contact Watts Manufacturing customer service at 1-785-404-6003.

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.