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Ford F-53 Brake Lights May Malfunction

NHTSA campaign 26V025000 · Reported Jan 21, 2026 · Ford Motor Company

high How serious is it? About this label

Brake lights that don't work correctly increase the risk of a crash, and being able to shift out of park without the brake pedal pressed increases the risk of a rollaway and crash. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving.

Key facts

NHTSA campaign number	26V025000
Reported to NHTSA	Jan 21, 2026
Manufacturer	Ford Motor Company
Part affected	Exterior Lighting:back UP Lights:switch
Vehicles covered	1 model/year combination, model years 2025
Do-not-drive advisory	No
Park-outside advisory	No
Repair	Free at any franchised dealer

What's wrong, in plain English

The exterior brake lights on some Ford F-53 and F-59 vehicles may turn on when they shouldn't or fail to turn on when the brake pedal is pressed, because a switch was installed incorrectly. This same issue may also let the vehicle be shifted out of park without the brake pedal being applied.

What you should do

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if your vehicle is affected.
2. Contact a Ford dealer or Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
3. The repair is 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 26V025000. More in how recalls work.

Affected vehicles (1)

2025 Ford F-53

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-53 recalls

Apr 14, 2026Ford F-53 and F-59 Missing Front Wheel Hub Nuthigh
Mar 17, 2026Ford F-53 and F-59 brake lights may stay litmedium
Sep 27, 2024Ford F-53 Cluster May Not Show Correct Gearmedium
Jul 21, 2023Ford F-53 Corrosion Can Disable Instrument Panelmedium
Mar 10, 2023Ford F-53 and F-59 Rear Brake Caliper Bolts Loosehigh
Jul 22, 2022Ford F-53 F-59 Steering Wheel Bolt May Loosenhigh

All 8 F-53 recalls

Official notice

Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS:SWITCH
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 F-59 and F-53 vehicles. The exterior brake lights may illuminate unexpectedly or fail to illuminate when the brake pedal is activated, due to an incorrectly installed switch. 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: Brake lights that do not illuminate properly while driving increase the risk of a crash. In addition, the vehicle may be shifted out of park without the brake pedal applied, increasing the risk of a rollaway and crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the stop light switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 30, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning January 22, 2026.

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