300,000 Ford Vehicles Could Have Serious Brake Problems Right Now
Ford’s ugly recall streak continues into the second half of 2025, with the automaker issuing a fresh recall that affects more than 312,000 vehicles due to a potentially serious brake issue.
Key Points
- Affected models include the 2025 F-150, Bronco, Ranger, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator due to a fault in the electronic brake booster that can result in total brake boost loss while driving.
- The issue stems from voltage fluctuations that may shut off the brake booster; Ford will deploy an over-the-air software update in August, with dealer updates also available.
- Ford has acknowledged 37 warranty claims and one low-speed crash potentially related to the defect, but no injuries or fires have been reported.
At the center of concern is the electronic brake booster (EBB), which could malfunction mid-drive, leaving drivers with diminished stopping power. The newly announced recall affects five key 2025 model-year vehicles: Ford F-150, Expedition, Bronco, Ranger, along with Lincoln's Navigator.
The F-150 alone accounts for over 217,000 units, making it the largest share of the recall. All affected vehicles share a critical vulnerability in their electronic brake booster modules, which may unexpectedly shut down during normal driving or while using driver-assist features like adaptive cruise control or lane-keeping systems.
The defect is rooted in how the EBB module responds to electrical fluctuations. A temporary voltage drop, followed by a surge, can trigger a spike that causes the EBB motor to shut off completely. The brake system’s ABS, stability control, and warning lights will illuminate when this occurs, alerting drivers to the malfunction.
Once the EBB module fails, the system loses all brake boost capability until the ignition cycle is restarted, a failure scenario that increases stopping distances and may cause a sudden change in brake pedal feel—issues that could be especially hazardous in traffic or emergency braking situations.
Ford has acknowledged at least 37 warranty claims tied to the brake booster issue and is investigating one low-speed crash that may be connected to the fault. Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries or fires so far, according to documents provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Ford has confirmed that the remedy for the issue is a software update to the brake booster’s control module. The fix will be available over-the-air (OTA) beginning in August 2025, or drivers can opt for a manual update at a dealership.
Dealer notifications will begin August 11, while owners should begin receiving recall letters starting on August 25. Owners can also check their vehicle’s recall status now via the NHTSA recall lookup tool.
This article was co-written using AI and was then heavily edited and optimized by our editorial team.
Become an AutoGuide insider. Get the latest from the automotive world first by subscribing to our newsletter here.
More by AutoGuide.com News Staff
Comments
Join the conversation
oh the joys of electrical progress