Ford Motor Company issued a safety recall for the Integrated Trailer Module, or ITRM, a part built into millions of trucks and SUVs. NHTSA opened Campaign 26V104000 on February 20, 2026, and the recall remains open.
The recall covers about 4.38 million vehicles in the United States. Covered models include the F-150, Super Duty, Maverick, Ranger, Expedition, Lincoln Navigator and E-Transit from recent model years.
A software flaw can disrupt communication between the module and the vehicle. Trailer lights, turn signals and, on some trucks, trailer brakes can fail while towing. Owners should check their VIN and avoid heavy towing until the fix is installed.
- Action type: Voluntary safety recall (NHTSA Campaign 26V104000)
- Announcement and initiation dates: Filed February 20, 2026; letters mailed March 25, 2026
- Company and responsible agency: Ford Motor Company; NHTSA
- Recall or campaign number: NHTSA 26V104000 / Ford 26C10
- Affected models, lots, UPCs, serial numbers, or VINs: F-150 (2021-2026), Super Duty (2022-2026), Maverick (2022-2026), Ranger (2024-2026), Expedition (2022-2026), Lincoln Navigator (2022-2027), E-Transit (2026)
- Number of affected units: 4,380,609 vehicles (US); Canada count not published
- Sold at and sale period: Not stated – factory-installed, not sold separately
- Hazard: Loss of trailer lights and turn signals; High-series modules can also lose trailer brakes
- Reported incidents, injuries, illnesses, and deaths: No accidents, injuries or fires reported; 405 warranty claims, 2 VOQs (February 4, 2026)
- Remedy: Free ITRM software update – OTA anticipated May 2026, or dealer install
Table Of Contents
- Latest Ford Integrated Trailer Module Recall Updates
- Which Ford Trailer Module Vehicles Are Affected?
- Why Was the Ford Trailer Module Recalled?
- Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses
- What Should Consumers Do?
- Other Recalls, Warnings, or International Actions
- Legal Options
- Filing Deadlines
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Am I Affected by the Ford Trailer Module Recall Lawsuit?
- Is It Safe to Tow with the Ford Trailer Module Recall?
- What Warning Signs Show the Integrated Trailer Module Has Failed?
- Does the JPML’s MDL List Include Any Ford Trailer Module Recall Lawsuit?
- What Model Years Are Covered by the Ford Trailer Module Recall?
- Who Made the Integrated Trailer Module in the Recalled Ford Vehicles?
- References
Latest Ford Integrated Trailer Module Recall Updates
March 25, 2026: Ford Mails Owner Notification Letters
Ford mailed owner notification letters to affected owners on March 25, 2026 [1]. The letters describe NHTSA Campaign 26V104000 and explain the free repair for the Integrated Trailer Module.
Ford’s recall schedule had planned to mail the letters between March 23 and March 27, 2026, so the March 25 mailing fell within that window. Each letter lists a phone number owners can call with questions about the recall.
March 17, 2026: VIN Search and Dealer Notice Begin
Ford’s recall schedule set dealer notification and VIN search to begin March 17, 2026. NHTSA’s own recall record, filed as Ford recall number 26C10, confirms that VINs became searchable on NHTSA.gov on that same date, the same record cited above.
From that date, owners could search their VIN at NHTSA.gov, or check with a dealer in person, to confirm coverage under the recall.
March 4, 2026: Transport Canada Updates Its Recall Notice
Transport Canada last updated its recall notice 2026079 on March 4, 2026 [2]. The notice addresses the identical software issue in the Integrated Trailer Module on equivalent Ford and Lincoln models sold in Canada.
Transport Canada first published the notice the same day NHTSA opened the US recall campaign. Canadian owners can also check with a Ford or Lincoln dealer.
February 20, 2026: NHTSA Opens the Recall
Ford filed NHTSA Safety Recall Report 26V104 on February 20, 2026, a date the same NHTSA recall record cited above also confirms. The filing covered about 4.38 million US vehicles across seven Ford and Lincoln nameplates built through early 2026.
Transport Canada published its parallel recall the same day. The filing started the timeline for dealer notice, VIN search and the owner letters that followed five weeks later in March.
Which Ford Trailer Module Vehicles Are Affected?
NHTSA Campaign 26V104000 covers these Ford and Lincoln vehicles from recent model years:
- 2021-2026 Ford F-150
- 2022-2026 Ford F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 Super Duty
- 2023-2026 Ford F-600 Super Duty
- 2022-2026 Ford Maverick
- 2024-2026 Ford Ranger
- 2022-2026 Ford Expedition
- 2022-2027 Lincoln Navigator
- 2026 Ford E-Transit
About 4.38 million vehicles are covered in the United States. Transport Canada covers the equivalent models sold in Canada under a separate recall notice, published the same week as the NHTSA campaign.
At NHTSA.gov, owners can confirm their VIN is included in the recall. VIN search opened March 17, 2026, so owners can check coverage any time after that date.
Why Was the Ford Trailer Module Recalled?
Ford recalled these vehicles because a software flaw in the Integrated Trailer Module can create a race condition at power-up. The flaw involves the vehicle’s CAN Standby Control bit.
When it happens, the module can lose contact with the vehicle. Trailer stop lamps and turn signals can stop working, and on High-series modules, trailer brakes can fail too.
The loss of trailer lighting is a noncompliance with FMVSS No. 108, the federal lighting standard. That standard applies to every vehicle towing a trailer under this recall.
Ford’s internal review group first looked at the anomaly on October 21, 2025. It reopened the review on January 20, 2026, after discussing the standard with NHTSA. Ford’s Field Review Committee approved the recall on February 13, 2026.
Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses
Ford says it is not aware of any accidents, injuries or fires attributed to this condition, based on its review of the warranty claims and owner questionnaires described below. That assessment covers Ford’s review through early February 2026.
Ford had identified 405 warranty claims and two Vehicle Owner Questionnaires connected to the Integrated Trailer Module as of February 4, 2026. A reported claim is not proof that the defect caused any specific crash or injury.
As part of the reopened review described above, Ford tracked and confirmed the warranty claims and VOQs listed above. The recall opened in February 2026, followed by the VIN search tool and mailed letters described above.
What Should Consumers Do?
Owners of a covered Ford or Lincoln vehicle should take these steps:
- Search your VIN at NHTSA.gov, available beginning March 17, 2026, or ask a Ford or Lincoln dealer to confirm your vehicle is covered.
- Avoid heavy or extended towing until the free software update is installed on your vehicle.
- Watch for a “Trailer Brake Module Fault” message on the dashboard or a fast-flashing turn signal indicator, and stop towing if either appears.
- Get the free Integrated Trailer Module software update at a Ford or Lincoln dealer, or wait for the over-the-air update anticipated in May 2026.
- Call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332, or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236, with questions about the recall.
Other Recalls, Warnings, or International Actions
Transport Canada issued a parallel recall, notice 2026079, for the equivalent Ford and Lincoln vehicles sold in Canada. The notice addresses the same Integrated Trailer Module issue and was last updated March 4, 2026.
Ford has also recalled some Ford Transit vans for what is reported to be a separate brake issue, under a different NHTSA campaign from the Integrated Trailer Module recall covered on this page.
Legal Options
No lawsuit, class action or MDL has formed against Ford over the Integrated Trailer Module defect. The JPML’s pending-MDL list, read March 2, 2026, names only an unrelated Ford transmission case [3].
A driver or passenger may have grounds for an individual claim. This applies if a crash involved lost trailer lighting or lost trailer brakes during this recall. A recall does not automatically establish liability or eligibility for compensation.
Filing Deadlines
Deadlines to bring an individual injury or property claim from this recall come from state law, not federal law. They differ based on where you live and when the towing incident or injury happened.
A missed filing deadline can end an otherwise strong claim before it starts. Anyone considering a claim should check the exact date with a lawyer promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I Affected by the Ford Trailer Module Recall Lawsuit?
You may be affected by the Ford Trailer Module recall if you own an eligible Ford or Lincoln model from recent years. No lawsuit decides who is affected. Only your VIN and NHTSA’s recall list do, so check your VIN to confirm.
Is It Safe to Tow with the Ford Trailer Module Recall?
Towing with the Ford Trailer Module recall carries added risk before the fix is installed. Ford’s recall filing warns that losing trailer lights can reduce control and visibility for other drivers. Lost brakes add to that risk on some trucks. Avoid heavy towing until repaired.
What Warning Signs Show the Integrated Trailer Module Has Failed?
Warning signs of an Integrated Trailer Module failure include a dashboard pop-up reading “Trailer brake module fault” and a fast-flashing turn signal telltale. A “Blind Spot Assist System fault” message may also appear. Stop towing and contact a dealer if you see these signs.
Does the JPML’s MDL List Include Any Ford Trailer Module Recall Lawsuit?
As of March 2, 2026, the JPML’s pending-MDL list does not include a Ford Trailer Module recall lawsuit. It lists only one active Ford MDL, docket MDL-2814, a separate DPS6 PowerShift transmission case unconnected to trailer lighting or brakes.
What Model Years Are Covered by the Ford Trailer Module Recall?
The Ford Trailer Module recall covers vehicles built through February 6, 2026. Model years range from 2021 for the F-150 to 2027 for the Lincoln Navigator. Production start dates vary by nameplate, so a VIN check is the surest way to confirm coverage.
Who Made the Integrated Trailer Module in the Recalled Ford Vehicles?
The Integrated Trailer Module was supplied to Ford by Horizon Global, Inc., a Tier 1 vehicle parts supplier based in Reynosa, Mexico. Ford’s recall report names Horizon Global as the component manufacturer responsible for building the affected module.
References
- https://api.nhtsa.gov/recalls/recallsByVehicle?make=ford&model=f-150&modelYear=2023
- https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/transport-canada-recall-2026079-ford
- https://www.jpml.uscourts.gov/sites/jpml/files/Pending_MDL_Dockets_By_Actions_Pending-March-2-2026.pdf