Ford recalls 243K pickups because tail lights can go dark, increasing crash risk
(NEXSTAR) – Ford is recalling nearly 243,000 Maverick compact pickup trucks in the U.S. because the tail lights may not illuminate, creating a dangerous situation for drivers.
The company says a computer can falsely detect too much current on one or both of the tail lamps, causing them to stay dark while the trucks are being driven. That can increase the risk of a crash.
The recall covers certain pickups from the 2022 through 2024 model years.
Ford says it has no reports of any crashes or injuries due to the problem. Headlights, turn signals and brake lights aren’t affected by the issue.
Ford recalling 450K vehicles over drive power loss
Notification letters for those affected will be mailed starting May 20. Documents posted Wednesday on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website say the Maverick owners will need to take their vehicles to dealers, who will update software to fix the problem at no cost.
A similar issue prompted the recall of 2021-2024 Ford Bronco Sports last month. The issue in that case has to do with an undetected low battery charge, which can cause hazard lights to go out. It could also cause the loss of drive power, creating a crash risk.
Owners of those affected vehicles will also be notified this month.
According to NHTSA, Ford had the second-most recalled vehicles last year. Ford had 6.1 million vehicles impacted by recalls in 2023, USA Today reports. Honda was the only carmaker to have more at 6.3 million vehicles affected.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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