Ford Motor Co. is recalling up to 242,669 Maverick pickups to fix a problem that could cause the rear tail lights to turn off, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall covers certain 2022-2024 Maverick models.
Ford says the problem is related to software for the body control module that may inadvertently deactivate one or both of the truck’s rear tail lights. To address the recall, Ford dealers will update the BCM software of the affected trucks free of charge.
The Maverick was also included in last month’s recall of 456,565 Ford vehicles, which included the Bronco Sport SUV. That recall was to address a problem related to the powertrain and body control module, which may fail to detect a sudden change in the vehicle’s battery state of charge. The issue can lead to a loss of electrical accessories, as well as cause a loss of drive power that can lead to a crash, according to the NHTSA.
Ford also issued a recall in March for 2022-2023 Bronco Sport models and 2022 Escape crossovers equipped with 1.5-liter engines. The recall included around 42,650 vehicles for a fuel injector that could crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment, creating a fire hazard.
Ford CEO Jim Farley says he’s been working to improve quality at Ford since taking over as CEO in October 2020, as recalls and other vehicle problems can impact consumer confidence and brand reputation. The Maverick is also one of Ford’s best-selling vehicles, with first quarter sales of 39,061 units, an 82% increase from Q1 2023.
With the latest recall for the Maverick, Ford has issued a total of 23 recalls across its lineup in 2024 that can potentially include over 2.5 million vehicles, according to the NHTSA.
Speaking at the Wolfe Research auto conference in New York in February, Farley admitted his regret for not tackling Ford’s quality issues sooner, according to a transcript from the event. But he has since made changes at the company.
“You have to set up a culture shift performance reward system, where every engineering manager, purchasing component manager, every plant manager is fully accountable for the quality and cost of their work,” Farley said.
Owner notification letters for the latest Maverick recall are expected to be mailed to customers May 20.
