Ford Motor Company is facing another challenging chapter in what has already become a record-setting year for vehicle recalls, announcing two major safety campaigns that together impact nearly half a million vehicles across the United States. The recalls, which target both sedans and pickup trucks, underscore the automaker’s ongoing efforts to address a spate of hardware and software issues while assuring customers of its commitment to safety.
The first recall centers on the Ford Taurus, a sedan that was a staple of the company’s lineup before its retirement in 2019. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Ford is recalling more than 100,000 Taurus sedans from model years 2016 through 2019 due to concerns over faulty front door trims. The issue? The trims may detach while the vehicle is in motion, potentially creating hazardous road debris for other motorists. While Ford estimates that only about 1% of the affected vehicles are actually at risk, the sheer number—101,944 units, to be precise—has prompted a sweeping response from the company.
“Applique detachment may result from incomplete adhesion of the part to door sheet metal during installation at the vehicle assembly plant on vehicles built after a process change that stopped the use of hand rollers that aided operators in ensuring complete adhesion of the part,” the NHTSA recall notice explained, as reported by MotorBiscuit. That seemingly minor change in manufacturing technique has led to a major headache for Ford, which now finds itself fielding more than 450 warranty claims related to the issue as of September 20, 2025. Thankfully, no injuries or crashes have been reported in connection with the faulty trims, according to CNN and WRAL.
For affected Taurus owners, Ford is offering a straightforward remedy. The company will notify owners by mail, instructing them to bring their vehicles to a dealership or service center, where technicians will inspect the B-pillar trim and, if necessary, repair or replace it free of charge. “Dealers will inspect cars and replace the trim free of charge,” CNN noted, echoing Ford’s assurances that the fix will come at no cost to customers. Owners can also check their vehicle’s recall status by entering their license plate number or Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on CarFax’s free recall checker page or the NHTSA’s own recall lookup tool.
While the risk to individual drivers may be low, the NHTSA cautioned that the detached trim could become a road hazard for others. “A B-pillar trim applique that detaches while driving can create a road hazard for other road users, increasing the risk of a crash,” the agency stated, highlighting the broader public safety concern that prompted the recall action.
The Taurus recall alone would be significant, but it’s only part of Ford’s current recall wave. The company is also recalling more than 355,000 pickup trucks—including popular models like the F-150 and its heavy-duty siblings—due to a separate but equally troubling defect: instrument panel display failures. According to documents published by the NHTSA and reported by the Associated Press, certain 2025 model year Ford F-150s and 2025-2026 Super Duty trucks (including the F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, and F-550 SD) are equipped with instrument panel clusters (IPC) that can fail at startup, leaving drivers staring at a blank screen instead of critical information such as warning lights and vehicle speed.
The recall, which covers a total of 355,656 vehicles, was prompted by reports that the IPC software—introduced in June 2024 and removed from production in July 2025—could malfunction, thereby increasing the risk of a crash. “Drivers may not be able to read critical ‘safety-related telltales and gauges,’ increasing the risk of crash,” the NHTSA noted in its recall report dated August 22, 2025. While Ford has received 95 warranty claims regarding the display failure, the company emphasized that, as of late June, there have been no reported accidents or injuries linked to the problem.
To address the instrument cluster issue, Ford is offering a free software update to affected owners. The fix can be performed at authorized dealerships or, in a nod to modern convenience, delivered remotely via an “over-the-air” update. “The over-the-air software update is ‘more convenient for customers compared to an in-person dealer visit,’” Ford said in a statement to the Associated Press. The automaker will soon send notification letters to owners with detailed instructions on how to obtain the update and ensure their vehicles are operating safely.
The recent recalls are part of a broader trend for Ford in 2025, a year that has seen the automaker surpass General Motors’ previous record for the most individual recalls by a single manufacturer. Earlier this year, Ford recalled 694,000 Bronco Sport and Escape vehicles over a fuel injector issue and more than 850,000 vehicles due to a potential fuel pump failure. These numbers are staggering, but Ford’s leadership insists that the uptick is a sign of greater diligence, not neglect. Kumar Galhotra, Ford’s chief operating officer, addressed the issue head-on in a company blog post earlier this month, writing, “The increase reflects our intensive strategy to quickly find and fix hardware and software issues and go the extra mile to help protect customers,” which he said includes heightened safety testing and more robust quality control measures.
For many vehicle owners, the news of repeated recalls can be unsettling, especially when it involves critical safety features like door trims and dashboard displays. But Ford has been quick to emphasize its proactive approach, noting that most of the issues have not resulted in any injuries or accidents. The company’s willingness to offer free repairs and software updates—sometimes even remotely—may help reassure customers that their safety remains a top priority, even as Ford works to resolve its manufacturing and software woes.
As the recall notifications begin landing in mailboxes across the country, Ford owners are encouraged to take prompt action, whether by scheduling a service appointment or downloading the latest software update. With the automotive landscape increasingly defined by both mechanical reliability and digital functionality, Ford’s experience in 2025 serves as a reminder that the drive for innovation must always be balanced with rigorous safety oversight.
Ultimately, the real test for Ford will be how quickly and effectively it can address these challenges—and whether its customers will continue to place their trust in the iconic blue oval as the company navigates a year of unprecedented recalls and heightened scrutiny.
