Ford Motor Company is in the midst of a major recall affecting nearly half a million vehicles due to a brake fluid leak that could potentially lengthen stopping distances and elevate the risk of a crash. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a report released on Thursday cited concerns about a possible rupture in a brake system hose. The recall includes the 2015 to 2018 Ford Edge, SUV, and the 2016 to 2018 Lincoln MKX, mid-size luxury vehicles, as detailed in a Reuters statement.
WWJ Auto Beat Reporter Jeff Gilbert revealed that this was not the only current issue for the automotive giant, stating, "Ford has issued 105 recalls so far this year, already a record for a single manufacturer." In the case of the latest recall, about 1% of the vehicles are estimated to possess the defect. Adding to Ford's woes are separate, unrelated recalls involving over 213,000 vehicles with tail light problems, and roughly 100,000 other vehicles with a risk of airbag tears upon deployment, reported via WWJ Newsradio.
For those affected by the brake jounce hose issue, Ford is currently developing a fix, industry sources indicate. The affected Ford Edge models were produced between June 25, 2014, and December 21, 2017, while the implicated Lincoln MKX crossovers rolled off the assembly line from November 11, 2014, to December 21, 2017. This information comes from the Ford Authority.
Owners of the recalled vehicles can expect initial communication from Ford starting on September 8, with additional correspondence to follow once the remedy becomes available, which is hoped to be by April 2026. "That hose could leak brake fluid, that could lengthen stopping distances and increase the risk of a crash," as per WWJ’s Jeff Gilbert outlined, reflecting the serious nature of the defect. Ford's own reference number for this recall is 25S87, and concerned customers may reach out to Ford Customer Service or the NHTSA for further information, as cited by WWJ Newsradio.
