Ford sets record with 103+ safety recalls in 2025, surpassing previous high

Ford Motor Company has issued the highest number of safety recalls among automakers in 2025, with more than 103 alerts, according to a report by Kelley Blue Book.

With a third of the year remaining, Ford has already surpassed the previous annual record of 77 recalls, according to the report.

If a vehicle fails to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards due to a safety-related defect, manufacturers must notify consumers of the issue. These recalls are intended to address safety issues before they cause harm.

Manufacturers usually initiate recalls to avoid any potential fines or driver safety issues. However, the federal automobile regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is part of the Department of Transportation, can also issue vehicle recalls based on publicly submitted cases of potential safety concerns.

Ford is recalling nearly 625,000 vehicles due to seat belt and camera display problems

Brian Moody, executive editor at Autotrader, told FOX Business that he usually says recalls aren’t a big deal because that’s how the system works. He said most recalls today are voluntary and automakers are rarely forced to take legal or government action.

“However, when an automaker has a record number of recalls, it’s cause for concern. As complex vehicles become increasingly ‘normal’, Ford has faltered when it comes to quality,” he added.

Moody also pointed to old reports from Kelley Blue Book that showed Ford led the industry in recalls in 2022 and 2023. The following year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration imposed a civil penalty on Ford of $165 million, the second largest civil penalty in NHTSA history.

Ford was fined after an NHTSA investigation found that it failed to recall vehicles with defective rearview cameras in a timely manner and failed to provide accurate and complete recall information as required under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

Customers at a Ford dealership in Colma, California, US, on Friday, July 22, 2022. (Getty Images/Getty Images)

Ford is recalling 1.9 million vehicles due to a rearview camera defect that increases the risk of a crash

Ford told FOX Business that its commitment to the quality of its vehicles and the safety of its customers is “critical.”

“The number of recalled vehicles reflects our extensive strategy to quickly find and fix hardware and software issues and go the extra mile to help protect customers,” the company said.

The company said it has doubled its team of safety and technical experts in the past two years.

Ford recalls 312,000 trucks and SUVs due to risk of brake failure, which increases the risk of collisions

“We can find issues found in previous model years, including issues that weren’t even reported,” the company said. “We will not compromise our responsibility to all our customers, not just those who buy new cars.”

Advanced manufacturing techniques and tools at the Kentucky Truck Plant help Ford improve the skills of its workforce and deliver quality Lincoln Navigators and Ford Expeditions to customers more quickly. (Ford/Fox News)

The company went on to say that it believes “this approach will lead to systemic, lasting positive change” and help Ford “reach world-class standards in quality, safety and customer satisfaction.”

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Moody acknowledged that Ford’s more stringent testing regime helps explain the increase, but it is “not the whole story.”

“There is no possible way that a company like Ford would intend to issue further recalls,” he said. “Negative publicity alone would make it not a reasonable solution.”