Ford logged a record 153 recalls affecting nearly 13 million vehicles in 2025, showcasing a bold, transparent approach to safety. Discover why this could signal a stronger future.
As the automotive world celebrates sales milestones for 2025, Ford has taken a different route – one measured in recalls rather than units sold.
Historic recall volume
In 2025 Ford initiated 153 separate recall campaigns, affecting almost 13 million vehicles. This shatters the previous record of 77 recalls set in 2014 and, according to the data collected up to 23 December, the figure could still rise.
What the numbers don’t tell at first glance
At first sight, such a spike might signal a quality crisis. Ford, however, frames it as a deliberate “clean‑up” operation: a massive, transparent effort to locate and fix defects before they turn into safety incidents or social‑media scandals.
A new safety‑first mindset
The automaker says the surge stems from an expanded safety team, broader testing, and faster software verification. By doubling its safety staff and tightening its software‑update procedures, Ford aims to catch problems early – even if that means “recalling a recall” to verify that prior fixes were correctly installed.
Software updates drive many recalls
- About 40 of the 153 recalls were essentially software patches.
- Ford discovered that earlier updates were not always verified, prompting a second‑round rollout.
Positive side effects
Despite the headline‑grabbing figure, warranty costs have fallen, suggesting that early defect resolution is reducing long‑term repairs. Internal analysis places the 2025 model line among the highest‑quality batches in Ford’s history, with independent agencies noting improved reliability, even if the brand still lags behind the industry average.
Strain on dealers and customers
Dealership service bays are feeling the pressure, juggling a flood of recall work while the compensation Ford provides for repairs is lower than typical paid‑service revenue. Some new cars are even delayed at the line while required fixes are applied.
Looking ahead
Ford’s choice to be openly proactive rather than quietly ignore issues may make the current statistics look unflattering, but the company believes it lays the groundwork for a healthier, more trustworthy brand in the long run.