Ford is performing a huge safety recall, with 312,120 vehicles affected, in the United States because of the electronic brake booster (EBB) system malfunctioning.
The malfunction can cause a loss of power brake assist, increasing stopping distances and increasing the risk of a crash. The recall involves select 2025 model year vehicles that include the F 150, Expedition, Bronco, Ranger, and Lincoln Navigator.
What’s the Problem?
The Ford recall primarily involves a defect related to the Electronic Brake Booster (EBB) module. The EBB module may enter a faulted state and temporarily disable the power brake assist under certain circumstances, including low, infrequent voltage disturbances.
In the absence of power assist, drivers will likely have to apply much greater force to the vehicle’s brake pedal, and more importantly, the vehicle’s Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), like Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), will only apply brakes as expected if it is not operating under a faulted state.
Ford believes that the defect may exhibit itself in up to approximately 1% of participating vehicles, equating to approximately 3,121, while this is certainly small in proportion, any defect related to the brake system – specifically under automated safety systems – is especially concerning.
Which Models Are Affected?
The recall covers certain 2025 model‑year vehicles across Ford’s light‑truck and luxury SUV lines:
- 2025 Ford F‑150
- 2025 Ford Expedition
- 2025 Ford Bronco
- 2025 Ford Ranger
- 2025 Lincoln Navigator
Owners of the vehicles in these models should immediately check whether their vehicle is included in the recall via Ford’s online recall lookup tool or by calling their Ford customer service.
Dealer-level notifications start August 11, and Ford will begin mailing owner notification letters on August 25, 2025.
Recall identifiers:
- Ford campaign number: 25S77.
- NHTSA recall ID: 25V‑488000.
Checking your vehicle
- To determine whether your Ford vehicle has an active recall, simply go to the Ford recalls page and enter your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
- You can also determine if your vehicle has a recall with it VIN from other sources, such as VinAudit.
- If you use the FordPass App and your vehicle is registered on it, you will receive a notification of any open recalls for your vehicle.
The Safety Risk
In the event of an EBB module failure:
- The braking distance may increase as it can be especially dangerous in a highway use case or situations, where an unexpected stop occurs.
- If you were in a situation where ADAS mediated braking is in effect such as automatic emergency braking, the reduction in braking force may render the functionality of the system ineffective.
- All dashboard alerts such as an ABS or Electronic Stability Control (ESC) warning light as well as audible and visual cues are there to alert a driver that the power assist has been lost.
To date, Ford has currently documented 37 warranty claims and has only found one low speed crash allegedly associated with the defect. No injuries or fires have been reported so far.
Ford’s Fix and Owner Guidance
What Will Ford Do?
Ford is Providing a FREE software update for the EBB module:
- All updates will be delivered over-the-air (OTA) starting in August 2025.
- Vehicle owners can also visit any Ford or Lincoln dealership to receive the remedy if the OTA update cannot be obtained or is unsuccessful.
- Dealers will begin receiving internal remedy notifications on August 11, and notifications to the owners through the mail will begin August 25.
What Should Owners Do?
- Check your VIN with Ford’s recall checker online after August 25.
- If your vehicle is in the recall, decide whether to receive the OTA fix, or take your vehicle to a dealership for service.
- Look for warning indicators: if ABS or traction control lights unexpectedly illuminate or alerts are displayed or sounded in the instrument cluster, pull over safely and seek service.
- Call Ford’s customer service at the number on the recall notice or Ford’s website to ask questions or getting help.
Context and Broader Recall Trends
The recall is part of a broader series of safety actions Ford has taken in 2025. Earlier this year:
- Ford recalled over 1 million vehicles for a software glitch.
- Ford recalled roughly 690,000 vehicles for risk of fuel leaking.
- Ford EV units in the UK recalled for defects that could trap passengers.
As a result of this recall, Ford has issued 94 safety recalls in 2025 – the highest number of recalls among the top 12 automakers tracked by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Technical Background: EBB and ADAS Interactions
Traditional hydraulic brake boosters pressurize from vacuum assist; modern Ford vehicles use an Electronic Brake Booster. The EBB relies on electrical power to provide brake assist under the command of hydraulic systems, the vehicles electronic control systems, and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) modules.
A temporary voltage disturbance may cause the EBB to go into a “faulted state” that switches off power boost until the module resets could occur when the vehicle is switched off. The following will occur during that period:
- Braking force is reduced to manual power, requiring more pedal pressure without boost.
- ADAS functions, such as automatic emergency braking, depend on predictable brake assist and it may fall short of expectations.
- Ford states that collision avoidance systems may still activate, however, stopping performance may be degraded in response to variable boost.
Potential Impacts and Reactions
From Ford and Dealers
- OTA fixes will help mitigate service center traffic in the short‑term but dealerships can still expect to receive calls and scheduling requests from concerned owners.
- Technicians will need to ensure the EBB software flash completes properly, and that the systems warning the driver reinitialize as they were prior to the EBB flash.
- Timely communication and transparency of information will be very important for customers’ perception of the OEM.
On Consumer Confidence and Brand Image
- Multiple large recalls may lead to more concerns about product quality/ramp-up in engineering.
- Ford is potentially facing the challenge of making sure consumers feel that newer and more reliant software-based systems are still safe and secure.
- Competitors may take advantage of the situation to highlight perceived reliability in their own brands versus Ford.
Regulatory/Industry Implications
- NHTSA continues to keep a close watch on the safety impacts of software-related or digital issues in today’s vehicles.
- Regulators (government) may also develop a legislative response focusing on OTA updates becoming mandatory and providing visibility into logs of essential safety systems.
- There is a clear trend towards electrified and software-rich vehicles that is unlikely to reduce recalls for firmware-type issues.
Key Takeaways
| Aspect | Details |
| Total recalled | 312,120 vehicles in the U.S. |
| Affected models | 2025 F‑150, Expedition, Bronco, Ranger, and Lincoln Navigator |
| Defect type | EBB module may disable power brake assist due to voltage disturbance |
| Estimated impact rate | About 1% (~3,121 vehicles) |
| Safety risk | Increased stopping distance; potential ADAS braking failure |
| Reported incidents | 37 warranty claims; one slow-speed crash; no injuries or fires |
| Remedy | Free software update via OTA or at dealership |
| Owner notifications | Mailings begin August 25; dealers notified August 11 |
| Recall ID | Ford: 25S77; NHTSA: 25V‑488000 |
Ford’s recall of more than 312,000 SUVs and trucks highlights the increasing complexity—and potential fragility—of modern automotive electrical systems. As vehicles integrate electronics in core safety functionalities, we must be diligent in verifying performance and act decisively when a defect occurs.
While this defect seems to be rare, if the defect occurs, the consequences could be severe, especially if an automated driving (ADAS) system activates when the defect occurs. Fortunately the remedy is relatively simple, and the repair is surface-level technical, just a software update, meaning the update will be readily available to owners.
If you own an impacted model, I recommend you check your VIN after August 25th and follow what Ford tells you.- If you have received a noiticfication, be sure to get the software update sorted – whether through an over-the-air update or at an authorized Ford dealer, pronto.
One final pointer: stay vigilant of your dashboard warning lights- It is better to catch a malfunction now, rather than when it becomes an urgent matter.