2023 Ford Transit Defroster Recall (23V122)

Recall 23V122 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2023 Ford Transit in recall 23V122?

When the accessory kit is installed, the auxiliary wire harness will disable the heating, air-conditioning, and ventilation (HVAC) including the defrost and defog systems.

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Transit vehicles equipped with the Special Vehicle Operations Accessory Service Kit #1 or #2 with a High Specification Vehicle Interface Connector. When the accessory kit is installed, the auxiliary wire harness will disable the heating, air-conditioning, and ventilation (HVAC) including the defrost and defog systems. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."

Is it safe to drive a 2023 Transit with recall 23V122?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An inoperative windshield defrosting and defogging system may decrease the driver's visibility under certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: An inoperative windshield defrosting and defogging system may decrease the driver's visibility under certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.

There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Transit shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the defroster and defogger and hvac system, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 23V122?

Recall 23V122 covers 4,804 vehicles: 2023 Ford Transit.

NHTSA lists 4,804 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the Transit defroster recall?

Yes. Dealers will repair the auxiliary wire harness by modifying the wire harness to include the necessary twisted loop, free of charge.

Dealers will repair the auxiliary wire harness by modifying the wire harness to include the necessary twisted loop, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 20, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C02.

When was recall 23V122 announced?

Ford Motor Company reported recall 23V122 to NHTSA on February 24, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as April 20, 2023.

This recall was filed 43 months ago. If your Transit was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my Transit is part of recall 23V122?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V122 is open on your Transit, it will be listed there.

Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 23V122000 is open on your Transit, it will be listed there, along with Ford recall number 23C02. You can also ask any Ford dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.

What should Transit owners do about recall 23V122?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 23V122000 applies to your Transit.
2. Book the recall appointment with any authorized Ford dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
3. Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
4. Keep a simple log of any defroster and defogger and hvac system symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.

What are Transit owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 56 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 0 of them about the lighting and visibility.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the lighting and visibility have been filed since recall 23V122 was reported (0) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 56 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 0 of them involve the lighting and visibility. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.

• 2023 Ford Transit: 56 complaints in total, 0 about the lighting and visibility

Can recall 23V122 make my Transit a lemon in California?

Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.

A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).

Lighting and visibility defects, such as headlights that fail, wipers that stop or mirrors that do not work, reduce your ability to see and be seen. They are often electrical, and they often come back.

The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.

Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.

An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.

Frequently asked questions about recall 23V122