2021-2026 Ford F-150 Taillight Recall (26V104)

Recall 26V104 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021-2026 Ford F-150 in recall 26V104?

When towing a trailer, the integrated trailer module (ITRM) may lose communication with the vehicle, possibly causing a loss of brake and turn signal lights, or a loss of brake function.

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 F-150, 2022-2026 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, Maverick, 2024-2026 Ranger, 2023-2026 F-600 SD, 2022-2027 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2026 E-Transit vehicles. When towing a trailer, the integrated trailer module (ITRM) may lose communication with the vehicle, possibly causing a loss of brake and turn signal lights, or a loss of brake function. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Is it safe to drive a 2021-2026 F-150 with recall 26V104?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Trailer lights or brakes that do not function can reduce the driver’s ability to control the trailer and decrease the trailers visibility to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: Trailer lights or brakes that do not function can reduce the driver’s ability to control the trailer and decrease the trailers visibility to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.

NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the tail lights.

Which vehicles are included in recall 26V104?

Recall 26V104 covers 4,381,878 vehicles: 2026 Ford E-Transit; 2022-2027 Ford Expedition; 2021-2026 Ford F-150; 2022-2026 Ford F-250 SD; 2022-2026 Ford F-350 SD; 2022-2026 Ford F-450 SD; 2022-2026 Ford Maverick; 2024-2026 Ford Ranger; 2022-2027 Lincoln Navigator.

NHTSA lists 4,381,878 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the F-150 taillight recall?

Yes. The fix is an over-the-air software update.

The integrated trailer module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 25, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C10. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning March 17, 2026.

When was recall 26V104 announced?

Ford Motor Company reported recall 26V104 to NHTSA on February 20, 2026. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as March 25, 2026.

This recall was filed 7 months ago. If your F-150 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my F-150 is part of recall 26V104?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 26V104 is open on your F-150, it will be listed there.

Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 26V104000 is open on your F-150, it will be listed there, along with Ford recall number 26C10. 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 F-150 owners do about recall 26V104?

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 26V104000 applies to your F-150.
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. Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
4. Write down when symptoms involving the tail lights happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
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 recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.

What are F-150 owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 3,627 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 373 of them about the lighting and visibility.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 3,627 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 373 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.

• 2021 Ford F-150: 1,015 complaints in total, 171 about the lighting and visibility
• 2022 Ford F-150: 594 complaints in total, 80 about the lighting and visibility
• 2023 Ford F-150: 408 complaints in total, 25 about the lighting and visibility
• 2024 Ford F-150: 189 complaints in total, 52 about the lighting and visibility
• 2022 Ford Maverick: 150 complaints in total, 7 about the lighting and visibility
• 2022 Ford F-250 SD: 123 complaints in total, 4 about the lighting and visibility
• 2022 Ford Expedition: 113 complaints in total, 6 about the lighting and visibility
• 2022 Ford F-350 SD: 111 complaints in total, 3 about the lighting and visibility

Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):

When driving with automatic brights, occasionally when it automatically switches to dim, the dim lights will shine only about 10 feet in front of the car. When it does this, it shines so bright directly in front of the car, the brights won't come back on.

2024 Lincoln Navigator owner, OK, NHTSA complaint 11658892, filed May 5, 2025

When the car starts the head lights run through a series of motion checks, they go left, right down and then back up. We run into an issue every few weeks where the headlights stay in the down position. This happened with our car and a loaner we received from the dealership.

2023 Lincoln Navigator owner, OH, NHTSA complaint 11643845, filed February 20, 2025

The contact owns a 2024 Ford Ranger. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V597000 (VISIBILITY); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.

2024 Ford Ranger owner, OR, NHTSA complaint 11714031, filed January 28, 2026

Can recall 26V104 make my F-150 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.

Recall 26V104000 does not automatically make your F-150 a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (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.

This recall is handled by an over-the-air software update, so many owners never visit a dealer. If the problem returns after the update, take the 2021-2026 Ford F-150 to the dealer and make sure the visit is written up on a repair order. An update that does not work is still a failed repair.

Earlier campaigns on these vehicles involving the same component: 23V160000.

California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.

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 26V104