2025 Lincoln Navigator Brake Software Recall (25V488)
Ford Motor Company · 312,120 vehicles · Reported July 25, 2025
Ford Motor Company is recalling 312,120 2025 Ford Bronco; 2025 Ford Expedition; 2025 Ford F-150; 2025 Ford Ranger; 2025 Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The Electronic Brake Booster (EBB) module may malfunction while driving or when the driver is utilizing an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) feature, resulting in a loss of power brake assist. An unexpected loss of power brake assist while driving can extend stopping distance and increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, a loss of power brake assist while ADAS features are engaged can result in the vehicle not braking as expected, increasing the risk of a crash. The fix is an over-the-air software update.
Recall 25V488 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 25V488000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 25S77 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | July 25, 2025 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2025 Ford Bronco; 2025 Ford Expedition; 2025 Ford F-150; 2025 Ford Ranger; 2025 Lincoln Navigator |
| Units affected | 312,120 |
| Build dates | May 8, 2024 to June 9, 2025 |
| Component | Service Brakes, Hydraulic > Power Assist > Electric > Control Module > Software |
| Safety risk | An unexpected loss of power brake assist while driving can extend stopping distance and increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, a loss of power brake assist while ADAS features are engaged can result in the vehicle not braking as expected, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Over-the-air software update |
What is wrong with the 2025 Lincoln Navigator in recall 25V488?
The Electronic Brake Booster (EBB) module may malfunction while driving or when the driver is utilizing an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) feature, resulting in a loss of power brake assist.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Lincoln Navigator, F-150, Expedition, Bronco, and Ranger vehicles. The Electronic Brake Booster (EBB) module may malfunction while driving or when the driver is utilizing an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) feature, resulting in a loss of power brake assist.
Is it safe to drive a 2025 Navigator with recall 25V488?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An unexpected loss of power brake assist while driving can extend stopping distance and increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, a loss of power brake assist while ADAS features are engaged can result in the vehicle not braking as expected, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: An unexpected loss of power brake assist while driving can extend stopping distance and increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, a loss of power brake assist while ADAS features are engaged can result in the vehicle not braking as expected, 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 software.
Which vehicles are included in recall 25V488?
Recall 25V488 covers 312,120 vehicles: 2025 Ford Bronco; 2025 Ford Expedition; 2025 Ford F-150; 2025 Ford Ranger; 2025 Lincoln Navigator.
NHTSA lists 312,120 vehicles in this campaign, built May 8, 2024 to June 9, 2025. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Ford | Bronco |
| 2025 | Ford | Expedition |
| 2025 | Ford | F-150 |
| 2025 | Ford | Ranger |
| 2025 | Lincoln | Navigator |
What is the fix for the Navigator brake software recall?
Yes. The fix is an over-the-air software update.
The EBB module software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S77.
When was recall 25V488 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 25V488 to NHTSA on July 25, 2025.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| May 8, 2024 | First affected vehicle built (per Ford Motor Company's filing). |
| June 9, 2025 | Last affected vehicle built. |
| July 25, 2025 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 25V488000. |
| August 22, 2025 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 14 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 397 days. If your Navigator was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Navigator is part of recall 25V488?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 25V488 is open on your Navigator, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2025 Navigator vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should Navigator owners do about recall 25V488?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 25V488000 applies to your Navigator.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Lincoln dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- 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.
- Write down when symptoms involving the software happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- 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 Navigator owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 248 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 43 of them about the brakes.
Since recall 25V488 was reported on July 25, 2025, owners have filed 37 complaints with NHTSA about the brakes on these vehicles. 5 of them (14%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the brakes and were received on or after July 25, 2025, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related brakes issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 248 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 43 of them involve the brakes. 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.
- 2025 Ford F-150: 106 complaints in total, 20 about the brakes
- 2025 Ford Bronco: 52 complaints in total, 7 about the brakes
- 2025 Ford Ranger: 42 complaints in total, 7 about the brakes
- 2025 Ford Expedition: 36 complaints in total, 6 about the brakes
- 2025 Lincoln Navigator: 12 complaints in total, 3 about the brakes
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
When backing Ford f-150 up on any kind of an incline rear end is locked up for about ten seconds causing a safety risk. When shifting from reverse to drive. Does not do this on a flat surface. Have almost been hit three times now by cars coming around the corner of my street.
2025 Ford F-150 owner, OH, NHTSA complaint 11652914, filed April 5, 2025
Loss on all braking systems. Multiple warning lights including on dash. Brakes will become spongy and not stop or lock up all 4 wheels at slightest touch. Taken to dealer who provided a service memo SSM 53683 which basically says vehicle unable to power down and no fix available.
2025 Ford F-150 owner, PA, NHTSA complaint 11664339, filed June 2, 2025
Brake failure on freeway vehicle has 2000 miles. I almost got off hwy but stayed on shoulder after brake warning avoided hitting cars and coasted with very little brakes.
2025 Ford F-150 owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11679984, filed August 11, 2025
Can recall 25V488 make my Navigator 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.
Owners often ask whether this software recall means their Navigator qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Brake defects are safety defects. California's lemon law presumption can apply after two repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, when the manufacturer has been notified directly.
Because the remedy is an over-the-air update, there may be no repair order unless you take the 2025 Lincoln Navigator in. If the symptom continues after the update, get it documented at the dealer so it counts.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Navigator went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to 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.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
A software update can count as a repair attempt, especially if you complained about the problem or the update keeps being repeated. I've seen dealers do the same software update five or six times with no fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Navigator been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Lincoln Navigator recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 25V488
Did the recall 25V488 fix work?
Since recall 25V488 was reported on July 25, 2025, owners have filed 37 complaints with NHTSA about the brakes on these vehicles. 5 of them (14%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
Is the 25V488000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Navigator is part of recall 25V488000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
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.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 25V488000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Ford, Lincoln. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.