Ford has been dealing with serious questions about quality and reliability for years. In 2026, the situation is becoming large enough to worry even U.S. safety regulators.
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Ford has already announced 34 vehicle recalls since the start of the year. That is nearly three times the total of the next most affected automakers.
For comparison, General Motors, Chrysler, and Toyota currently have 12 recalls each. Hyundai has 10, while Volkswagen has nine.
Ford already set an unwanted record in 2025 with 153 recalls. Instead of showing clear improvement, 2026 suggests the problem may be growing even more serious.
Ford Is Far Ahead In Recall Counts
Ford’s recalls covered nearly 13 million vehicles during 2025. According to a new Motor1 analysis, the company is already on pace to pass that figure.
So far in 2026, Ford’s 34 recalls affect 9,812,890 vehicles. That number is especially striking because the year is still far from finished.
The largest current recall covers about 4.3 million pickups and SUVs. It involves a software problem that can cause trailer brakes and exterior lighting to stop working.
Software And Mechanical Problems Are Both Showing Up
The trailer brake and lighting issue is being fixed through an over-the-air software update. Still, the fact that so many vehicles could fail to meet U.S. federal safety standards has drawn serious attention.
Ford is also dealing with traditional mechanical problems. About 180,000 Bronco and Ranger models were recalled last week because of improperly tightened bolts in the front seat height adjustment mechanism.
In March, Ford also recalled thousands of Super Duty trucks because of problems with high-pressure fuel pumps. Those issues show that the company’s recalls are not limited to software.
The List Keeps Growing
Other problems have also appeared across Ford’s truck and SUV lineup. Over 422,000 pickups and SUVs were recalled because of faulty windshield wiper arm mounts.
Last month, the Bronco Sport and Maverick were also recalled because of problems related to airbags. The growing number of campaigns has attracted major attention from U.S. media.
Ford argues that this approach is part of a long-term quality improvement plan. The company says it has doubled the number of safety and technical control specialists over the past two years and tightened its testing procedures.
Ford Says It Is Acting Earlier
Ford also says it is now reacting sooner when potential problems are found. Instead of waiting for serious failures in real-world use, the company says it is launching recalls earlier.
At the same time, Ford is trying to speed up service procedures so repairs can be completed the same day when possible.
CEO Jim Farley said in 2022 that fixing quality problems was his top priority. Three years later, he said the durability of Ford powertrains had become “competitive with Toyota,” but current recall data shows the company still has a long road ahead.
Regulators Are Watching Closely
The large number of recalls is not tied only to technical problems. Stronger regulatory oversight is also playing a role.
Ford remains under pressure from a special agreement with U.S. safety officials because of earlier failures involving recall execution and federal procedures. That situation has already cost the company a $165 million penalty.
All of this shows that Ford is fighting on two fronts. It has to improve the quality of its vehicles while also rebuilding trust with regulators and buyers after a record number of technical problems across the U.S. market.
This article originally appeared on Autorepublika.com and has been republished with permission by Guessing Headlights. AI-assisted translation was used, followed by human editing and review.