Ford & BMW Issue Major Vehicle Recalls: What You Need to Know
On December 19th, both Ford and BMW announced significant recalls impacting tens of thousands of vehicles, as reported to the National Highway Traffic Governance (NHTSA). These recalls address possibly perilous malfunctions, ranging from a risk of vehicles rolling while parked to unexpected steering wheel movements. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what you need to know to determine if your vehicle is affected and how to get it resolved.
Ford Recall: Potential “Rollaway” Risk in Popular Electric Models
Ford is recalling a considerable number of its electric and hybrid vehicles due to a transmission issue. This recall encompasses:
* 80,468 Maverick Hybrid Electric Trucks
* 104,113 F-150 Lightning Battery Electric Trucks
* 88,064 Mach-E Mustangs
These vehicles, manufactured between October 14, 2021, and November 17, 2025, at Ford’s Hermosillo and Cuautitlán Assembly plants in Mexico, may experience a failure of the transmission to fully lock into “park.”
What’s the problem? A malfunction within the integrated park module can cause binding and friction, preventing complete engagement of the park function. You may not see the illuminated “P” on your dashboard, and a warning light will likely appear.
The risk: While the Electronic Park Brake (EPB) is designed to automatically apply, a fault in the EPB system could prevent it from engaging. This creates a dangerous “rollaway” risk if you rely solely on the park function, potentially leading to a crash.
what’s the fix? Fortunately, Ford will deploy an over-the-air (OTA) software update to address this issue.
Here’s what you should do:
- Check your VIN: Starting January 26th,you can enter your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls) to see if your vehicle is affected.
- Contact Ford: You can also reach Ford’s customer service at 866-436-7332,referencing recall number 25C69.
- Expect notification: Ford plans to begin notifying affected owners in early Febuary.
BMW Recall: Steering System Software Glitch in New X3 Models
BMW is recalling nearly 37,000 X3 vehicles (model years 2025 and 2026) manufactured between August 14, 2024, and October 20, 2025. The issue centers around a potential malfunction in the steering system software.
What’s happening? Field tests revealed unintended movement of the steering wheel,even when the vehicle is stationary. While initially observed in non-moving vehicles, BMW is proactively recalling vehicles due to the potential for this issue to occur while driving.
Why is this a concern? Unexpected steering wheel movements while driving could significantly increase the risk of a crash. BMW identified approximately 21 potential cases related to this issue during engineering reviews.
The source of the problem: The faulty software was supplied by Robert Bosch LLC.
What’s the solution? BMW will also release an over-the-air (OTA) software update to rectify the steering system software.
Here’s how to check and proceed:
- VIN Check: Starting February 2, 2026, you can verify if your vehicle is impacted by entering your VIN on the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls).
- Contact BMW: Alternatively, reach out to BMW customer service at 800-525-7417.
- Await Notification: BMW will begin directly notifying affected owners starting February 2, 2026.
Staying Informed & Prioritizing Safety
Vehicle recalls are a critical part of automotive safety. Manufacturers proactively address potential defects to protect you and other
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