Ford sets new record for recalls in July

If it feels like you’ve been reminding your Ford customers about recalls more often these days, you’d be right. The Detroit-based automaker has already broken the annual industry record for recalls barely halfway through the year.

Industry media, citing data from The Wall Street Journal, noted that Ford issued 88 safety recalls in the first half of 2025 — more than any other automaker has ever recorded in a full calendar year. The next closest company is recreational vehicle maker Forest River, which has issued just 21.

The previous record was held by General Motors with 77 in 2014, highlighted by faulty ignition switches.

Ford has ranked first or second in recalls every year since 2020. The company said the spike is part of a deliberate strategy to catch and correct issues faster.

“The increase in recalls reflects our intensive strategy to quickly find and fix any hardware and software issues and go the extra mile to protect customers,” said Kumar Galhotra, Ford’s chief operating officer, in a statement to The Wall Street Journal.

The company noted that nine of this year’s recalls are expansions of earlier ones. An internal audit launched in March has already led to 33 new campaigns — about 37 per cent of the total so far this year.

One of the most recent recalls was an issue with a low-pressure fuel pump, which affected more than 850,000 models, including the Bronco, Expedition, and F-250. Even bigger was the rearview camera recall that affected 1.1 million vehicles that saw the camera image freeze or be delayed. Other recalls have centred around steering controls, braking systems, seats and more.

Despite the numbers, Ford insists product quality is improving. Four of its new models recently earned top marks in a J.D. Power quality study. The company has more than doubled its team of safety and technical experts and expanded testing on critical systems like powertrains, steering and braking.

Ford CEO Jim Farley has made quality a top priority, tying 70 per cent of executive bonuses to quality-related metrics. The company also appointed a “quality czar” in 2022 to lead the charge.

Ford says it expects the number of recalls to decline over time as these internal changes take hold.

“We believe this approach will lead to systemic and lasting positive change and help us reach world-class levels for quality, safety and customer satisfaction,” Galhotra said.

That said, recalls are up across the industry. According to The Wall Street Journal, more than 1,000 recalls were issued in 2024 — up from about 800 a decade ago. While many involve minor issues like faulty interior lights or sun visors, others carry more serious safety risks.