Ford faces another setback involving best-selling F-150 pickup

Ford has recalled over 100,000 Ford F-150 pickups after previous recall repairs were found to be improperly completed. The problem impacts the top-selling pickup in the United States, and some owners who may believe their trucks are fine could need to visit a dealership again.

The two separate recalls are both related to software defects, but they affect entirely different components: The daytime running lights and gear selection in certain models with automatic transmissions.

Although recalls are common, repeat fixes for the same faults are less routine. As Ford Motor (F) grapples with an industry-leading rate of recalls, the F-150's new problems raise questions not only about quality control but repair execution, especially for what is one of the brand's most profitable vehicles.

Ford F-150 recalled after initial fixes proved unsuccessful

In two separate documents published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a Ford audit found that some F-150s marked as repaired did not have the correct software update installed.

The first recall involves daytime running lights that fail to dim when the lighting switch is manually rotated from "Autolamp" to the "headlamp on" position. The combination of active DRLs and low-beam headlights could create excessive brightness, reducing visibility for oncoming motorists.

The DRL recall affects 91,198 Ford F-150 pickups between the 2018 and 2020 model years.

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The second recall pertains to a situation where rapidly shifting the transmission lever from Park to Drive could cause a loss of the PRNDL gear indication in the instrument cluster. In some cases, it could also momentarily select Reverse, causing unintended movement of the vehicle.

The gear selector recall applies to certain 2018 F-150 pickups with the 3.3-liter engine and six-speed auto transmission. A total of 10,742 models are impacted, taking the overall number of affected vehicles between the two recalls to 101,940.

Ford will now initiate a new round of software updates to resolve these defects.

Why another F-150 recall matters for Ford

The Ford F-150 is the American automaker's best-selling vehicle and has been for decades. Top models can exceed $100,000, contributing to this being a major profit driver for the brand.

The new recalls add to Ford's already elevated rate of recalls in recent years. The manufacturer has already hit over 50 recalls in 2026 and is on track to break its previous record, reports Autoblog.

Related: Ford recalls one of its best-selling vehicles

For many F-150 customers, it will be necessary to visit a dealership more than once to address the same issue, potentially leading to reduced brand loyalty and lower customer satisfaction. It hurts Ford's business, too, as repeat repairs can drive up warranty expenses, particularly when its highest-margin product is involved.

While these recalls and repeat fixes are concerning, Ford argues that many of its recalls have been proactive, not reactive. The company has doubled its team of safety and technical experts over the last two years as it works to fix quality, reports Fox Business.

Ultimately, the goal is to address defects before customers experience them.

What Ford F-150 owners should do now

Owners of affected F-150 models can expect notification letters of the planned remedy to be mailed from July 6 to July 10, 2026. As of July 6, owners can use their Vehicle Identification Numbers on the NHTSA website to find out if their specific model is involved in either recall.

Ford's toll-free customer service number is 1-866-436-7332, whereby owners can find out more information. The automaker also stated that owners who paid to have these defects repaired as part of the earlier recall in May 2023 may be eligible for reimbursement.

For the transmission defect, the Powertrain Control Module's (PCM) software will need to be updated, while the DRL fix involves a software update for the Body Control Module (BCM).

As Ford addresses these and other fixes, it will want to put appropriate measures in place to ensure that recall repairs are completed correctly. This is especially critical for a popular model like the F-150 pickup, which is central to Ford's reputation and profitability.

Related: This is how Ford CEO Jim Farley "future proofs" F-Series trucks

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This story was originally published June 18, 2026 at 11:47 AM.