Ford has announced a recall of more than 4 million vehicles after identifying an issue with the Integrated Trailer Module (ITRM) that may affect trailer brakes and brake lights.
According to documents filed with the :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1} (NHTSA), Ford is recalling a total of 4,380,609 vehicles after showing that the Integrated Trailer Module (ITRM) may lose communication with the affected vehicles.
The recall covers vehicles from model years 2021 to 2026 and includes the F-150, F-250 Super Duty, E-Transit, Expedition, Maverick, Ranger, and Lincoln Navigator.
According to the documents, Ford reported a software issue in the ITRM that allows a race condition between the ITRM and the CAN Standby Control Bit (STBCC) during vehicle startup.
If the correct conditions are met, the ITRM will power on but will not communicate with the vehicle properly. When this happens, the trailer’s brake lights and turn signals become inoperative. It is also possible that the issue may result in a loss of trailer brake function, although this condition is less common.
Affected customers are alerted to the issue by a “trailer brake module fault” message displayed on the instrument cluster. An additional “blind spot assistance system fault” message may also appear as a warning.
Ford estimates that only one percent of the recall population is affected by the ITRM defect. At the time the recall was filed, Ford was not aware of any accidents, injuries, or fires related to the issue.
The automaker will begin issuing an over-the-air software update for the ITRM in March 2026. The updated software eliminates the vulnerability in the ITRM and prevents the loss of communication between the trailer and the vehicle.
Ford will notify owners and dealers about the issue on March 17. In addition to the over-the-air update, owners will have the option to take their vehicle to a dealership for the software update in person.
Photo: Ford. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
