Ford Recall King: Why the F-150 & Other Models Top the List

So, guess which automaker has the most recalls in the US? If you said Ford, you nailed it. Get this - Ford had 67 recalls in 2024 alone, affecting nearly 4.8 million vehicles. And believe it or not, that's actually a "good" year for them! Tesla technically had more vehicles recalled (over 5.1 million), but with fewer actual recall campaigns (only 16 total).

Now, if I asked you to guess Ford's most-recalled vehicle, you'd probably say the F-150, right? Ding ding ding! The F-150 wears this dubious crown, though to be fair, it's been America's best-selling vehicle for like 50 years, so there are just a ton of them out there. More trucks = more potential recalls. Simple math.

The 2021 F-150: Recall Champion

If we're talking specifically about model years, the 2021 F-150 is the undisputed recall champ. This poor truck got hit with a whopping 21 recalls! That's... not great. Check out these numbers:  

Quick reality check though - some of these recalls overlap between models and years. Like, there was one for faulty windshield wipers that covered both 2020 and 2021 models, plus some Expeditions, Navigators, and Super Duty trucks too.

Also worth noting: those complaint numbers tend to stack up for older models simply because they've been on the road longer. The 2016 model has had several more years to break down compared to a 2023, so don't read too much into that.

Ford's Greatest Recall Hits

Let's skip the Takata airbag recalls since that affected practically every major automaker (we've all heard enough about that mess). Here are some Ford-specific doozies:

Broken Rear Axle Hub Bolts (Dec 2023)

This one affected nearly 113,000 F-150s from 2021-2023 with the Trailer Tow Max Duty package. The axle hub spline could just... break. While driving. Best case, your truck becomes undrivable. Worst case? It rolls away when parked. Some drivers are still waiting for replacement parts. Yikes.

Phantom Parking Brake Activation (July 2023)

Picture this: you're cruising down the highway and suddenly - BAM - your emergency brake slams on. That's what could happen to 870,701 F-150s from 2021-2023 with single exhaust systems. A loose wiring harness could touch the rear axle and randomly trigger the parking brake. The fix? Tape and zip ties. No, seriously.

Doors That Might Fly Open (Oct 2017)

Over 1.1 million F-Series trucks (2015-2017) were recalled because the door latches could fail, potentially allowing doors to swing open while driving. Nothing like a surprise ejector seat feature you didn't ask for!

The New Kid Has Problems Too

The Maverick might be Ford's newest truck, but it's already making a name for itself in the recall department. According to iSeeCars, the Maverick is projected to have 20.7 recalls over thirty years of ownership. That's 6.4 times more than the average vehicle! The F-150 is expected to have "only" 17.2 recalls in that same period.

To be fair, the Maverick only launched in 2022, and many of its recalls are those typical first-year production bugs. Still, the 2022 Maverick already has 22 recalls on file – one more than even the troubled 2021 F-150.

Don't Forget the Bronco and Explorer

The revived Bronco isn't doing much better, with a projected 17 recalls over thirty years. One recent example: detached rear shock absorbers in about 150,000 Broncos from 2021-2024. Not exactly confidence-inspiring for your off-road adventures.

The Explorer deserves a participation trophy in this contest too. This longtime Ford SUV is expected to have roughly one recall every two years of ownership. In 2023 alone, it was recalled seven times for everything from oil supply line issues to loose transmission bolts that could lead to rollaways.

The Silver Lining?

If there's any good news here, it's that recalls are usually worse for the manufacturer than for owners. The repairs are free, and the NHTSA does a decent job of holding automakers accountable. Every vehicle has some issues when it hits the market – at least recall notices mean these problems are getting addressed.

Still, might want to keep your Ford dealer's number on speed dial, just saying.