INDIANA—Ford Motor Company has announced a recall of approximately 274,000 of its popular SUV models, the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator, across the United States due to a potential defect that could lead to a loss of brake function while driving. According to documents released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), this issue significantly increases the risk of a vehicle crash.
The recall affects 223,315 Ford Expeditions and 50,474 Lincoln Navigators manufactured between the 2022 and 2024 model years. NHTSA documents reveal that the front brake lines in these vehicles may come into contact with the engine air cleaner outlet pipe due to a possible installation error. This contact can cause friction, potentially leading to a brake fluid leak and, consequently, a loss of braking capability.
Ford estimates that only about 1% of the recalled vehicles have this defect. However, the company has received 45 warranty reports of front brake line leaks as of April 17th, according to NHSTA records. Fortunately, Ford stated that it was unaware of any accidents or injuries that resulted from this issue.
To address this safety concern, Ford and Lincoln dealerships will conduct free inspections of the front brake lines in the affected SUVs. If necessary, dealers will replace the brake line or the air cleaner outlet pipe at no cost to the owners.
Notifications to dealerships were scheduled to begin today, Wednesday, May 14th. Owners of the impacted vehicles can expect to receive letters by mail between May 26th and May 30th, informing them of the recall and outlining the next steps.
In the interim, drivers can determine if their specific vehicle is part of this recall by visiting the NHTSA website or using Ford’s online recall lookup tool. For this particular recall, Ford has assigned the reference number 25S47.
NHTSA documents caution that drivers of affected vehicles might notice an increase in brake pedal travel, meaning they would need to press the pedal further down to engage the brakes effectively. Additionally, a leaking brake line will cause the brake fluid level to decrease over time, which could trigger the red brake warning light on the dashboard.
Ford urges owners of 2022-2024 Expedition and Navigator SUVs to take this recall seriously and schedule an inspection with their local Ford or Lincoln dealer as soon as they receive notification. Ensuring the proper function of the braking system is crucial for the safety of drivers and passengers.
