Ford Recalls 274,000 SUVs Over Brake Line Defect That Could Impede Braking

May 16, 2025 - 00:51 Updated: May 15, 2025 - 21:51

Ford Recalls 274,000 SUVs Over Brake Line Defect That Could Impede Braking

The issue impacts 1 percent of recalled SUVs, Ford says, and no accidents or injuries related to the defect have been reported.

Ford is recalling nearly 274,000 of its Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs due to a brake line defect that could reduce braking effectiveness and increase crash risk, according to documents filed with federal safety regulators.

The recall affects 223,315 Ford Expeditions and 50,474 Lincoln Navigators built between April 15, 2021, and Nov. 20, 2024. Ford estimates that about 1 percent of the recalled vehicles may have the defect.

According to a safety notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on May 9, the vehicles’ front brake lines may have been bent during engine installation at Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant, causing them to rub against the engine air cleaner outlet pipe. That can lead to brake fluid leaks and a loss of braking power.

Affected drivers may notice increased brake pedal travel and, in cases of fluid loss, a red brake warning light. Ford said it is aware of 45 warranty reports related to brake line leaks, but no accidents or injuries have been reported.

A Ford spokesperson confirmed that the defect was addressed in production as of November 2024 and does not affect current models coming off the line.

Ford said owners will be notified by mail starting May 26 and can bring their vehicles to a dealer for a free inspection. If needed, the brake line or air cleaner outlet pipe will be replaced. Owners who previously paid for these repairs may be eligible for reimbursement under the company’s recall reimbursement plan.

The recall comes as Ford navigates broader operational challenges, including the impact of new U.S. tariffs on foreign-built vehicles and parts. The company estimates that tariff-related costs will reduce its earnings by $1.5 billion through 2025 and has suspended its full-year financial guidance as it works with the Trump administration to assess the policy’s implications.

Despite a 64 percent drop in first-quarter earnings from a year earlier, Ford beat Wall Street expectations and said it sees an opportunity in the tariffs to strengthen its competitive edge through its U.S. manufacturing footprint.

Ford CEO Jim Farley said on a recent conference call with analysts that the company assembled more than 300,000 more vehicles in the United States than its nearest competitor.

“It’s still too early to fully understand our competitors’ responses to these tariffs,” Farley said on the call. “It’s clear, however, that in this new environment ... automakers with the largest U.S. footprint will have a big advantage, and boy, is that true for Ford. It puts us in the pole position.”

Ford recently announced that it was raising prices on some Mexican-built vehicles by between $600 to $2,000, but a company spokesperson said the increases reflect both standard midyear adjustments and new tariff-related costs, noting that not all of those costs have been passed on to consumers.