While most automakers spend the closing weeks of the year hustling to deliver new vehicles to customers before December 31, Ford seems to be focused on a different challenge: keeping its 2025 recall tally from climbing even higher. Instead of racing to meet sales deadlines, the company is scrambling to address multiple safety issues affecting a variety of models.
The most recent significant recall involves 108,762 Ford Escapes from the 2020 to 2022 model years, as well as 2025 models. Surprisingly, the problem is quite simple and low-tech: the liftgate hinge covers on these vehicles may not be securely fastened, which could cause them to detach unexpectedly. If a hinge cover comes loose, it could fall while the car is parked, bounce into oncoming traffic during a drive, or even fly off in a car wash, leaving a dramatic trail in its wake.
Ford has indicated that dealers will inspect the hinge covers and install new fasteners where necessary. While this fix is straightforward, the timing is less than ideal for a company eager to wrap up the year without adding another recall to its already substantial total. The Escapes won’t be the only vehicles occupying Ford service bays as the calendar flips into 2026. An additional 11,852 Lincoln MKT models from the 2016-2019 model years are also being recalled due to a similar trim issue. In this case, plastic finishers attached to the B-pillar can detach, posing both aesthetic and potential safety concerns.
The recall news doesn’t end there. Ford has also announced a much smaller recall affecting just six vehicles across the 2026 Explorer, 2026 Mustang, 2026 Lincoln Corsair, and 2025 Maverick. In these rare cases, an improperly manufactured cylinder head can lead to ball plug failure, resulting in oil leaks. Though the number of affected units is minimal, it adds to the broader picture of Ford’s ongoing recall challenges.
In fact, Ford has been particularly hard-hit in 2025, logging 140 separate recall actions with nearly a month still remaining in the year. This volume of recalls not only risks eroding consumer confidence but also comes with a hefty financial cost, as the company must allocate resources to fix problems instead of investing in the design and production of its next-generation vehicles. The sheer number of recalls highlights both the complexity of modern automobiles and the challenges automakers face in maintaining quality across large, technologically advanced fleets. For Ford, closing out the year means balancing customer safety, operational costs, and the urgent need to deliver reliable new models in the years ahead.