This One Comes With a Parking Order
Ignoring recalls can pose a serious safety risk, and this latest campaign from Ford shows why they shouldn’t be taken lightly. The Blue Oval is recalling 15,965 units of the 2025 Transit after discovering that the brake booster pushrod may disconnect from the brake pedal — prompting the company to issue a “Do Not Drive” advisory for affected vehicles.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) recall report (26V090), certain Ford Transit models may have been assembled without the cotter pin and retainer clip on the brake pedal assembly. These small components secure the connection between the brake booster pushrod and the brake pedal. Without them, the pushrod could detach, increasing the risk of a crash. The defect also results in noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 105, which governs hydraulic and electric brake systems.
The Investigation Timeline
The affected units were built between January 21 and April 25, 2025, at the Kansas City Assembly Plant, which also produces the Ford F-150. The issue was first flagged to Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group (CCRG) on December 11, 2025. About a month later, the company became aware of three warranty claims and two field reports tied to the condition. Fortunately, there have been no reported crashes or injuries associated with the defect to date.
Ford noted that drivers may experience a “loose” or “wobbly” brake pedal feel if the condition is present.
Given that the Ford Transit – a full-size van that competes with models like the Ram ProMaster and Chevrolet Express – is a large, heavy vehicle, it’s worth taking the “Do Not Drive” advisory seriously, even if it proves inconvenient. Ford is offering mobile service and dealer-coordinated towing to help ensure the repair is completed safely.
How Ford Plans to Address It
Affected customers will be notified about the recall between March 2 and March 6, 2026 – the same window during which Ford plans to notify Ford Escape PHEV and Lincoln Corsair PHEV owners about a separate high-voltage battery issue (26V091). For Transit owners, the fix involves properly installing and securing all required components of the brake pedal and brake booster pushrod assembly, at no cost to customers.
After a challenging 2025, when Ford recorded 153 recalls – the highest total in its history – the Blue Oval has already issued 10 campaigns in 2026, the most on the list so far this year, according to NHTSA data. Among them are recalls covering more than 400,000 Explorers for a potential rear suspension fracture, along with another affecting over 119,000 vehicles due to a fire risk.
About the author
Rex Sanchez
News Editor