Ford Recalls 240,000 Maverick Pickups, Citing Tail Lights Issue

Ford’s latest recall is another doozy.

The U.S. auto manufacturer is calling back nearly a quarter of a million Maverick pickup trucks, citing a tail light defect.

The recalled trucks’ rear lights may turn off while the vehicles are in use, the company recently told federal vehicle safety regulators. That increases the risk of accidents, Ford also acknowledged.

“Rear position lamps that fail to illuminate can cause reduced visibility to other drivers in dark conditions, increasing the risk of a collision,” the company said in a defect notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Administration.

The recall covers some 240,000 Maverick pickups from model years 2022 through 2024. The company said it was not aware of any accidents or injuries caused by the defect.

Ford plans to notify owners of recalled vehicles via mail by May 24, the company told NHTSA. Owners also can check NHTSA’s website to see if their trucks are covered by the recall.

The company will ask owners to bring their trucks to authorized service providers for inspection and repair.

Safety Concerns for Ford Owners

Ford is the king of recalls. The company has issued more safety recalls nationwide than any other auto manufacturer in each of the last three years.

Ford announced 58 recalls over last year, accounting for roughly 16% of all call backs nationwide, according to data from NHTSA. The total was about 30% more than the 45 recalls by Chrysler, the second-most called back brand last year.

That trend is continuing in 2024. The company announced in April that it was calling back some 40,000-plus Bronco and Escape sport utility vehicles because cracked fuel injectors may leak and cause fires. Ford announced another recall around the same time, calling back 400 new Mustangs over fire risks.

How the California Lemon Law Works

California car owners and lessors have some important rights and protections under the state’s lemon law. You do not need to wait for a recall or an investigation to get a defective vehicle fixed.

The lemon law, officially known as the Song Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, forces automakers to perform a full range of repairs on cars while they are under warranty. It also requires the companies to buy back (or replace, in some cases) vehicles that they are unable to or simply decline to fix. 

There is no specific number of repair requests or attempts that must happen before the buyback or replacement requirement kicks in. An experienced lemon law attorney can help you understand your rights and take action.

Our Lemon Lawyers Can Help You

At Bickel Sannipoli, our California lemon law attorneys have assisted hundreds of clients across the state stuck with defective or malfunctioning vehicles. 

We are conveniently located in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a California lemon law attorney today.