Ford has issued fresh safety recalls for nearly 22 000 vehicles in Southern Africa, including certain versions of the Ranger, EcoSport, Everest and Mustang…
- Ford’s latest safety recall campaigns affect nearly 22 000 vehicles in Southern Africa
- Certain Ranger, EcoSport, Everest, Mustang and Transit Custom models are affected
- Remedies for 2 of the 3 safety recalls are expected to start rolling out in Q3 2025
In late July 2025, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa issued safety recalls for approximately 5 700 vehicles. Now, the Dearborn-based firm’s local division has announced a fresh recall campaign affecting nearly 22 000 additional units, including certain versions of the Ranger, EcoSport, Everest and Transit Custom.
This latest recall action encompasses 3 distinct issues. The most widespread relates to certain Ranger, Everest and Transit Custom vehicles built between 2021 and 2025. Ford’s local division says it has “identified that in some of the affected vehicles, the infotainment screen may freeze, followed by a black screen and a system reboot”.
Ranger, Everest and Transit Custom recalled
“If this occurs while reversing the vehicle, the rear-view image may be frozen, missing or delayed. A frozen rear-view camera display image while in reverse may create a false representation of where the vehicle is relative to its surroundings, increasing the risk of an accident.”
In total, some 21 736 vehicles in Southern Africa are affected. The majority (20 693 units) were sold in South Africa, though Namibia (657 units), Botswana (363 units) and Swaziland (23 units) are also included in this broader safety campaign.
Most of the units take the form of the Ranger (17 741 units in Southern Africa, including 16 820 units in SA, 579 units in Namibia, 327 units in Botswana and 15 units in Swaziland). The recall campaign also includes 3 317 units of the Everest (3 199 units in SA, 76 units in Namibia, 35 units in Botswana and 7 examples in Swaziland) and 678 units of the Transit Custom (674 in SA, 2 examples in Namibia and a single unit apiece in Botswana and Swaziland).
Ford says it is “working to provide software for this repair”, adding that when the “remedy becomes available, Ford Motor Company will notify the customer via mail to schedule a service appointment with their dealer for repairs to be completed free of charge”. The remedy is “anticipated to be available” in the 3rd quarter of 2025.
Smaller recall involves Mustang and EcoSport, too
Separately, the Blue Oval brand is in the process of recalling certain Mustang, EcoSport, Ranger and Everest vehicles built between 2018 and 2023. Just 33 units are affected in South Africa (30 units of the previous-generation Mustang, along with a single unit of each of the EcoSport, Ranger and Everest).
The company says it has “identified that in the affected vehicles, repeated short ignition cycles (time between key on and key off) may, over time, result in an error in the SYNC [infotainment] system that could result in system instability and/or a failure to maintain certain settings between ignition cycles”.
“This may result in an intermittent blank image while in reverse or rear-view image remaining on display after reverse driving has ended. A frozen rear-view camera display image while in reverse may create a false representation of where the vehicle is relative to its surroundings, increasing the risk of an accident,” the company explains.
As with the campaign above, Ford says it is currently “working to provide a software update in order to repair the concern”. The software update is likewise “anticipated to be available” in the 3rd quarter of 2025.
8 units of 2025 Ranger separately recalled
Finally, the automaker has issued a safety recall for just 8 units of the 2025 Ranger. In the affected vehicles, Ford says the transmission main valve body’s internal dimensions “do not meet the engineering print specifications, and the driver may experience no reverse motion when the vehicle is in reverse gear”.
“When the vehicle’s gear selector is in reverse or neutral position, the vehicle may move forward. When this occurs, the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) and ‘wrench’ light will illuminate on the instrument cluster in the vehicle. Unexpected vehicle motion can increase the risk of an accident,” the company says.
According to Ford, it is still “working to provide parts in order to repair the units”. When these components become available, the customer will be asked to schedule a service appointment for repairs (again, to be completed “free of charge”). Ford says it expects the parts to be available “by October 2025”.
The Blue Oval brand furthermore suggests customers check if their vehicle is affected (by these or any other recalls), by entering their VIN at the following link: www.ford.co.za/owner/recalls/. They are also encouraged to call Ford’s “Customer Relationship Resolution Centre” on 0860 011 022 (or +2712 843 5824, in the case of international callers) or email them on CRC3@ford.com should they have any queries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which Ford vehicles are affected by the latest recall in Southern Africa?
A: The latest recall affects nearly 22 000 vehicles in Southern Africa, including certain versions of the Ford Ranger, EcoSport, Everest, Mustang and Transit Custom.
Q: What are the main issues identified in the recall campaign?
A: The campaign addresses 3 issues: a widespread infotainment-screen freeze that affects the rear-view camera, an intermittent blank display due to repeated short ignition cycles and a transmission issue in a small number of 2025 Ranger models.
Q: When will the fixes for the recalled vehicles be available?
A: Ford anticipates that the software updates for the infotainment issues will be available in the third quarter of 2025. The parts required to fix the transmission issue are expected by October 2025.
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