Written By: Jessica Anvar Stotz
Legally Reviewed By: Jessica Anvar Stotz
On July 7th, 2025, Ford released a Safety Recall Report to the U.S. Department of Transportation where they claimed over 850,000 of their vehicles potentially contain fuel pump defects.
If it fails, the fuel pump can cause the engine to stall, and a stalled engine can be unpredictable and dangerous for a driver.
Ford estimates that about 10% or 85,000, of the total 850,000 vehicles contain the defect, but have not identified exactly which vehicles will be recalled yet.
When that recall is sent out, it will be done based on the vehicle identification number of the faulty car, or VIN.
In this article, we will discuss this recall and assist you in better understanding your next steps as a Ford vehicle owner and consumer. You may be eligible for compensation if you purchased a faulty Ford!
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What’s Wrong with the Ford Fuel Pump?
In a car, the fuel pump is responsible for delivering fuel to the engine. In the vehicles Ford is potentially recalling, the fuel pump can fail to deliver the proper amount of fuel pressure and flow, resulting in an engine stall.
If this happens while the vehicle is being operated, it can result in a loss of control that could lead to a dangerous crash.
Ford describes that the fuel pump can have internal contamination in its jet pump, which can lead to an increase in internal friction and sensitivity to vapor lock.
When the tank is low on fuel, or the vehicle is in a warm or hot environment, the risk of failure increases, according to Ford.
Which Ford and Lincoln Models Are Included in the Recall?
Both Ford and Lincoln vehicles are included in this recall, with all vehicles being 2021-2023 models. The following vehicles are included:
| Affected Vehicle (Make, Model) | Year |
| Ford Mustang | 2021 and 2022 |
| Ford Explorer | 2021-2023 |
| Ford F-150 | 2021 and 2022 |
| Lincoln Navigator | 2021-2023 |
| Ford F-250 | 2021-2023 |
| Ford F-350 | 2021-2023 |
| Ford F-550 | 2021-2023 |
| Ford Bronco | 2021-2023 |
| Ford F-450 | 2021-2023 |
| Ford Expedition | 2022 |
How Ford Plans to Notify Owners and When Repairs Will Begin
According to the Safety Recall Report prepared by Ford, dealers will have been notified of the problem on July 8th, 2025, and Ford will be sending letters to owners of potentially-impacted vehicles throughout mid-July.
Because Ford has not yet discovered a remedy for the issue, vehicle owners will still have to wait for that letter (as of July 14th, 2025).
Once Ford learns how the issue can be remedied, vehicle owners will receive a letter detailing how the vehicle can be repaired and where that repair should take place.
Both the notification letter and the remedy letter will describe the defect in more detail and describe why it is important to fix it.
What Drivers May Experience
The main concern linked to a faulty fuel pump is the engine stalling already mentioned. When the engine stalls, it stops providing power to the vehicle.
If the vehicle is already in motion, this can be very dangerous: the driver likely did not expect the sudden loss of power and could be startled by their loss of control.
If there are other vehicles on the road nearby, they might not notice the vehicle lose power and collide with it.
If the vehicles are moving fast enough, neither driver may have time to react and avoid the accident. Since many of the affected vehicles have applications like towing or hauling, having a functioning engine is very important for safe operation of the vehicle and for the safety of others on the road.
Your Next Steps: What to Do If Symptoms Continue After the Repair
If you think your vehicle may be affected by the malfunctioning fuel pump, here are your next steps. First, wait to receive the letter from Ford detailing the recall.
That letter will likely request that you bring your vehicle in for inspection and repairs if your vehicle has been identified to contain the defect.
You can also determine if your car is being recalled by providing the vehicle identification number to websites like the NHTSA’s “Recalls” page.
Once you have taken your vehicle in for repairs, it will hopefully be fixed and you can enjoy your functioning vehicle once more.
However, repairs are not always successful, and problems can persist even after repeated visits. In that case, you may have a lemon law claim and could receive compensation for purchasing a defective vehicle.
Lemon laws exist to protect consumers after they are sold malfunctioning vehicles by car manufacturers.
The most important part of any lemon law claim are repair attempts: typically if a car has undergone a reasonable number of repair attempts for a defect that impairs its safety, use or value, it is considered a lemon.
Alternatively, a vehicle that is inoperable for 30 days or more because of warranty repair work may also considered a lemon.
If the vehicle is determined the lemon, the consumer may be entitled to receive a refund or replacement vehicle.
As the prevailing party, the auto manufacturer usually has to pay for the consumer’s attorneys fees and costs.
Having an attorney in your corner makes the legal part of a lemon claim much smoother: an attorney can assist in organizing paperwork, making sure deadlines are met, and represent you effectively to maximize the chances of your success against the manufacturer.
Refunds include the reimbursement of all money spent towards purchasing the vehicle such as the down payment, monthly payments, including interest and taxes.
It also includes the reimbursement of incidental expenses related to the lemon such as any rental or tow car expenses incurred as a result of the lemon vehicle.
With a refund, the auto manufacturer also pays off any remaining loan or lease balance payments. If the consumer receives a replacement vehicle instead, the vehicle will likely be of a similar make and model as the lemon vehicle.
With this remedy, the consumer may be responsible for any price difference. Typically with both remedies, the manufacturer is entitled to charge the consumer a usage fee, which is the value for when the vehicle was first driven without the issues that caused it to be a lemon.
| Affected Vehicle | Average Lemon Law Settlement |
| Ford Mustang | $67,757 |
| Ford Explorer | $81,242 |
| Ford F-150 | $93,139 |
| Ford F-250 | $100,592 |
| Ford F-350 | $105,835 |
| Ford F-550 | $90,277 |
| Ford Bronco | $80,669 |
| Lincoln Navigator | $152,188 |
| Ford F-450 | $128,368 |
| Ford Expedition | $125,038 |
*Please note, the figures presented in the chart are approximations based on past case results and should not be interpreted as a prediction or guarantee. Each case is unique and requires personalized legal guidance.
When to Speak with a Lemon-Law Attorney About Your Vehicle
If you notice a persistent defect in your vehicle that is not resolved by repeated repair attempts, you might be dealing with a lemon.
Contacting a lemon law attorney is a good way to start the lemon law process: the attorney can inform you of your rights and assist you in navigating your claim.
The attorneys at the Lemon Law Experts are here for you! Their expertise has helped consumers just like you receive millions collectively in compensation.
Lemon law claims can be time sensitive, since part of the claim can hinge on how long the vehicle has been unusable.
Contact us today for a free case evaluation by filling out a contact form on our website or by calling us at (877) 885-5366. Safe travels!
Citations
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls, U.S. Department of Transportation. https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls. Accessed July 14, 2025.
