Brake Warning Issued for 2025 Ford and Lincoln Vehicles
If you have recently purchased a 2025 Ford or Lincoln, you need to pay close attention to a safety defect just announced. A critical component in the braking system—the Electronic Brake Booster (EBB)—has a manufacturing defect that could lead to a sudden loss of power braking assist while you are driving.
Vehicles Affected: 2025 Ford Bronco, Expedition, F-150, Ranger and 2025 Lincoln Navigator.
The issue lies within the Electronic Brake Booster (EBB) module. This is the component responsible for multiplying the force you apply to the brake pedal, making it easy to stop a heavy vehicle.
According to the defect report, a design flaw in the integrated circuit (the computer chips inside the module) has caused unintended manufacturing variations. Under certain conditions, the system thinks something is wrong and triggers a "fail-safe" mode.
Unfortunately, this fail-safe mode actually inhibits the activation of the brake booster. This means the module essentially goes to sleep to protect itself, leaving drivers without power assist.
The malfunction can occur in two scenarios:
- Normal Driving: It can happen unexpectedly while you are simply driving down the road.
- Using ADAS: It can occur when you are using Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (like Adaptive Cruise Control or BlueCruise).
The Safety Risk: What Happens to the Brakes?
It is important to note that you do not lose your brakes entirely. However, the experience can be frightening and dangerous. If the EBB fails:
- Loss of Boost: The front brakes will revert to "non-boosted hydraulic assist." This means you will have to press the brake pedal with significantly more physical force to get the car to slow down.
- Emergency Backup: The vehicle is programmed to activate the electric park brakes on the rear wheels to help drag the vehicle to a slow, but this is not a substitute for standard braking performance.
- Stopping Distance: Because the pedal becomes hard to press and the system isn't boosting your effort, your stopping distance will likely increase, raising the risk of a crash.
Warning Signs Your Ford Or Lincoln Has A Brake Problem
Ford has outlined several clear indicators that the EBB has entered this fault state. If this happens to you, you will notice:
- Dashboard Lights: The Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and Brake warning lights will all illuminate.
- Messages: You will see cyclic error messages on your instrument cluster.
- Sound: An audible chime or alert will sound.
- Pedal Feel: The brake pedal will feel different—likely stiffer, longer travel, or requiring much more effort to push.
Note: The system will remain in this fault state until the vehicle is turned off and the module completes a "sleep cycle." However, simply restarting the car is not a permanent fix; the hardware is defective.
The Fix and Timeline
This is not a software update that can be done over the air. The physical Electronic Brake Booster module must be replaced by a dealership.
- Interim Notification: Ford expects to mail letters to affected owners starting December 15, 2025, notifying them of the risk.
- Final Remedy: The replacement parts are anticipated to be available in January 2026. Once parts are ready, a second letter will be sent asking you to schedule an appointment.
Reference Numbers
Ford Recall Number: 25SD4
NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V-823
Drive with Caution: Until the repair is made, be aware of the warning signs. If your dashboard lights up like a Christmas tree and the brakes feel heavy, increase your following distance immediately and pull over safely.