Ford Recalls 422K Trucks, SUVs Over Risky Wiper Failures

Ford Motor Co. announced a massive recall of 422,613 U.S. vehicles on April 8, 2026, after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration flagged defective windshield wiper arms that could break, detach or malfunction unpredictably.[1][2] The fault stems from an incorrectly staked latch retention plate at the supplier, which fails to properly seat the wiper arm head, compounded by dimensional variability reducing engagement between the knurl and arm head.[1] NHTSA warned this visibility loss in rain or snow heightens crash risks, though Ford reported no accidents, injuries or fires tied to the issue.[1] Affected models span high-volume lines: 2021-2023 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs, plus 2022-2023 Ford Super Duty trucks including F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD and F-600 SD variants.[1][2] Vehicles were assembled between October 2021 and December 2022 at Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant and Dearborn Truck Plant.[1] Ford pinpointed the defect during a January 2026 internal review triggered by surging warranty claims on wiper arm failures.[1] Dealers will inspect wiper arm assemblies free of charge, replacing any faulty pivot block, arm head or retention plate as needed; the recall letters hit mailboxes starting May 20, 2026.[1] Owners can check eligibility via NHTSA's VIN lookup tool or Ford's website using recall number 26S29.[2] This marks another blow for Ford's quality control, following recent recalls on everything from Broncos to Mavericks.[1] The wiper woes underscore persistent supplier quality challenges in Detroit's truck-heavy lineup, where Super Duty models alone racked up over 100,000 U.S. sales last quarter.[1] Analysts eye potential ripple effects on Ford's Q2 earnings amid repair costs and brand trust erosion, though the recall's scale pales against 2023's 1.8 million Bronco/Edge airbag actions.[1] Ford urges immediate action as storm season ramps up.