Ford defended its quality improvements during this week’s second-quarter earnings conference call, even as the automaker continues to lead the U.S. industry in recalls. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data, Ford has issued 61 recalls so far this year, accounting for 28% of all U.S. recalls and exceeding every other major automaker.

The recall total places Ford well ahead of Stellantis with 24 recalls, General Motors with 19, Hyundai with 17, Toyota with 16, and several manufacturers with 11 or 12. Many of Ford’s recalls have involved powertrain systems, visibility, electrical issues, backover prevention, vehicle structure, exterior lighting, and seats.

Ford Says Recall Count Has Declined

During the conference call, Ford executives acknowledged questions from analysts regarding the company’s recall activity. Ford noted that recalls have declined compared with last year, when the company had issued 94 recalls by the same point in the year.

Chief Executive Officer Jim Farley said Ford has spent more than three years being “relentless about building top quality.” He pointed to Ford finishing No. 1 among mainstream brands in the JD Power 2026 Initial Quality Study, which measures customer satisfaction during the first 90 days of ownership.

“We see this win as a first down payment on a much more consequential virtual circle, going from initial quality to long-term durability, lowering our warranty costs even further, fewer recalls, stronger customer loyalty,” Farley said. “Ford’s quality renaissance goes hand in hand with our equally intense drive to improve our cost structure.”

Executives Highlight Warranty and Durability Improvements

An analyst asked the company’s leadership for an update on quality, warranty claims, and the expected impact on Ford’s financial performance in 2027 and beyond.

Farley responded by noting that not every recall carries the same significance, saying, “A software recall and a powertrain recall are quite different things.”

Ford Chief Financial Officer Sherry House said warranty claims improved by $1 billion year over year. Chief Operating Officer Kumar Galhotra added that Ford has increased its focus on long-term durability, stating, “That will turn into eventually lower recall costs as well.”

Galhotra also said Ford has recalled about 12 million vehicles so far this year, while adding that the number of recalls is down by about 40% compared with last year.

NHTSA Data Offers a Different Perspective

According to the article, NHTSA data supports the reduction in the number of recalls compared with Ford’s total of 153 recalls during all of 2025. However, it also notes that Ford had issued 94 recalls by July 30, 2025, compared with 61 by the same point this year.

The article also states that recall volume has increased. Ford recalled 12.9 million vehicles during all of 2025 and has already surpassed 12 million recalled vehicles this year with five months remaining. By July 30, 2025, Ford had recalled 5,985,717 vehicles, meaning this year’s recall volume is running at roughly twice last year’s pace over the same period.

Powertrain Recalls Lead Ford’s Recall Categories

Powertrain-related issues represent Ford’s largest recall category this year. According to NHTSA data cited in the article, Ford has issued 10 powertrain recalls, more than any other recall category.

The article notes that software recalls can often be addressed through over-the-air updates, while powertrain recalls typically carry significantly higher costs for automakers.

Newer Ford Models Continue to Appear in Recalls

The article states that NHTSA data includes several recent-model recalls, including:

• 2026 Escape and Lincoln Corsair for rollaway risk.
• 2025 Bronco Sport and Maverick for block heater overheating.
• 2024–2026 Ranger for a sun visor fire issue.
• 2024–2027 Nautilus and Explorer Hybrid for the absence of a pedestrian warning sound.
• 2026–2027 Ford E-350 and E-450 for a backup alert failure.

According to the article, NHTSA data shows Ford has recalled 8,119,802 “modern” vehicles through July 30 this year, including vehicles dating back to the 2021 model year. The total exceeds the approximately 6 million vehicles Ford had recalled by the same point last year.

The article also states that this year’s total includes a recall affecting approximately 4 million 2021–2026 F-Series, Maverick, Ranger, Expedition, and other vehicles.

Industry Analyst Weighs In

Sam Abuelsamid, vice president of Telemetry Insights, said Ford’s overall recall volume appears unfavorable but suggested there may be another explanation.

“But perhaps if they are reducing the total number of unique issues, they have freed up time to look at smaller issues that may still be affecting large numbers of in-service vehicles and getting those fixed, too,” Abuelsamid said.

Conclusion

The conference call highlighted Ford’s emphasis on improving quality, warranty performance, and long-term durability. At the same time, the article notes that NHTSA data continues to show high recall volumes, including millions of recently produced vehicles, while Ford remains the industry leader in U.S. recalls this year.