Ford Motor Company of Australia has recalled 6,832 Ford F-150 vehicles from model years 2021 to 2026 over a software fault that can affect trailer braking and trailer turn signals.
The Australian Government recall is numbered REC-006590 and carries Ford campaign number 26C10. It was originally published on 22 April 2026. Owners are being asked to have the Trailer Module software updated by an authorised Ford dealer at no charge.
What the official recall says
The government notice says the Trailer Module may lose communication with the vehicle when a trailer is connected. If that happens, trailer braking performance can be lost and the trailer’s turn signals may not operate as intended.
The stated hazard is a possible loss of trailer control and/or non-operating signal lights, increasing the risk of a crash causing serious injury or death to occupants or other road users.
| Recall detail | Official record |
|---|---|
| Recall number | REC-006590 |
| Ford campaign | 26C10 |
| Vehicle | Ford F-150 |
| Model years | 2021–2026 |
| Vehicles listed as affected | 6,832 |
| Original publication date | 22 April 2026 |
| Remedy | Trailer Module software update by an authorised Ford dealer, free of charge |
The official record includes a downloadable VIN list. Model year alone does not establish whether an individual vehicle has an open recall; owners should check the 17-character VIN.
Why this recall matters to camper-trailer owners
This fault concerns the communication path used when a trailer is attached. The two possible effects named by the regulator—reduced or lost trailer braking performance and turn indicators not working as intended—are both directly relevant to towing.
Trailer brakes are part of the combination’s stopping and stability system. Turn signals communicate intended movement to surrounding traffic. A driver should not assume that a trailer is safe to tow because the F-150 itself shows no obvious mechanical fault while unhitched.
Camper News AU has not independently reproduced the software fault and does not operate a physical test fleet. The defect, hazard, affected count and remedy in this report come from the Australian Government recall record. Whether a particular vehicle is affected must be established by its VIN and Ford’s recall system.
What affected owners should do
The government notice says Ford will contact affected owners in writing and ask them to arrange a free software update with an authorised Ford dealer.
Owners do not need to wait for a letter to check. Ford Australia says recall programs are VIN-specific and provides a Recall and Service Action lookup. The VIN is 17 characters and can be found at the base of the windscreen, on vehicle build and compliance labels, and on documents such as registration or insurance papers.
Use this process:
- Find and carefully copy the vehicle’s 17-character VIN.
- Enter it in Ford Australia’s Recall and Service Action lookup.
- If campaign 26C10 or another open recall appears, contact an authorised Ford dealer.
- Ask the dealer to confirm the repair booking and whether Ford has issued any instructions about towing before the update.
- Keep the completed repair record with the vehicle’s service documents.
Ford warns that the letter “O” and the number zero can be confused when entering a VIN. An incorrect character may return the wrong result.
Do not diagnose the recall from one successful tow
An uneventful trip does not show that the software update has been completed or that the VIN is outside the campaign. The recall describes a communication loss that may occur when a trailer is connected; it does not say the fault will be present continuously.
Likewise, a normal light check does not prove the trailer brake communication will remain available throughout a trip. The right first step is the VIN check and, where applicable, the Ford remedy—not an improvised road test.
Owners should still perform the normal pre-departure checks required for their combination. That includes verifying trailer lights, brake-controller status and trailer brake response according to the relevant manufacturer instructions. Those checks do not replace the recall repair.
What the recall does not establish
The Australian notice does not provide a breakdown by F-150 variant, state or trailer type in its public summary. It also does not say that every 2021–2026 F-150 in Australia is affected. The published figure is 6,832 affected units, and the official VIN list or Ford lookup is the correct way to determine scope for an individual vehicle.
The notice concerns the vehicle’s Trailer Module software. It is not a recall of a particular camper trailer, electric brake controller brand or trailer coupling.
How Camper News AU verified this report
We checked the Australian Government Vehicle Recalls entry REC-006590 on 24 August 2026 and cross-checked Ford Australia’s owner guidance for locating VIN-specific recalls. We have linked those first-party records below so owners can verify the information and check their vehicle directly.
If Ford or the regulator changes the affected population, remedy or owner instructions, Camper News AU will update this article and record any material change in the public corrections log.