More Than 604,000 Fords, Lincolns Recalled Over Windshield Wiper Malfunction

Ford said it had received 1,374 warranty claims related to inoperative or intermittently functioning windshield wiper motors as of mid-February.

Ford and Lincoln vehicles are displayed for sale at a Ford dealership in Glendale, Calif., on Aug. 21, 2024. Mario Tama/Getty Images

Ford Motor Company issued a recall on March 5 for 604,533 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, due to a manufacturing issue that could prevent the windshield wipers from working properly.

According to a notice posted on X by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the cover terminal in the affected vehicles’ front windshield wiper motor may have been misaligned during assembly, which, over time, could lead to a faulty electrical connection that prevents the windshield wipers from working. Drivers might notice the windshield wipers working sporadically before they completely fail to function, Ford said.

The recall population includes 328,341 Ford Explorer and 210,349 Ford Escape sport utility vehicles (SUVs) model years 2020 through 2022. Additionally, 32,257 Lincoln Navigator and 33,586 Lincoln Corsair SUVs were included in the recall.

The vehicles were assembled between July 2020 and December 2021, Ford said, but the recalled vehicles weren’t produced by order of their vehicle identification number (VIN).

Ford said in the recall notice that it initially opened an investigation into inoperative and intermittent windshield wiper functionality in June 2021, after receiving numerous warranty claims and customer complaints regarding the issue. That investigation was closed a few months later in September after the Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker’s Critical Concern Review Group deemed the condition did not pose unreasonable risk to safe motor vehicle operations.

“This conclusion was supported by a low projected occurrence rate, the overt nature of the condition to the customer, and Ford’s assessment of regulatory compliance,” the company said in the recall notice.

However, while investigating a different issue, Ford’s internal review group decided to reopen the investigation in November 2025 following a spate of windshield wiper failures in vehicles assembled during the suspected production dates.

From November last year through February, Ford’s internal review group worked with windshield wiper motor supplier Valero North America of San Luis Potosí, Mexico, to analyze warranty claims and conduct additional testing. It found that the covers for the windshield wiper motors were misaligned with the brush card terminals.

By mid-February, Ford said it had received 1,374 warranty claims related to inoperative or intermittently functioning windshield wiper motors from vehicles in the suspect recall population.

Ford and Lincoln owners whose automobiles were manufactured during the recall period will receive notices of the safety risk by mail beginning on March 9. Ford said it will inspect and replace windshield wiper motors free of charge as necessary. As of March 4, owners can search the NHTSA’s recall portal to determine if their automobiles are included in the recall.

In the interim, Ford and Lincoln owners can contact Ford customer service at 866-436-7332 and reference recall number 26S14. The NHTSA recall number is 26V117.