Ford recalls certain Ranger models over transmission valve body concern
Ford South Africa confirms safety recall measures
Katlego Sekhu
Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (Manufacturing) (Pty) Ltd (FMCSA) has announced a series of product recall notices affecting specific models and production batches.
Ford Ranger: Transmission Main Control Valve Body Replacement
FMCSA has issued a safety recall for certain 2025 Ford Ranger vehicles.
The company identified that in the affected vehicles, the transmission main valve body’s internal dimensions do not meet engineering specifications. This defect may result in the driver experiencing no reverse motion when the vehicle is placed in reverse gear. Additionally, when the gear selector is in reverse or neutral, the vehicle may unexpectedly move forward.
If this occurs, the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) and Wrench light will illuminate on the instrument cluster. Such unexpected movement increases the risk of an accident.
Eight vehicles in South Africa are affected. FMCSA is sourcing replacement parts and, once available, will contact customers through Ford authorised dealers to schedule repairs free of charge. Parts are expected to be available by October 2025.
Ford Mustang, EcoSport, Ranger and Everest: SYNC Software Update
FMCSA has also issued a safety recall for certain Ford models built between 2018 and 2023, including the Mustang, EcoSport, Ranger and Everest.
The recall relates to repeated short ignition cycles (time between key on and key off), which may, over time, result in a SYNC system error. This can cause system instability or failure to retain certain settings between ignition cycles. Affected vehicles may display an intermittent blank screen when reversing or retain the rear-view image after reversing has ended. In some cases, the rear-view camera display may freeze, creating a false impression of the vehicle’s surroundings and increasing the risk of an accident.
In South Africa, 33 vehicles are affected:
- Ford Mustang: 30
- Ford EcoSport: 1
- Ford Ranger: 1
- Ford Everest: 1
FMCSA is preparing a software update to resolve the issue. Customers will be contacted by Ford or authorised dealers once the update is available, and repairs will be carried out free of charge. The update is expected to be available during the third quarter of 2025.
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