RECALL #26C10 TRAILER MODULE REPROGRAMMING

[tominwi]

CARFAX just alerted me to this and as I read the below it seems no visit to the dealer is needed if you are able to OTA it (Off the Air?). I don't use my Expy much and it's asleep at the moment so dunno if they have pushed it to my ride yet or no.

From Carfax:

2026-03-17​

Manufacturer Safety recall issued
NHTSA: #26V104
Recall: #26C10 TRAILER MODULE REPROGRAMMING
Status: Remedy Available

Locate an authorized
or call 866-436-7332 to obtain more information

Description:
ON YOUR VEHICLE IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE TRAILER MODULE TRM MAY LOSE COMMUNICATION AT VEHICLE START-UP. IF A TRM LOSS OF COMMUNICATION OCCURS AND A TRAILER IS CONNECTED TO THE VEHICLE, TRAILER STOP LAMPS AND TURN SIGNAL INDICATORS WILL NOT FUNCTION. ADDITIONALLY, FOR TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONIC TRAILER BRAKES, THE TRAILER BRAKES WILL NOT FUNCTION. THIS LOSS OF COMMUNICATION CAN OCCUR WITH-OR-WITHOUT A TRAILER CONNECTED TO THE VEHICLE AND CAN ONLY INITIATE AT VEHICLE START-UP. IF THIS OCCURS, A TRAILER BRAKE MODULE FAULT NOTIFICATION WILL POP-UP ON THE VEHICLES INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER. THE VEHICLE BRAKE AND TURN SIGNAL LAMPS WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE NORMALLY AND ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS TRM FAULT. IF YOU DO NOT TOW WITH YOUR VEHICLE, YOU MAY WAIT FOR OTA DEPLOYMENT FOR YOUR VEHICLE REMEDY.
THIS MAY RESULT IN INOPERABLE TRAILER BRAKE LIGHTS, TRAILER TURN SIGNALS AND TRAILER BRAKING FUNCTIONS THAT CAN REDUCE A DRIVERS ABILITY TO CONTROL AN ATTACHED TRAILER AND MAKE THE TRAILER LESS VISIBLE TO OTHER DRIVERS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy:
SOFTWARE IS AVAILABLE TO REPAIR YOUR VEHICLE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RELEASED SOFTWARE FOR 26C10. YOUR VEHICLE IS CAPABLE OF RECEIVING FORD SOFTWARE UPDATES. WHEN AUTOMATIC UPDATES ARE TURNED ON STANDARD FROM THE FACTORY, THE SOFTWARE WILL BE DOWNLOADED TO YOUR VEHICLE OVER A PRIVATE WI-FI NETWORK OR THROUGH YOUR VEHICLES CELLULAR NETWORK MODEM. THE SOFTWARE INSTALLATION WILL HAPPEN AFTER THE DOWNLOAD. NOTE REFER TO FORD.COMSUPPORT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON YOUR FORD SOFTWARE UPDATES SYSTEM. SHOULD THE SOFTWARE FAIL TO LOAD OR INSTALL PROPERLY, FORD HAS AUTHORIZED YOUR DEALER TO INSTALL 26C10 SOFTWARE FREE OF CHARGE UNDER THE TERMS OF THIS PROGRAM.

 

[HILLY]

OTA = Over The Air. Basically WiFi or cellular download.

Check out the open recalls on the Ford App and see if it's there. If it shows up and later disappears, it may have done a self-update.

 

[tominwi]

OTA = Over The Air. Basically WiFi or cellular download.

Yeah that's what I meant. The joy of brain fog...

I will go out and fire-up the Expy today and see if she's happy. Now in "battery-saving mode".

 

[Freedkerrman1]

I got it too. I was disappointed initially to see that mine wasn't part of the larger Ford Truck Recall they issued earlier in the year, so I complained to Ford and opened a ticket requesting my VIN be a part of it. Wonder if they just thought, if it's an OTA update, why not just include everyone? Haha.

Regardless, mine was in the shop getting some powertrain warranty stuff done and asked my Service Advisor if they could flash it while it was in there, but doesn't look like they did. I'll keep watching the app and CarFax to see if the update comes through in the next couple weeks or so

 

[tominwi]

I got it too....mine was in the shop getting some powertrain warranty stuff done and asked my Service Advisor if they could flash it while it was in there, but doesn't look like they did. I'll keep watching the app and CarFax to see if the update comes through in the next couple weeks or so

I see the recall notice on the app but nothing yet AFAICT re: the download/installation of it. I can only assume given the dealer didn't do it for you is that it simply isn't available yet.

I suppose given the problem is a safety risk that Ford decided to advise owners despite that the fix wasn't quite ready yet? It's described as "may lose comm at startup and if so lights/brakes may not work." Does this mean that once I start-up the Expy if my trailer lights and brakes are working that I'm good to go? I hate docs that aren't clear.

 

[Andy B]

If this happens and I get the error is it simply a matter of stopping the car and restarting it? Since I have never seen the error once I am guessing it is quote rare.

Does anyone know ?

 

[Andy B]

According to Ai (Gemini) this update will be available over the air, but not yet.

------------------------------

recall 26C10 (NHTSA 26V104)—which addresses the Integrated Trailer Module (ITRM) communication issue—is officially scheduled to be delivered via Over-the-Air (OTA) update.




Since you have a 2023 Expedition with SYNC 4, your vehicle is fully compatible with this delivery method. Here is the specific timeline and some important advice based on the recall details:

The Timeline​

• Dealer/Manual Availability: Software for this fix was released to dealers starting March 17, 2026.
  
  
  
• OTA Deployment: General over-the-air deployment is expected to begin in May 2026.
  
  
  
• Completion Goal: Ford expects the majority of affected vehicles to be updated via OTA by the end of May.

AI also says that if it happens you need to reset the module by turning off the vehicle, locking the doors, and wait 10-15 minutes for the modules to completely power off.

 

[tominwi]

If this happens and I get the error is it simply a matter of stopping the car and restarting it? Since I have never seen the error once I am guessing it is quote rare.

Does anyone know ?

Nope so your guess is as good as anyone's i.e. this must be a rare occurrence.

I would agree also that once hooked-up and started-up i.e. ready-to-go if the lights don't check out it should be an easy matter to shut-down and restart with fingers crossed and they are likely to work again.

It's implied isn't it that once you're up and lit you should be OK until the next shutdown-then-restart attempt.

It's not camping season here yet so hopefully the fix will appear before I hook-up my trailer again--don't wanna go to the dealer just to have this done.

 

[DieselMonk]

I’ve got this Canadian recall on Friday.

Mine said:
Software is available to repair your vehicle. Ford has authorized your dealer to reprogram your vehicle’s TRM free of charge.

The time needed is less than one half day… blah blah blah…

There is NO OTA option here at all on my recall notice and my Expy needs to go to the dealer for a flash.

 

[tominwi]

...There is NO OTA option here at all on my recall notice and my Expy needs to go to the dealer for a flash.

You don't have the Ford app? It tells me to hang in there (thanks Andy B).

 

[DieselMonk]

You don't have the Ford app? It tells me to hang in there (thanks Andy B).

View attachment 86999

My Ford app sez absolute NOTHING about a recall or anything wrong with the vehicle as such.

Here is what I got from Ford:

 

[Torch1972]

I’m scheduled tomorrow morning for the update. We will see how it goes

 

[DieselMonk]

I’m scheduled tomorrow morning for the update. We will see how it goes

I am scheduled in 2 weeks.

 

[Torch1972]

Was in and out in an hour, kudos to Yeomans Ford in Daytona

 

[ranger22]

My vehicle has so many recalls, I lost count. I guess I’m due for a stealership visit to get them taken care of. I wonder if this is part of Ford’s strategy to get us to come back to the dealership and just happen to see that new Expy sitting on the lot begging to be brought home…….

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

My vehicle has so many recalls, I lost count. I guess I’m due for a stealership visit to get them taken care of. I wonder if this is part of Ford’s strategy to get us to come back to the dealership and just happen to see that new Expy sitting on the lot begging to be brought home…….

Some of the new Expeditions on the lot may be under a stop-sale order, waiting for recalls to be fixed.

 

[DieselMonk]

I’ve completed my TRM recall at the stealership. Took 45mins and I was outta there!

 

[Fastcar]

Was in and out in an hour, kudos to Yeomans Ford in Daytona

Yup, They are the best! Been going to them for years.