Ford is issuing a recall for approximately 200,000 newly released Mustangs, citing a potential safety concern related to brake fluid. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the visual warning indicator for low brake fluid may not be activated by the brake fluid level sensor in certain models.

The affected Mustang models reportedly do not meet the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard “Light Vehicle Brake Systems.” As per the NHTSA, the recall pertains to models from 2020 to 2023. A total of 187,922 Mustangs are affected by this safety risk. Ford has confirmed that dealers will conduct a complimentary software update on the affected models of their customers.

Notification letters for owners are scheduled to be sent out on December 4, 2023. A follow-up letter will be mailed once the remedy becomes available. To obtain further details, Ford can be contacted at 1-866-436-7332. The specific recall number is 23C35.

By entering your car’s 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN) on the NHTSA website, you can check for any open recalls. However, if no recall is found, it means your vehicle doesn’t have any outstanding recalls. Automakers frequently issue recalls, including for older vehicles, so check the website regularly to stay informed.

Ford’s Mustang Isn’t the Only Recent Vehicle Recall

However, Ford isn’t alone in its issues with their Mustang. Toyota has recalled 1,854,000 RAV4s made from 2013 to 2018 due to concerns regarding the proper installation of replacement 12-volt batteries. Securing the batteries is crucial for the safety and functionality of the vehicles, according to Consumer Reports.

The issue arises if the battery tops are smaller than the original battery. Improperly tightening the hold-down clamp to fit the smaller size may cause the battery to move during aggressive driving. This can lead to the positive battery terminal coming into contact with the clamp. This causes a short circuit and potentially resulting in a fire hazard.

This recent announcement comes as a result of a thorough investigation conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2021. The investigation specifically focused on “thermal events.” According to the findings of this safety agency, it was observed that in fifty percent of the instances where the vehicle was in motion, drivers encountered stalling issues prior to the occurrence of the thermal event.

Toyota is actively working on a solution to address this issue. The automaker has instructed its dealers to replace the battery hold-down clamp, battery tray, and positive terminal cover with upgraded components. Notification of this recall will be sent to owners in late December 2023.