MELBOURNE, VIC — In a move that has sent ripples through the Australian automotive sector, Ford Australia has issued a high-priority recall for its flagship 4×4 models. The 2022 Ford Ranger and Ford Everest are under intense scrutiny following a federal filing that warns of a software glitch capable of causing sudden, unexpected stops at low speeds.
The recall, lodged with the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, specifically impacts 244 units of the 2022 model year. While the number of affected vehicles appears modest compared to the Ranger’s massive sales footprint, the safety risk is categorized as “critical” due to the nature of the defect and the risk of injury to occupants and other road users.
The Defect: A “Sudden Stop” Hazard
The heart of the issue lies within the vehicle’s transmission software. According to the official recall notice, a software defect exists where the transmission may unintentionally shift itself into the Park position if the battery’s state of charge drops below a critical threshold.
This malfunction primarily occurs when the vehicle is traveling at speeds below 6 km/h.
- The Hazard: If the transmission shifts into Park while the car is in motion, the vehicle will come to a sudden, jarring stop.
- Brake Lamp Failure: Critically, the software glitch prevents the rear brake lamps from illuminating as intended during this automated braking event.
- Risk of Collision: A vehicle stopping abruptly without a visual warning to following traffic creates a high potential for rear-end collisions, particularly in heavy traffic or school zones.
“A sudden stop whilst driving at low speed and the rear brake lamps not illuminating as intended could increase the potential risk of an accident, causing injury or death to vehicle occupants and other road users,” the Department’s statement read.
“Fixing the Fix”: A Repeating Issue
This is not the first time Ford has battled this specific transmission gremlin. A larger-scale recall was issued in August 2023 for the same fault, impacting nearly 5,000 Ranger and Everest units manufactured between 2021 and 2023.
In a rare move, Ford Australia has stated that the 244 vehicles involved in this latest sweep must still be rectified even if they were previously serviced under the 2023 campaign. This “rectification of a rectification” suggests that earlier software patches may not have fully eliminated the bug or that a specific batch of vehicles requires a different software version.
Recall Breakdown
| Feature | Details |
| Recall Number | REC-006541 |
| Affected Models | Ford Ranger & Ford Everest |
| Model Year | 2022 |
| Units Impacted | 244 |
| The Fix | Software update (Free of charge) |