Recall 19V226 affects 8 2019 Ford F-550 vehicles with Whelen brake lights that illuminate without braking. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
Ford is recalling 8 2019 F-550 first responder vehicles equipped with Whelen brake lights because the lights can illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed. That false brake signal can confuse other drivers and increase crash risk; the Ford dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The brake lights on the 2019 Ford F-550 first responder vehicle are supposed to tell traffic behind the truck when the brake pedal is being pressed. These vehicles use Whelen M6BTT brake lights, which receive an electrical signal from the vehicle wiring and illuminate when that brake signal is present. The lights are part of the exterior lighting system covered by FMVSS 108.
On affected trucks, the wiring can send transient voltage on the input line. That means a brief electrical signal reaches the brake light circuit even though the brake pedal has not been pressed. Depending on the wiring layout, that signal becomes a false and steady brake-light activation, so the rear brake lights stay on when the truck is not braking.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner, driver, or service technician would need to see the brake lights glowing with no pedal input to spot the problem.
Who's affected?
| 2019 Ford F-550 | Brake lights |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 8 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
Not every 2019 Ford F-550 truck is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific truck is included.
What's the safety risk?
Incorrect brake light illumination can make following drivers misread when the vehicle is slowing or stopping, which increases crash risk. Until the repair is complete, avoid sudden stops when traffic allows and schedule service soon. Repair will be free at any franchised Ford dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2019 Ford F-550 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Ford dealer and ask whether the free Whelen brake-light replacement is open for your vehicle.
- Schedule the brake-light replacement that fixes lights that illuminate when the brake pedal is not pressed.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it. If not, reference recall number 19V226 when you call.
- Drive with extra space around other traffic until the brake-light repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
The remedy identified for this recall is brake light replacement. At the dealer, a Ford technician replaces the Whelen brake lights so they stop illuminating when the brake pedal has not been pressed. The dealer repair will be free once available. The remedy record says owner notification began March 19, 2019, so ask the Ford service desk to confirm the brake light recall work tied to campaign 19V226 before the vehicle is brought in.
Timeline
| March 19, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
|---|---|
| March 22, 2019 | NHTSA published the recall |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 19V226?
Recall 19V226 covers 8 2019 Ford F-550 first responder vehicles with Whelen brake lights that can illuminate when the brake pedal is not pressed. That false brake-light signal can confuse other drivers and increase crash risk. Whelen dealers will replace the brake lights for free.
What should I do if my 2019 Ford F-550 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 19V226. If it is, contact the dealer service desk and reference recall 19V226. The recall began March 19, 2019, and the brake-light replacement is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and the recall filing says Whelen dealers will replace the brake lights free of charge. Parts and labor are covered for included vehicles.
What is the safety risk?
The brake lights can come on even when the driver has not pressed the brake pedal. That false signal can confuse drivers behind the vehicle and increase the risk of a crash. The free repair replaces the affected brake lights.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/19V226000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-785-404-6003 |
| NHTSA recall # | 19V226 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 19V226000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notice (PDF) - Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →