Recall 25V489 affects 56,473 2025 Ford F-150 Hybrid trucks for a seat-belt warning chime defect. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
Ford is recalling 56,473 2025 F-150 Hybrid trucks because the audible seat belt warning chime is not working as required when an occupant starts the vehicle unbuckled. The missing chime can leave an unbelted occupant without the required alert and increase injury risk in a crash; the Ford dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The audio control module in the 2025 Ford F-150 Hybrid is the electronics unit that sends vehicle sounds through the speakers, including the seat belt reminder chime at the start of a trip. When a driver or front passenger starts the truck without buckling, that chime is supposed to sound so the person knows the belt is still unfastened. On these trucks, the system is tied to the 3.5L hybrid electric powertrain startup sequence.
Ford traced the problem to the Audio Head Unit software. During startup, the unit can receive a high voltage interrupt, reset, and suppress the start of trip chimes. Other chimes return after the reset, about 3 seconds later, but the required seat belt reminder at startup has already been missed.
There is no warning sign before failure. The owner notices the issue only when the truck starts with an unbuckled driver or passenger belt and the expected audible chime does not play.
Who's affected?
| 2025 Ford F-150 Hybrid | seat belt |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 56,473 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
Not every 2025 Ford F-150 Hybrid pickup truck is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific pickup truck is included.
What's the safety risk?
Without the warning chime, an occupant who has not buckled the seat belt can miss the reminder and face a higher injury risk in a crash. Keep using the seat belt and contact a Ford dealer about the software update. Repair will be free at any franchised Ford dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2025 Ford F-150 Hybrid is included in this recall.
- Contact your nearest franchised Ford dealer and ask whether the free audio control module software update is ready for your VIN.
- Reference recall number 25V489 and Ford recall 25C31 when you call, so the service desk can find the seat-belt warning chime software repair.
- Bring the Ford owner letter if you received one after August 15, 2025.
- Buckle every occupant before driving, and do not rely on the warning chime until the repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
Once Ford opens the dealer repair, a Ford technician will update the audio control module software so the seat belt warning chime works as intended at startup. The final dealer repair will be free under the recall, with parts and labor covered. Ford used its general reimbursement plan on file for this campaign. If you already paid for a related audio control module software repair before the recall notice, ask Ford customer service or the dealer service desk how to submit documented expenses under that standard plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| July 25, 2025 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| July 29, 2025 | Dealer notification began |
| July 29, 2025 | Dealer notification ended |
| July 29, 2025 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| August 15, 2025 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 25V489?
Recall 25V489 covers 56,473 2025 Ford F-150 Hybrid trucks equipped with the 3.5L hybrid electric powertrain. In these vehicles, the audible seat-belt warning chime can fail to activate when an occupant is unbelted at startup. Ford dealers will update the audio control module software for free.
What should I do if my 2025 Ford F-150 Hybrid is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific truck is included in recall 25V489. If it is, contact a franchised Ford dealer to schedule the audio control module software update. Reference Ford recall number 25C31 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires Ford to repair the defect at no cost, and Ford dealers will update the audio control module software free of charge. The free repair applies at any franchised Ford dealer regardless of where you bought the truck.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is that an unbelted driver or passenger does not hear the seat-belt warning chime at startup. That missing alert can increase the risk of injury during a crash. This recall does not include a do-not-drive instruction, but the VIN check decides whether your truck needs the repair.
When did Ford notify owners about recall 25V489?
Ford mailed owner notification letters on August 15, 2025. If you bought the truck used or never received a letter, the VIN check is still the right next step. You can also reference Ford recall number 25C31 with the dealer service desk.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/25V489000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-866-436-7332 |
| NHTSA recall # | 25V489 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 25V489000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 19, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →