Automobile Mayhem: Wipers Die, Cars Lurch

Heavy traffic on a multi-lane highway. — CARS MAYHEM SHOCKER

Ford is recalling more than 110,000 Mustang vehicles because wipers can fail in cold weather and a drivetrain part can snap — two separate defects that raise real crash risks for owners who may not even know their car is affected.

Story Snapshot

Ford recalled 110,626 Mustang, Mustang GTD, and Mustang Mach-E vehicles for two unrelated safety defects announced in August 2024.
67,842 vehicles have a wiper problem tied to moisture leaking through improperly sealed body seams near the windshield.
42,784 Mustang Mach-E vehicles face a rear drivetrain defect where a pinion shaft can fracture, cutting drive power or causing unintended movement.
Ford dealers will fix both problems at no cost to owners under recall campaign 24S51.

Two Defects, One Iconic Nameplate

Ford confirmed both recalls on August 12, 2024, covering three versions of its flagship sports car. The first recall targets 67,842 Mustang and Mustang GTD models. In cold weather, the windshield wipers may only run at high speed, and the washer system may stop working entirely.

The root cause is improperly sealed body seams near the windshield, which allow moisture to seep in and damage the wiper system. No visibility in a winter storm is not a minor inconvenience — it is a crash waiting to happen.

Ford recalls over 110,000 Mustang vehicles over potentially dangerous defects https://t.co/5yNQfO89eh pic.twitter.com/K2sc2APnFv

— New York Post (@nypost) July 7, 2026

The second recall covers 42,784 Mustang Mach-E vehicles. The rear differential pinion shaft — a key part that transfers power to the rear wheels — can fracture.

When it breaks, the driver can suddenly lose power, or the vehicle can move on its own while parked. Either scenario is dangerous. Ford says dealers will repair or replace the faulty parts for free under recall campaign 24S51.

The Regulator Found It First — That Matters

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) identified these defects before Ford went public with a fix. That distinction matters. When a company finds a problem on its own and acts fast, it earns credit for responsibility.

When a federal regulator has to flag it first, the story writes itself differently. Ford has not issued any public statement by a senior executive explaining when the company first spotted the issue internally, leaving the narrative entirely in NHTSA’s hands.

This is not a new pattern for the Mustang. The model has racked up a string of safety campaigns in recent years. A December 2023 recall covered nearly 200,000 Mustangs for brake fluid issues. A June 2024 recall addressed fire risk and shifting problems in 8,161 cars.

Earlier recalls hit 2015 to 2017 models for corroding front seat belt anchors — a defect that affected more than 330,000 vehicles. The Mustang is a beloved American icon, but its recent quality record is hard to defend.

What Owners Need to Do Right Now

If you own a 2024 or 2025 Mustang, Mustang GTD, or Mustang Mach-E, check your vehicle identification number at Ford’s official recall page or at NHTSA’s website.

Ford will notify affected owners by mail, but waiting for a letter is not your best move. Dealers are required to perform the repairs at no charge. The fix costs you nothing except the time to schedule an appointment — and that time is worth spending before a wiper fails on a frozen highway.

Ford recalls more than 110,000 Mustang vehicles over windshield wiper, drivetrain defects
Ford's 2 separate recalls affect Mustang, Mustang GTD and Mustang Mach-E vehicles

Ford is recalling more than 110,000 vehicles in the U.S. across two separate safety campaigns after… pic.twitter.com/MkYD3dQQI9

— News News News (@NewsNew97351204) July 7, 2026

The broader lesson here is simple. Automakers build complex machines at massive scale, and defects happen. What separates a company with a strong safety culture from one that is just managing liability is how fast it finds problems and how clearly it communicates with customers.

Ford’s silence at the executive level on these two recalls — no named engineer, no safety officer on record, no timeline of internal discovery — is a missed opportunity to show ownership of the problem. Free repairs are the right move. Leading with transparency would have been better.