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NHTSA recall · Reported February 24, 2023

FORD 2023: VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Transit vehicles equipped with the Special Vehicle Operations Accessory Service Kit #1 or #2 with a High Specification Vehicle …

Recall #
23V122000
Compiled from official public sources by the editorial team.
Verify with NHTSA →
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Ford recalled Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Transit vehicles equipped with the Sp… - a critical-severity action.

FORD 2023: VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM was recalled by Ford in February 24, 2023. Reason: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Transit vehicles equipped with the Special Vehicle Operat…. Remedy: Dealers will repair the auxiliary wire harness by modifying the wire harness to include t…. Verify recall #23V122000 with the NHTSA before acting.

The recall

Ford issued this critical-severity NHTSA recall-Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Transit vehicles equipped with the Special Vehicle Operat….

Critical
severity level
February 24, 2023
reported

Sourced from official NHTSA enforcement records. Verify recall #23V122000 with the agency before acting. Full product description, hazard, remedy, and related recalls are below.

Recall Insight

This NHTSA action (record #23V122000) was formally reported on February 24, 2023. It is classified under Critical severity, with a current status of Active. Ford is listed as the recalling firm. The number of affected units is not disclosed in the agency filing, which is common for drug and food recalls where lot-level tracking supersedes unit counts.

The documented reason for this recall is: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Transit vehicles equipped with the Special Vehicle Operations Accessory Service Kit #1 or #2 with a High Specification Vehicle Interface Connector. When the accessory… The specific hazard cited in the filing is: An inoperative windshield defrosting and defogging system may decrease the driver's visibility under certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.. Distribution data in the federal record shows the product reached: United States. Distribution scope directly affects the consumer exposure window and determines whether a recall remains regional or escalates into a nationwide advisory. The remedy documented by the agency is: Dealers will repair the auxiliary wire harness by modifying the wire harness to include the necessary twisted loop, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 20, 2023. Owners may… - consumers holding this product should act on that instruction rather than relying on general guidance.

Within the same product category the archive holds 6 closely related recalls - clustering in a narrow category often points to a systemic quality-control or supplier issue rather than a one-off defect. Always verify the recall number against the official agency record before acting.

Vehicles recalls over time

Where this recall sits in its category - 7,642 vehicles recalls on record

0200400600 20052008201120142017202020232026 82
Severity2487872426High severity (most serious)Moderate severityLow severity
Where this recall sits in the database

Of 101,704 recalls in the database, 24,878 are high severity, 72,426 moderate, and 4,400 low. This recall is classified high severity.

Counts reflect market size and reporting activity, not inherent danger, we do not rank products by risk from raw recall volume.

Severity

Critical

Affected scope

Unknown

Related Recalls

6

0 from same agency

Product description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Transit vehicles equipped with the Special Vehicle Operations Accessory Service Kit #1 or #2 with a High Specification Vehicle Interface Connector. When the accessory kit is installed, the auxiliary wire harness will disable the heating, air-conditioning, and ventilation (HVAC) including the defrost and defog systems. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."

Reason for recall

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Transit vehicles equipped with the Special Vehicle Operations Accessory Service Kit #1 or #2 with a High Specification Vehicle Interface Connector. When the accessory kit is installed, the auxiliary wire harness will disable the heating, air-conditioning, and ventilation (HVAC) including the defrost and defog systems. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."

Hazard

An inoperative windshield defrosting and defogging system may decrease the driver's visibility under certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy, what to do

Dealers will repair the auxiliary wire harness by modifying the wire harness to include the necessary twisted loop, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 20, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C02.

Recall Profile

Structured summary of the NHTSA recall record
Attribute Value
Agency National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Severity class Critical
Status Active
Recall number 23V122000
Date reported February 24, 2023
Date initiated February 24, 2023
Recalling firm Ford
Affected scope Not disclosed
Distribution United States
Official source NHTSA notice →

Profile values are sourced directly from the official NHTSA enforcement record. Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

What to do with this recall

Dealers will repair the auxiliary wire harness by modifying the wire harness to include the necessary twisted loop, free of charg…

  • Check the recall number (23V122000) and product description against the item you own. Search the archive
  • Confirm the current status and remedy on the official NHTSA notice before acting. NHTSA notice
  • This is a Class I (high-risk) recall, stop using the product immediately and follow the disposal or return instructions. What to do next

This page summarizes the official NHTSA record for research and awareness; it is not legal, medical, or safety advice. Verify with the issuing agency before acting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What product was recalled?
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Transit vehicles equipped with the Special Vehicle Operations Accessory Service Kit #1 or #2 with a High Specification Vehicle Interface Connector. When the accessory kit is installed, the auxiliary wire harness will disable the heating, air-conditioning, and ventilation (HVAC) including the defrost and defog systems. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems.". Recalled by Ford.
Why was this product recalled?
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Transit vehicles equipped with the Special Vehicle Operations Accessory Service Kit #1 or #2 with a High Specification Vehicle Interface Connector. When the accessory kit is installed, the auxiliary wire harness will disable the heating, air-conditioning, and ventilation (HVAC) including the defrost and defog systems. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."
What should consumers do?
Dealers will repair the auxiliary wire harness by modifying the wire harness to include the necessary twisted loop, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 20, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C02.
Which agency issued this recall?
This recall was issued by the NHTSA on February 24, 2023. Severity: Critical. Recall number: 23V122000.
Where was the recalled product distributed?
Distribution: United States.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall?
Check the product description and recall number (23V122000) against your product. Visit the official NHTSA website for the most current information. You can also use our Recall Checker tool to search by product name or brand.
How do I report an injury from a recalled product?
Report injuries to the issuing agency: CPSC at SaferProducts.gov, NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem, or FDA via MedWatch. Document the product (photos, model/serial numbers, purchase receipts) and seek medical attention. Injury reports help agencies track hazard patterns and may strengthen enforcement actions.

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Every figure on PlainRecalls is rendered directly from official FDA, CPSC and NHTSA recall records, no number is typed in by an editor. This recall: NHTSA, reported February 24, 2023. Severity classes follow each agency's own taxonomy (FDA Class I/II/III; CPSC and NHTSA by hazard type), and related-recall context is computed across the full archive. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.