Recall: REPROGRAM INTEGRATED TRAILER RELAY MODULE (Campaign/NHTSA# 22S17/22v193)

[unafFORDableXLT]

To the best of my knowledge my Trailer Brakes are working. I get the bar display in the console when applying brakes. Manually applying trailer brakes they are activating (though I can't get them to lock up and skid, but this might be a trailer brakes thing).

So do I have the "fix" software?

I also got the Feb update, and nothing is any different than before.
I can squeeze the brakes on level HIGH 10 and not lock them up. Now that the new trailer brakes are braking in, they will grab and stop the truck if going slow (LOW 7)
That didn’t happen a hundred miles in to our current cross-country trip.

Some related issues:
I have to disconnect the power cord each night because the alarm will go off with the slightest movement.
(Nightly pull-thru sites, trailer still attached, with all stabilizers down and solid)

When I start the truck (cord was plugged in while off with no key around) it will occasionally say “Trailer Disconnected” but then immediately the gain window pops up. Several times I had to go back in and select the trailer to be recognized.
It has not once said disconnected while driving, so I’m better off than many others.

My gain bar doesn’t pop up during normal braking, like you and others have said.
It only pops up if I hit the buttons or squeeze it.

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[{tpc}]

I just had this performed a couple days ago, but really no way for me to tell if its fixed software or not, as my trailer or any trailer has yet to be plugged into the truck. That will change in the coming weeks though.

 

[UGADawg96]

 

[JEB]

I just had this performed a couple days ago, but really no way for me to tell if its fixed software or not, as my trailer or any trailer has yet to be plugged into the truck. That will change in the coming weeks though.

If you send me your VIN I can check your as-built data for the software version your dealer installed.

 

[JEB]

Cold.

 

[JEB]

PSA. @Jesse-Infotainment knows this stuff better than anyone and he is adamant that the TRM recall software is not out—for anyone.
https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/thr...atest-current-sync4-version.10287/post-209616

He has promised to open a new thread to announce the release when it becomes available.

 

[JEB]

I just had this performed a couple days ago, but really no way for me to tell if its fixed software or not, as my trailer or any trailer has yet to be plugged into the truck. That will change in the coming weeks though.

Got your VIN.

Here is your TRM module information. Your software (BB) is a slightly higher revision than mine (BA) but I'm pretty sure it's functionally the same software also released in February. The only difference as far as I know is that it's for '22s and late production '21s that had a slightly different hardware revision.

<NODEID>
791
<F110>DSMU5T-19J294-AJ</F110>
<F111>MU5T-19J302-DC</F111>
<F113>MU5T-19J294-DJ</F113>
<F188>ML3T-19J297-BB</F188>
<F18C>35121A-D20-11736</F18C>
</NODEID>

 

[suprasteve]

For what it's worth, I e-mailed ford customer service. hopefully they can help with either closure or routing it through the correct channels..

This did nothing...told me to send all technical inquiries through the dealership network.

 

[thegreenblade]

PSA. @Jesse-Infotainment knows this stuff better than anyone and he is adamant that the TRM recall software is not out—for anyone.
https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/thr...atest-current-sync4-version.10287/post-209616

He has promised to open a new thread to announce the release when it becomes available.

I see you’re in northern Illinois are you doing any of the updates yourself because I live around here too ?

 

[JEB]

I see you’re in northern Illinois are you doing any of the updates yourself because I live around here too ?

Yep. I’ve lost faith in the dealers for software maintenance.

 

[Technoskeptic]

This did nothing...told me to send all technical inquiries through the dealership network.

In my experience this is a typical Ford response; basically just "go pound sand."

And in this case it's not just Ford apparently. Four days ago I sent an email to the NHTSA (addressed to the person who's supposed to be the Ford point of contact) asking a few questions about the recall to try to clear up some confusion, and I have yet to receive a reply.

One of the things I find confusing in this affair is the wording of the letter from Ford dated March 29, 2022 and addressed to "All U.S. Ford and Lincoln Dealers"; subject: "NEW VEHICLE DEMONSTRATION / DELIVERY HOLD."

Under the subheading "SERVICE ACTION" it says:

"Before demonstrating or delivering any new in-stock vehicles involved in this recall, dealers are to reprogram the integrated trailer relay module with the latest level software. This service must be performed on all affected vehicles at no charge to the vehicle owner."

To me this statement implies that the remedial software is already available to dealers. Otherwise they could've said "...with the latest level software when it becomes available" or something like that. And the status of being already available as of the date of the letter would seem to be congruent with the statement on the first page of the NHTSA Part 573 "Safety Recall Report 22V-193" where we're told that:

"The recalled software was introduced into production on January 8, 2020 and was taken out of production on February 16, 2022. The affected vehicles have software part number MU5T-19J297-DG or prior suffix version."

If it was taken out of service, you'd think it must've been replaced with something else (that works). So if a new truck on the dealer's lot has software part number MU5T-19J297-DG or prior suffix version and it's updated by the dealer with the "latest level software," apparently ML3T-19J297-BA or -BB, then as far as Ford's letter and page 1 of 22V-193 is concerned, everything is good and the dealer can now sell/deliver the truck (and apparently tell other customers that he's doing 22S17 recall software updates).

What I don't understand is the statement on page 4 of 22V-193 where we're told:

"The remedy integrated trailer brake controller module will have software
part numbers as follows:
• F-150, Expedition and Navigator: MU5T-19J297-DH"

As Jeb points out, this software is not available in FDRS, and from what some people are saying (people whose trucks came from the factory with "...DH") they got recall notices and are having TBC problems. So based on the documents and the anecdotal reports, whatever is going on here seems incomprehensible.

 

[Technoskeptic]

It looks like this isn't the first time there have problems with Ford trailer brake controllers:

https://www.f150forum.com/f118/trai...s-ford-disaster-solved-379698/?ispreloading=1

 

[Ed21]

I can not dispute that Ford does not have the fix for this and they are just fluffing the NHTSA. Unfortunately in my mind I am being forced to have the recall done because of the notification letter that I received. I also have no way of checking what version I currently have, or what I will get as for some reason the widget doesn’t work for me.

 

[JEB]

I can not dispute that Ford does not have the fix for this and they are just fluffing the NHTSA. Unfortunately in my mind I am being forced to have the recall done because of the notification letter that I received. I also have no way of checking what version I currently have, or what I will get as for some reason the widget doesn’t work for me.

I can understand your position, but Ford can’t claim you failed to have the recall completed if they didn’t provide your dealer with the software to have the recall completed. The language doesn’t say to flash the TRM with whatever happens to be the newest version on the server.

Looking at it from a slightly different perspective, I have the newest software for my truck but I never went in to have the “recall completed.” Does that mean that Ford can deny liability because I didn’t go in to have a dealer do it? That literal reading seems a bit far-fetched to me. In the end, were the brakes to fail they failed because their software failed and I don’t think the language you circled gets them out of that. They’d have an argument only if they made a fix available—a real fix—and you deliberately chose not to have it done. Then they could claim that you caused an accident, not them.

That said, getting the February software won’t do any harm, and I think it’s generally a good idea to keep software up to date. So you should do it if it will make you feel better. It does fix a problem. Just not THE problem.

 

[2mileshigh]

This forum can be a wealth of information, and I very much appreciate those members who take the time to be helpful and informative in a courteous manner. It's exceptionally good to know that the recall may be problematic, and to take appropriate precautions.

In this case the choices are clear. Should an owner suffer vehicle and property damage (or worse) related to this recall after having the available (according to Ford) recall performed by an authorized dealer, that owner will have a sound legal basis for any and all claims. If an owner suffers damage related to this recall but did not have the recall performed because they read on the internet that the fix was not available, that owner will have no legal basis for any claim. Of course one could test this, but at what cost and why?

If, when attempting to schedule the recall a dealer denies service stating the fix is not available, reference the recall notice and insist the dealer perform the service. Should they still deny the recall (for any reason), get it in writing. Without re-reading the entire thread I don't know that any dealers have denied performing the recall since the letters have gone out

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