4 major automakers combine to recall nearly 500,000 vehicles — here’s what you need to know

NewsFord, Mitsubishi, Chrysler and Lucid all announced recalls recently that collectively impact hundreds of thousands of drivers. (Getty Images)By Matt Durr | mattdurr@mlive.comFour major automakers issued recalls that made headlines over the past week. In total, the five large recalls impact a combined 492,126 vehicles in the U.S. and affect drivers of various Ford, Chrysler, Lucid and Mitsubishi vehicles. Two of the recalls were announced by Ford, which has recalled millions of vehicles since June.Here’s what drivers need to know about the five major recalls announced this week: Thousands of electric vehicle owners warned to park outside over dangerous fire riskLucid USA recalled 27,185 of its 2022 through 2026 Air vehicles because of a problem that can cause the vehicle to catch fire. The issue is serious enough that owners are advised to park their vehicle outdoors and away from other vehicles or structures until the problem is corrected. An exterior lighting circuit that may have insufficient overcurrent protection can cause the circuit to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire. The problem can also impact exterior lighting, which can increase the risk of a crash. To correct the issue, the company has released an over-the-air (OTA) update — Software version 2.10.0 — for the system. The update is free to owners and can be downloaded. So far, Lucid says it is aware of 20,719 customers who have updated their software.Until the software is updated to 2.10.0 or later, Lucid advises owners to continue parking outdoors.Ford recalls over 148K of its most popular sports cars: Fix won’t be ready for monthsThis recall impacts certain 2024 through 2026 Ford Mustangs found to have a problem with the wiring harness ground connections in the engine compartment. The connections can fracture over time and cause the vehicle to lose drive power. Although Ford has diagnosed the issue, the fix is not expected to be ready until March 2027. A total of 148,663 Mustangs are involved in the recall. Ford recalls 10,001 vehicles: Possible drive power loss impacts several popular 2026 modelsFord’s other major recall this week impacts the following 2026 models: 1,062 Bronco vehicles 5,199 Bronco Sport vehicles 3,071 Explorer vehicles 237 Mustang vehicles 432 Ranger vehiclesAn issue with the engine piston domes can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. In some cases, drivers may experience a Check Engine Light (CEL), engine noise or misfire. To correct the problem, dealers will inspect the engine pistons and replace the engine long block, if necessary, at no cost to the owner. However, the fix is not expected to be ready until December 2026.Major automaker recalls 67,146 SUVs from 2025-26 model years: What owners need to know Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. recalled 67,146 of its Outlander and Outlander PHEV SUVs over a rearview image problem. A software programming issue can cause the vehicle’s rearview camera not to display images when put in reverse. Mitsubishi is unaware of any injuries, deaths or crashes caused by the problem.To correct the issue, owners will take their vehicle to a dealership where the software will be updated at no cost. Chrysler recalls 239,131 Ram trucks: What owners need to knowThis recall applies to certain 2025 and 2026 Ram 1500 trucks and involves a radio software problem that can cause the rearview camera image not to display. The issue will be fixed with an over-the-air software update that owners can install themselves or they can take the truck to a dealership to have the software updated. The recall comes just weeks after Chrysler recalled 955,000 vehicles — including some Ram trucks — for a similar issue. For more information on both recalls, contact Chrysler customer care at 1-800-853-1403.Matt has been a trending news reporter since 2016. He covers a range of topics while focusing on national lottery, automotive news and recalls, FBI warnings, scam alerts and national real estate trends....