Ford bulletin SSM 48908
What it saysSome 2016-2020 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with a SYNC 3 Touchscreen may experience the volume control unresponsive from the Front Control Interface Module (FCIM) and steering volume controls when using Apple Car… NHTSA’s full summary ↓
Ford filed this with NHTSA as a service bulletin dated Jun 17, 2020, received Jul 7, 2020, about the electrical system. It names 92 model years (2016–2020). A service bulletin is not a safety recall: it is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a condition, and whether the work is paid for depends on the warranty in force. Quoting the number at a service desk can save a diagnosis.
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What the bulletin says
Source: NHTSA's summary of the manufacturer's communicationSome 2016-2020 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with a SYNC 3 Touchscreen may experience the volume control unresponsive from the Front Control Interface Module (FCIM) and steering volume controls when using Apple Car Play. When the Apple device is removed, volume control is restored. This is due to a concern with the Waze Navigation App software and Apple iOS version. To correct the condition, update the Waze App software and iOS to the latest version available and reboot the customer's Apple device. Perform an ignition cycle and reconnect the Apple device via USB. Open Apple Car Play and confirm volume control is restored. Installing/Updating third party software/applications is not warrantable.
Document filed under this number
| Document | Kind | Dated | NHTSA id | At NHTSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSM 48908 | Service bulletin | Jun 17, 2020 | 10177042 | PDF, 30 KB |
The summary is NHTSA’s abstract of the document, as filed under 49 CFR 579.5. One communication is usually filed as several documents — the bulletin, a dealer notice, an owner letter — and the number on any of them finds this page. A PDF link is shown only once NHTSA’s own server has been seen to serve that document; the rest are checked over the following nights. Quote the number at a service desk; it is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.
Model years it names
Source: as the manufacturer filed themand 47 more on this site: 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty, 2019 Ford F-350 Super Duty, 2018 Ford F-350 Super Duty, 2017 Ford F-350 Super Duty, 2016 Ford F-350 Super Duty, 2020 Ford F-450 Super Duty, 2019 Ford F-450 Super Duty, 2018 Ford F-450 Super Duty, 2017 Ford F-450 Super Duty, 2016 Ford F-450 Super Duty, 2019 Ford Fiesta, 2018 Ford Fiesta, 2017 Ford Fiesta, 2016 Ford Fiesta, 2019 Ford Flex, 2018 Ford Flex, 2017 Ford Flex, 2016 Ford Flex, 2018 Ford Focus, 2017 Ford Focus, 2016 Ford Focus, 2020 Ford Fusion, 2019 Ford Fusion, 2018 Ford Fusion, 2017 Ford Fusion, 2016 Ford Fusion, 2020 Ford Mustang, 2019 Ford Mustang, 2018 Ford Mustang, 2017 Ford Mustang, 2016 Ford Mustang, 2020 Ford Ranger, 2019 Ford Ranger, 2019 Ford Taurus, 2018 Ford Taurus, 2017 Ford Taurus, 2016 Ford Taurus, 2020 Ford Transit, 2019 Ford Transit, 2018 Ford Transit, 2017 Ford Transit, 2016 Ford Transit, 2020 Ford Transit Connect, 2019 Ford Transit Connect, 2018 Ford Transit Connect, 2017 Ford Transit Connect, 2016 Ford Transit Connect.
Also filed against model years this site has no page for: 2016 Ford F-550 SD; 2017 Ford F-550 SD; 2018 Ford F-550 SD; 2019 Ford F-550 SD; 2020 Ford F-550 SD.
A vehicle page’s bulletin list shows the newest few communications filed against that model year; the count there is every one.
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What owners reported
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseOwners of the 87 model years this bulletin names have filed 45,992 complaints with NHTSA since 2015. 3,415 of them name Electrical System, Equipment — the same broad component group this bulletin is filed under. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so that means the same area of the vehicle, not necessarily the same fault.
On the 2016 Ford F-150, the 97 owners who gave an odometer reading for Electrical System reported it at a median of 40,000 miles. That figure is one model year’s, not the whole range this bulletin covers — medians from different model years are not averaged.
When on freeway car suddenly displays an alert saying Stop safely now And will shut off , while driving makes it impossible to properly control the car . It has done this on multiple occasions, On the freeway , on residential streets and also when starting from park and proceeding to drive car has suddenly stopped and unable to restart…
2016 Ford Focus · Electrical System · filed with NHTSA Jul 7, 2024 · ODI 11599912
This vehicle is equipped with a feature that shuts the engine and ignition off after 30 minutes of idle without driver interaction. These vehicles have "up-fitter switches" which can be tied to things like auxiliary warning lights. When the vehicle shuts down, the headlights/tail lights turn off as well as power to any auxiliary loads.
2018 Ford F-350 Super Duty · Electrical System · filed with NHTSA Mar 14, 2019 · ODI 11186789
While pulling out of a fast food drive through steering jerked to center and I lost power steering to the point where I could barely keep control of the vehicle, mechanic informed me the powering steering motor seemed overheated because of its location and I could expect this to happen again, on the dash I got a "steering fault" code.
2016 Ford Transit Connect · Electrical System · filed with NHTSA Jun 19, 2019 · ODI 11221302
In depth: 2020 Ford Escape electrical problems → · 2018 Ford Escape electrical problems → · 2017 Ford Escape electrical problems → · 2016 Ford Escape electrical problems →
A complaint is one owner’s account, not a defect finding, and a bulletin is not a recall. Nothing here says this bulletin was issued because of these complaints, or that the repair it describes fixed them. Complaint files on this site begin in 2015.
More bulletins about the electrical system
Source: same model, same component group440 other manufacturer communications filed against these Ford models under the same component group (electrical system), newest first. The eight newest are listed; the rest are on the Ford list.
| Number | Kind | Dated | NHTSA’s summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSB 26-2449 | Service bulletin | Oct 22, 2026 | This bulletin supersedes 26-2428. Reason for update: to update the Service Procedure to remove the fuel tank isolation valve replacement and… |
| SSM 55262 | Service bulletin | Oct 22, 2026 | Some 2027 Expedition/Navigator vehicles equipped with power running boards built on or before 13-Sep-2026 may exhibit an intermittent condit… |
| 26-2431 v2 | Service bulletin | Oct 22, 2026 | This bulletin supersedes 26-2226. Reason for update: update the Service procedure for 2021-2022 F-150 3.5L EcoBoost vehicles with new Ford D… |
| TSB 26-2439 | Service bulletin | Oct 21, 2026 | Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit the HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) and radio system… |
| SSM 55258 | Service bulletin | Oct 19, 2026 | Some 2025-2027 Expedition/Navigator vehicles may exhibit an intermittent electronic static/buzzing/screeching/humming noise from the front a… |
| SSM 55256 | Service bulletin | Oct 16, 2026 | Some 2024-2026 Nautilus and 2025-2027 Explorer/Aviator vehicles equipped with power folding mirrors may exhibit concerns with the auto foldi… |
| SSM 55255 | Service bulletin | Oct 15, 2026 | Some 2024-2026 F-Super Duty vehicles equipped with a 360-degree camera may exhibit a distorted or corrupted 360-degree camera image in the c… |
| TSB 26-2442 | Service bulletin | Oct 14, 2026 | This bulletin supersedes 26-2297. Reason for update: Add 2022-2025 Transit vehicles. Some of the vehicles listed in the model statement abov… |
Quote the number at the service desk. It is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.
Every manufacturer communication NHTSA holds for Ford, by the number printed on the letter.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR 579.5Is Ford SSM 48908 a recall?
No. A service bulletin is a manufacturer communication filed with NHTSA under 49 CFR 579.5; a safety recall carries an NHTSA campaign number (two digits, a letter, six digits) and a federal duty to repair for free. Check the vehicle’s recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or on its page here.
Is the SSM 48908 repair free?
Not automatically. A service bulletin describes how to diagnose or repair a condition; who pays depends on the warranty in force, any extension, and the dealer. Quoting the number can save a diagnosis either way.
Which vehicles does SSM 48908 cover?
The manufacturer filed it against 92 model years: 2018 Ford C-MAX, 2017 Ford C-MAX, 2016 Ford C-MAX, 2019 Ford E-Series, 2018 Ford E-Series, 2017 Ford E-Series and more. Whether one particular vehicle is affected is a matter of its VIN and its build, not its model year alone.