Ford bulletin SSM 53979
What it saysSome 2024-2025 Ranger vehicles may exhibit a "Check Charging System" message displayed in the instrument panel cluster (IPC) with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) U012D, U0284, and/or U042E stored in the powertrain… NHTSA’s full summary ↓
Ford filed this with NHTSA as a service bulletin dated Jun 25, 2025, received Jul 2, 2025, about the structure. It names 2 model years (2024–2025). 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 2024-2025 Ranger vehicles may exhibit a "Check Charging System" message displayed in the instrument panel cluster (IPC) with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) U012D, U0284, and/or U042E stored in the powertrain control module (PCM). This may be due to corrosion found in the active grille shutter lower connector (C1767). If no corrosion is found in this connector, refer to the Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 414-00 for normal diagnostics. If corrosion is found, replace the connector and active grille shutter (AGS) actuator (base part number: 10884). To aid in engineering investigation, when removing the corroded connector cut the wires about 3 inches (76 mm) from the connector to ensure adequate wire is left for analysis. If the corrosion condition is encountered, use the "Submit Global Concern Report (GCR)" link at the upper right of the Vehicle ID tab to submit a report and reference this article number in the report. For claiming, use causal part 14290 and labor operations 12650D, 12650D45, 12650D45WR, 12650D78LW, 12650D78BU, 12650D78CM, and/or 12650D78TD in Section 10 of the Service Labor Time Stand
Trouble codes it names: C1767 U012D U0284 U042E
Document filed under this number
| Document | Kind | Dated | NHTSA id | At NHTSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSM 53979 | Service bulletin | Jun 25, 2025 | 11020050 | not found |
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.
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Model years it names
Source: as the manufacturer filed themA 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 2 model years this bulletin names have filed 126 complaints with NHTSA since 2015. 57 of them name Power Train, Structure — 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.
When driving truck especially in rolling traffic truck has hard time downshifting and clunky and lunches as transmition tries to figure what gear to be in. It is an intermittently happening but now evolved to completely dropping out of gear goes into neutral were you can rev engine without truck moving foward.
2024 Ford Ranger · Power Train · filed with NHTSA Aug 10, 2025
The contact owns a 2024 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while trying to purchase a diamond back bed cover, upon further investigation, it was found that the vehicle was missing the load box reinforcement bracket. The missing bracket might cause the structural performance of the bed to fail.
2024 Ford Ranger · Structure · filed with NHTSA Jul 21, 2025
Purchased this truck new and took on a trip over the weekend. Put on just under 800 miles no issues. This morning while driving to get my wondows tinted I noticed my truck flashing to apply brakes as it was trying to shift itself into 4wd low setting.
2025 Ford Ranger · Power Train · filed with NHTSA Jun 16, 2026
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 structure
Source: same model, same component group5 other manufacturer communications filed against the Ford Ranger under the same component group (structure), newest first.
| Number | Kind | Dated | NHTSA’s summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSM 55118 | Service bulletin | Aug 25, 2026 | Some of the following vehicles: * 2023-2025 F-Super Duty built on or before 02-Feb-2025 * 2024-2026 Ranger/Bronco/Mustang * 2024-2025 F-15… |
| SSM 55113 | Service bulletin | Aug 21, 2026 | Some 2024-2025 Ranger vehicles equipped with a cargo box power point plug may exhibit a condition where all interior/exterior power outlets/… |
| 23P22 | Service bulletin | Feb 13, 2025 | CERTAIN 2024 MODEL YEAR RANGER WITH FORD LICENSED ACCESSORY BED CAP ADDED — LOAD BOX REINFORCEMENT BRACKET KIT INSTALLATION |
| TSB 24-2233 | Service bulletin | Jul 30, 2024 | Some 2024 Ranger vehicles may exhibit a hood that requires extra effort to engage the primary latch when closing the hood. This may be due t… |
| SSM 51536 | Service bulletin | Apr 4, 2023 | For 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis purposes is likely to cause errors and is not recomm… |
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 53979 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 53979 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 53979 cover?
The manufacturer filed it against 2 model years: 2025 Ford Ranger, 2024 Ford Ranger. Whether one particular vehicle is affected is a matter of its VIN and its build, not its model year alone.