Ford bulletin SSM 54534
Ford filed this with NHTSA as a service bulletin dated Jan 30, 2026, received Feb 4, 2026, about the electrical system. It names 24 model years (2021–2026). 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.
What the bulletin says
Source: NHTSA's summary of the manufacturer's communicationSome 2021-2025 F-150, 2022-2025 Expedition/Navigator, 2023-2025 F-Super Duty, 2024-2025 Ranger and 2026 Transit vehicles may exhibit a discharged battery and/or a no crank/no start condition. The vehicle may also exhibit a clicking noise from the trailer module (TRM) while the vehicle is off. This may be due to software in the TRM.<br /><br /> Verify the TRM software part number in the vehicle using Ford diagnosis and repair system (FDRS) to be PC3T-19J297-BF, PC3T-19J297-FF, ML3T-19J297-CD or ML3T-19J297-GD. To confirm a vehicle is equipped with a certain software level, review the software information by hovering over the "Diagnostics" tab in Professional Technician System (PTS) and selecting "Vehicle Software". If one of the listed software part numbers is present, follow the Service Procedure to reprogram the TRM. For vehicles with any other software part number in the TRM, refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 414-01 to continue with normal diagnostics outside of this article. For claiming use causal part 19H332 and labor operation 2006D and 2006D45 of the Service Labor Time Standards (SLTS) Man
Document filed under this number
| Document | Kind | Dated | NHTSA id |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSM 54534 | Service bulletin | Jan 30, 2026 | 11028170 |
The summary is NHTSA’s abstract of the document, as filed under 49 CFR 579.5; the full text comes from the manufacturer or a dealer. 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. Quote it at a service desk; it is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.
Model years it names
Source: as the manufacturer filed themAlso filed against model years this site has no page for: 2023 Ford F-550 SD; 2024 Ford F-550 SD; 2025 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.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR 579.5Is Ford SSM 54534 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 54534 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 54534 cover?
The manufacturer filed it against 24 model years: 2026 Ford E-Transit, 2025 Ford Expedition, 2024 Ford Expedition, 2023 Ford Expedition, 2022 Ford Expedition, 2025 Ford F-150 and more. Whether one particular vehicle is affected is a matter of its VIN and its build, not its model year alone.