Ford bulletin SSM 55116
Ford filed this with NHTSA as a service bulletin dated Aug 25, 2026, received Sep 1, 2026, about the electrical system. It names 14 model years (2025–2026). 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 of the following vehicles: * 2025-2026 Expedition/Navigator built on or after 02-Feb-2025 * 2025-2026 F-Super Duty built on or after 02-Feb-2025 * 2025-2026 Explorer/Aviator built on or after 02-Feb-2025 * 2025-2026 Nautilus built on or after 17-Feb-2025 * 2025-2026 F-150 built on or after 16-Jul-2025 may exhibit all of the following symptoms: - "No Key Detected" message displayed on the instrument panel cluster (IPC) - Key fob does not work in the backup slot. - Remote keyless entry (RKE) (lock and unlock from the key fob) functionality will work to lock/unlock the vehicle. If the vehicle exhibits these symptoms, manually enter the vehicle identification number (VIN) into the VIN entry dialog in the Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS) and then start a session using the Vehicle Communication Module (VCM) II, VCM 3, Vehicle Communication and Measurement Module (VCMM) or later level device with a universal serial bus (USB) cable disconnected from the laptop. Download the "BCM - Body Control Module (BCM) Hardware Test" app
Document filed under this number
| Document | Kind | Dated | NHTSA id |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSM 55116 | Service bulletin | Aug 25, 2026 | 11036525 |
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: 2025 Ford F-550 SD; 2026 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 55116 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 55116 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 55116 cover?
The manufacturer filed it against 14 model years: 2026 Ford Expedition, 2025 Ford Expedition, 2026 Ford Explorer, 2025 Ford Explorer, 2026 Ford F-150, 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.