Ford Cmax Recall R/2004/177: Electronic Parking Brake May Not Apply, Who Is Affected And What To Do
- Urgent
- How serious
- 8 Nov 2004
- Launched
- 5,285
- vehicles in the UK
- 4C959
- Manufacturer’s campaign code
Ford recalled Cmax vehicles built between 16 July 2003 and 8 July 2004. If the ignition key is switched from ON to OFF and the key removed within 0.5 seconds the parking brake may fail to automatically apply. The dealer will reprogramme the electronic parking brake module. You won't usually pay for it.1
What’s Wrong
If the ignition key is switched from ON to OFF and the key removed within 0.5 seconds the parking brake may fail to automatically apply.
DVSA's Original Wording
Concern: ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE MAY NOT APPLY Defect: If the ignition key is switched from ON to OFF and the key removed within 0.5 seconds the parking brake may fail to automatically apply. Remedy: Recall affected vehicles and reprogramme the electronic parking brake module
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
The Risk
The recall notice describes the concern as: electronic parking brake may not apply.
The Fix
The dealer will reprogramme the electronic parking brake module. The fix is a software update, which usually takes under an hour at the dealer.
Are You Affected?
Cmax built between 16 July 2003 and 8 July 2004 may be included. Ford estimates 5,285 vehicles in the UK. Enter your registration to check, then confirm by VIN with Ford, because not every car in the date range may be included.
Which Car Is It?
Choose the make and model so we can match recalls to your car.
What To Do Now
- Check your car by registration above, then by VIN with Ford.
- Book with any franchised Ford dealer, quoting the campaign code 4C959 or the DVSA reference R/2004/177. See how to get a Ford recall fixed.
- Follow the letter's instructions until the repair is done. See can you drive a car with a recall?.
Related Recalls
| Launched | Vehicle and fault | Severity | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| B-Max, Cmax, Ecosport, Fiesta MCA and 9 moreX-Car powertain control module (PCM) software update | Low | R/2025/094 | |
| Cmax, Focus, KugaSide and/or knee airbag may fail to deploy in a collision | Urgent | R/2017/241 | |
| Cmax, FocusFire may occur | Urgent | R/2014/063 | |
| Cmax, FocusRisk of fire | Urgent | R/2011/067 | |
| Cmax, Galaxy, MondeoHeadlights and indicators may malfuntion | Book soon | R/2011/040 |
This is one of 378 Ford recalls in DVSA’s data. The Ford recall launched before it was R/2004/132 on 2 Aug 2004, for possible unexpected braking. The one launched after it was R/2004/196 on 25 Nov 2004, for side airbag wiring issue. You can also see every Ford recall, all recalls launched in 2004 and brake recalls across every make.
Source: DVSA recall R/2004/177, launched 8 November 2004. Data updated 15 October 2026. How we grade urgency.
Sources
- The Code does not itself say repairs are free. GOV.UK guidance says "You will not usually have to pay for any repairs or parts under a safety recall." gov.uk Checked 15 Oct 2026.