FORD CEO Jim Farley might have a future in showbiz if leading the multinational manufacturer doesn’t work out.
And he’s already got an in with Jimmy Fallon after the late-night host’s latest episode.
The skit promoted the new 2025 Ford Bronco Badlands Sasquatch edition[/caption]
Of all the features Ford fans can expect from the Bronco’s Badlands Sasquatch trim, an ‘Other P’ gear isn’t one of them[/caption]
2025 Ford Bronco front 3/4 angle[/caption]
Farley has been in the industry’s spotlight lately, and not for his acting[/caption]
The CEO appeared on the Monday, September 15, episode of The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon in a brief sketch where he and Fallon test-drove one of Ford’s newest vehicles.
After giving Fallon a tour of Ford’s historic Detroit plant, the CEO shared he had one more surprise in store.
The two then jumped into a brand new 2025 Ford Bronco Badlands Sasquatch edition.
Farley highlighted the configurable “hero switches,” a unique four-wheel drive control system called “GOAT mode,” locking differentials, and an extra gear on the shifter marked “Other P.”
With Farley saying he had “no idea” what it was, Fallon said there was “only one way to find out” while slamming the shifter into the enigmatic gear.
The two hilariously won matching perms for their curiosity, shouting the hairstyle’s name in unison before high-fiving and cheering as the sketch ended.
The segment aired on NBC during a special episode of The Tonight Show, which had been filmed on September 14 in Detroit, Michigan, at the Detroit Opera House, according to USA Today.
Farley became CEO of the Detroit-based automotive company in October 2020.
His appearance on The Tonight Show comes as Ford recently recalled nearly 1.5 million vehicles of various makes, models, and manufacturing years for faulty circuit boards abnormally susceptible to corrosion in affected vehicles’ rearview cameras.
This is just one of over 100 recalls the company has announced throughout the year, and is also one of the least dangerous.
Early September saw the manufacturer recall over 100,000 Ranger pickups for faulty side curtain airbags which didn’t meet contemporary safety standards.
In August, over 350,000 F-series pickup truck models were recalled in relation to instrument clusters failing to display anything, let alone critical operating information, on startup.
An additional August recall confirmed over 100,000 trucks had faulty axle hub splines, which could not only cause parked cars to roll without a parking brake.
Furthermore, the issue could also cause drivers to lose control while operating the vehicles, endangering owners themselves and other motorists.
Top Ford recalls in 2025
FORD has issued a historic number of recalls so far this year.
Here’s a look at some of the most significant safety announcements that affected millions of the brand’s vehicles.
- In August, 355,000 models, including the F-550 SC, F-450 SD, F-350 SD, F-250 SD, and the 2025 F-150, were recalled over issues with the instrument safety panel
- Just days prior, over 103,000 F-150s were recalled over an axle fault
- In July, Ford announced that 700,000 vehicles were at risk of having a fuel leak problem
- In the same month, over 850,000 Ford cars were found to potentially have a fuel pump defect that could put them at risk of a crash
- Also in July, 200,000 Ford cars were found to potentially have a software glitch affecting rearview cameras
- In June, four new Ford recalls were announced over several issues, including brake malfunctions
- In May, Ford recalled 273,000 cars over a potentially dangerous brake issue
- In April, 148,000 Ford cars were recalled over fears of a fire risk
- And in March, the brand recalled one model over gearbox problems
850,000 Ford and Lincoln vehicles were recalled in July for a faulty fuel pump, which became even more dangerous in hot weather or when cars were low on fuel.
A failing fuel pump can cause an engine to stall, often “coughing” with intermittent and inconsistent power as it fights to stay alive, which can result in crashes due to unpredictable loss of power.
FORD’S FUTURE
In addition to these recalls, Farley also caught some flak in recent weeks for his comments on the idea of an all-electric Mustang.
While the exec asserted that such a car would never be made, many enthusiasts and Ford fans alike were quick to point out that one already exists in the form of the Mustang Mach-E.
But Ford’s future is far from grim, especially with the positive reception to the leaked revival plans for the Ranchero pickup platform.
The Ford F-150 Lightning EV has also been positively received by fans, even if sales numbers have slumped so far in 2025.
The brand has also secured the top spot in customer loyalty for the first half of 2025 despite its plethora of production problems, according to S&P Global Mobility.
