FORD BRONCO recall: Piston failure and drive-power loss
Ford Bronco, Bronco Sport, Explorer, Mustang and Ranger vehicles may have incorrectly manufactured engine piston domes that can fail and cause a loss of drive power; dealers will inspect the pistons and replace the long-
Certain Ford Bronco, Bronco Sport, Explorer, Mustang and Ranger vehicles are covered for a potential internal engine problem that could result in lost drive power. Owners of the listed vehicles should review the campaign details and available repair information.
What the official recall record says
FORD: BRONCO, BRONCO SPORT, EXPLORER and other models
The engine piston domes may not have been made correctly. If a piston dome fails, the vehicle can lose drive power unexpectedly, increasing crash risk. The remedy calls for dealers to inspect the engine pistons and replace the engine long block when necessary, without charge.
Owner information from the official record
- Repair and availability: Dealers will inspect the engine pistons and replace the engine long block, if necessary, free of charge. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in December 2026.
- Owner notices: Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed September 3, 2026.
- VIN lookup timing: Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on August 28, 2026.
- Manufacturer contact: Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
- Manufacturer recall reference: 26S61
Official record
- NHTSA recall ID: 26V548000
- Vehicles listed: FORD BRONCO (2026); FORD BRONCO SPORT (2026); FORD EXPLORER (2026); FORD MUSTANG (2026); FORD RANGER (2026)
- Potentially affected: 10,001
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
- Report received: August 25, 2026
- Owner notification: Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed September 3, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in December 2026.
- Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer, Bronco, Bronco Sport, Mustang, and Ranger vehicles. The engine piston domes may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in piston dome failure and lead to a loss of drive power.
- Safety consequence: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will inspect the engine pistons and replace the engine long block, if necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed September 3, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in December 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 26S61. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on August 28, 2026.
What owners should do next
Use the official campaign information to review the repair process and contact Ford or an authorized dealer with questions about the listed vehicle.
A headline cannot confirm whether a particular vehicle is affected. Use the official NHTSA recall lookup with the vehicle identification number and contact the manufacturer or an authorized dealer for vehicle-specific guidance.
Related RecallWire reporting
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Sources used for this report.
References checked October 19, 2026.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Safety Recall Report: Campaign 26V548000. Report received August 25, 2026. Accessed October 19, 2026.
To check a specific vehicle, use the official NHTSA VIN recall lookup.
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