Ford Recalls 2026 Vehicles for Engine Piston Dome Manufacturing Defect
Ford is recalling 2026 Explorer, Bronco, Bronco Sport, Mustang, and Ranger vehicles because incorrectly manufactured engine piston domes may fail, causing a loss of drive power.
What this means for you
Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).
The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.
Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural vehicle defect (engine piston failure) that causes loss of drive power, which the source text explicitly states increases the risk of a crash.
Plain-English summary
Ford Motor Company is recalling certain 2026 model year Explorer, Bronco, Bronco Sport, Mustang, and Ranger vehicles. The recall addresses a manufacturing defect where engine piston domes may have been produced incorrectly. This defect can result in piston dome failure, which leads to a loss of drive power.
An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash. Ford 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 are expected to be mailed on September 4, 2026, with additional letters sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in December 2026.
Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's internal number for this recall is 26S61. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on August 28, 2026.
The recalled product
- Product
- FORD EXPLORER, BRONCO SPORT, BRONCO, RANGER
- Brand
- FORD
- Manufacturer
- Ford Motor Company
- Category
- Vehicle — Engine
- Affected units
- 10,001
Is your product affected?
Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.
Model numbers (5)
- EXPLORER
- BRONCO SPORT
- BRONCO
- RANGER
- MUSTANG
Distribution
Distributed nationwide across the United States.
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