10,001 Ford Bronco, Explorer, Ranger and Mustang vehicles recalled over pistons

What was recalled

Ford Motor Company is recalling 10,001 vehicles from the 2026 model year across five nameplates: 5,199 Bronco Sports, 3,071 Explorers, 1,062 Broncos, 432 Rangers and 237 Mustangs. NHTSA logged the campaign as 26V548000 on Aug. 25, 2026; Ford's own number is 26S61.

Ford's Part 573 report says the affected Bronco, Explorer, Ranger and Mustang vehicles have suspect 2.3L engines, and the Bronco Sports have suspect 1.5L engines; the piston parts are listed as the 2.3L EcoBoost piston and the 1.5L Dragon B piston. Ford traced piston production to individual vehicles using supplier process and maintenance records, and it estimates about 0.5 percent of the 10,001 vehicles actually have the defect. The build windows run from Feb. 16 to April 22, 2026, depending on model.

This is not the Mustang wiring recall. That separate campaign, 26V547000, covers 148,663 2024–2026 Mustangs and is explained in our Ford Mustang recall article.

Why the pistons are being recalled

NHTSA's summary: "The engine piston domes may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in piston dome failure and lead to a loss of drive power." Ford's report describes a crater crack at the interface between the piston's nickel-resistant (Ni-Ring) insert and its aluminum body. The cause was at the supplier, Dong Yang Piston of Arteaga, Mexico: a lock nut loosened on a machining tool, letting the tool intermittently strike the Ni-Ring insert and fracture the bond. For pistons made between Jan. 26 and March 6, 2026, the line's ultrasonic tester could not catch the cracks because a sensor had been replaced without updating its parameters.

NHTSA's consequence statement: "An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash." Ford says a driver may notice a Check Engine Light, engine noise or a misfire before a failure. In Ford's dynamometer tests of nine cracked-piston engines in July 2026, the pistons failed early but the engines kept running for an extended time before failing outright.

Where the affected vehicles were sold

This is a U.S. recall filed with NHTSA; the record does not list states or dealers. Any of the five 2026 models sold in the United States within the build windows may be included, whether bought new or used. Ford notes the vehicles were not built in VIN order, so a build date alone will not settle it.

VINs in this campaign became searchable on NHTSA.gov on Aug. 28, 2026. Ford says the surest confirmation is its toll-free line, 1-866-436-7332, or a Ford or Lincoln dealer, who can check the vehicle in Ford's OASIS database. If you own a 2026 Mustang, check both this recall and the wiring recall; a car can be in both.

How to check whether your Ford is included

Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and look for campaign 26V548000 or Ford recall 26S61. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard, the door jamb sticker, and your registration and insurance card. Because Ford's list is based on which pistons went into which engine, not on model year alone, a 2026 model of these nameplates is not automatically included; only the VIN check or a dealer can confirm yours.

The table breaks down the 10,001 vehicles by model, build window and engine as listed in Ford's report.

Crashes and injuries reported

Ford's report says it is "not aware of any reports of accidents or injuries related to this condition." The failures it does count are engine failures. As of Aug. 12, 2026, Ford had recorded 38 engine failures at its own plants, 16 in 1.5L engines and 22 in 2.3L engines. It had also identified 13 engine failures in customer vehicles, 11 in 1.5L engines and two in 2.3L engines, that may be related to the defect.

Car and Driver's Sept. 1, 2026 report cited only the 2.3L figures (22 at plants and two in the field); the filing itself includes the 1.5L numbers as well. The first known case was an Explorer that failed end-of-line testing at Ford's Chicago Assembly Plant on March 18, 2026, followed by five Bronco Sports at the Hermosillo plant on March 27.

What owners should do

NHTSA's record states the remedy as: "Dealers will inspect the engine pistons and replace the engine long block, if necessary, free of charge." Ford's report says owners will be notified by mail and instructed to take the vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer for an inspection for cracked pistons; vehicles that fail get a replacement engine long block containing pistons without crater cracks, at no charge.

Timing: interim letters were expected to mail between Sept. 4 and Sept. 11, 2026, and remedy letters between Dec. 21 and Dec. 31, 2026 (NHTSA's summary says the remedy is anticipated in December 2026). Ford's filing says it is using its general reimbursement plan on file; if you paid for a related engine repair before the recall, ask Ford about it. Contact: Ford customer service, 1-866-436-7332.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (searchable since Aug. 28, 2026) or call Ford at 1-866-436-7332 and ask about recall 26S61.
2. Watch for the interim letter, expected between Sept. 4 and Sept. 11, 2026. It confirms your vehicle is included; it does not mean the inspection is available yet.
3. If the Check Engine Light comes on or you notice engine noise or a misfire, contact a Ford or Lincoln dealer and mention recall 26S61.
4. When the remedy letter arrives (expected Dec. 21–31, 2026), book the free piston inspection. Only vehicles that fail the inspection get a new engine long block.
5. Keep the letters, the inspection paperwork and any repair receipts with your vehicle records.

Who issued the recall and when

Ford Motor Company of Dearborn, Michigan, submitted its Part 573 safety recall report to NHTSA on Aug. 25, 2026. NHTSA's campaign number is 26V548000; Ford's is 26S61. The component category is engine and engine cooling: engine hard parts. The record carries no park-outside or do-not-drive advisory. Ford's Field Review Committee approved the recall on Aug. 18, 2026.

Schedule: dealers notified Aug. 28, 2026; VINs searchable from Aug. 28, 2026; interim owner letters Sept. 4–11, 2026; remedy letters Dec. 21–31, 2026. Status: open, remedy not yet available at filing. Car and Driver covered both Ford recalls together on Sept. 1, 2026. Other late-August 2026 vehicle recalls include the Lucid Air fire-risk recall and the Mitsubishi Outlander camera recall.

How to monitor recalls and why to keep your receipts

Vehicle and equipment recalls are searchable at nhtsa.gov/recalls, and registering your vehicle with the manufacturer keeps recall letters coming to your current address. For other products, check the FDA recalls page, the CPSC recalls page, USDA FSIS for meat and poultry, FoodSafety.gov alerts, retailer notifications and the brand's own site.

Keep the recall letters, the inspection paperwork and any receipts for engine repairs you paid for. If a company reimbursement or a future claim program becomes available, proof of purchase and repair records may be what you need to qualify; nothing is promised. Owed tracks open class action settlements (not recalls); see current settlements and our guide to finding unclaimed money.

Glossary

Piston dome

The top surface of a piston, which faces the combustion chamber. Ford's report says the domes can fail because of a crater crack.

Ni-Ring insert

A nickel-resistant ring cast into the piston. The crack forms where this insert bonds to the piston's aluminum.

Engine long block

An assembled engine block with crankshaft, pistons and cylinder heads. Vehicles that fail inspection get a replacement long block.

End-of-line (EOL) testing

The engine and vehicle checks Ford runs at the end of the assembly line; the first piston failures, in March 2026, were caught here.

Interim owner letter

A first notice sent before the remedy is ready. Ford expected these Sept. 4–11, 2026, with remedy letters in late December.

NHTSA campaign number

NHTSA's ID for the recall (26V548000). Ford's own number is 26S61; the Mustang wiring recall is 26V547000 / 26C40.

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