148,663 Ford Mustangs recalled over ground wiring that can cut drive power

What was recalled

Ford Motor Company is recalling 148,663 Ford Mustang vehicles from the 2024, 2025 and 2026 model years. NHTSA's record lists the campaign as 26V547000; Ford's own number is 26C40. The report reached NHTSA on Aug. 25, 2026.

According to Ford's Part 573 safety recall report, the affected cars were built between Sept. 7, 2022 and June 9, 2026. Ford estimates that about 1 percent of them actually have the defect. Ford also notes the cars were not built in VIN order, so the surest way to know whether a specific car is included is to call Ford's toll-free line or ask a Ford or Lincoln dealer, who can check Ford's OASIS database.

This is one of two Ford recalls filed with NHTSA the same day. The other, campaign 26V548000, covers 10,001 2026 Bronco, Bronco Sport, Explorer, Ranger and Mustang vehicles with a piston defect; we cover it separately in our Ford piston recall explainer. A 2026 Mustang could be in both.

Why the Mustangs are being recalled

NHTSA's summary says the engine compartment wiring harness ground connections may fracture. Depending on which ground eyelet breaks, Ford's report says the result can be a loss of motive power, loss of the right or left headlamp, loss of the windshield washer fluid pump, loss of air conditioning, or an inoperable engine cooling fan. Because of the headlamp and washer effects, the cars also fail to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 108 (lamps) and 104 (windshield wiping and washing).

The cause, per Ford: adhesive from heat-shrink material on the harness intruded into the ground eyelet's bolt-clearance area, which bent the eyelet and shortened its fatigue life under vehicle vibration. The heat shrink was added starting with 2024 model year production; a corrective change went into production on June 9, 2026.

NHTSA's consequence statement says a loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash, and that "a loss of headlight function or windshield washing system function can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash." Ford says drivers may see an illuminated Check Engine Light or instrument cluster warning messages, or hear an audible chime, depending on which eyelet is affected.

Where the affected Mustangs were sold

This is a U.S. recall filed with NHTSA, and the record does not break the 148,663 cars down by state or dealer. Any 2024–2026 Mustang sold in the United States, new or used, may be included; the recall attaches to the VIN, not to the original buyer.

That matters for used-car buyers. Ford mails letters to registered owners, so if you bought a Mustang second-hand, the first notice may have gone to someone else. Check the VIN yourself at nhtsa.gov/recalls (VINs in this campaign became searchable on Aug. 28, 2026), or call Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's filing says it stopped shipping unsold 2026 Mustangs on June 4, 2026, and that cars built after June 9, 2026 have the corrective change.

How to check whether your Mustang is included

Your VIN is on the driver's side of the dashboard (visible through the windshield), on the driver's door jamb sticker, and on your registration and insurance card. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls and look for campaign 26V547000 or Ford recall 26C40. NHTSA's lookup shows open recalls that have not yet been repaired on that specific car.

Because the cars were not built in VIN order, a model year or build date alone does not confirm or rule out your car. If the lookup shows nothing but you have a 2024–2026 Mustang, Ford suggests calling 1-866-436-7332 or asking a Ford or Lincoln dealer to check its OASIS system. The table shows what the official record covers, plus the separate piston recall that also touches some 2026 Mustangs.

Crashes and injuries reported

Ford's report says it is "not aware of any reports of accidents or injuries related to this condition." As of Aug. 4, 2026, Ford's review of global field data had found eight warranty claims tied to the condition, four of them on cars with less than three months in service, and zero Vehicle Owner Questionnaires filed with NHTSA between Oct. 18, 2024 and Aug. 4, 2026.

The problem first surfaced in Ford's own testing: on June 4, 2026, a 2027 model year Mustang durability test vehicle broke two ground eyelets and lost motive power. A warranty claim means a dealer repaired the condition under warranty; it is not a report of a crash. Warning signs, per Ford, can include a Check Engine Light, cluster warning messages, an audible chime, or a headlamp, washer pump, A/C or cooling fan that stops working.

What Mustang owners should do

NHTSA's record states the remedy as: "Dealers will replace the engine compartment wiring harness ground terminals, free of charge." Ford's report adds detail: owners will be told by mail to take the car to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the four engine compartment ground terminals replaced with revised standoff eyelet pigtails, at no charge. The redesigned terminals have a stepped-neck geometry meant to eliminate the bending stress that caused the fractures.

The catch is timing. Ford expected to mail interim letters between Aug. 31 and Sept. 4, 2026; those explain the risk but do not mean parts are ready. Remedy letters are expected in the first quarter of 2027 (NHTSA's summary says March 2027). Ford's filing says it is using its general reimbursement plan on file with NHTSA; if you paid for a related repair before the recall, ask Ford about it.

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 26C40.
2. Watch for the interim letter, which Ford expected to mail from Aug. 31 to Sept. 4, 2026. Keep it; it confirms your car is included.
3. If the Check Engine Light comes on, warning messages or a chime appear, or a headlamp, washer pump, A/C or cooling fan stops working, contact a Ford or Lincoln dealer.
4. When the second letter arrives (expected in the first quarter of 2027), book the free repair: four ground terminals replaced with redesigned standoff eyelet pigtails.
5. Keep both letters and the dealer's repair order with your vehicle records; they are your proof the recall was completed.

Who issued the recall and when

The recall was filed by Ford Motor Company of Dearborn, Michigan, with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Ford submitted its Part 573 safety recall report on Aug. 25, 2026, and NHTSA logged it as campaign 26V547000 the same day. Ford's internal number is 26C40. The component is listed as electrical system: wiring; the harness supplier named in the report is Versigent of Troy, Michigan. Ford's Field Review Committee approved the recall on Aug. 18, 2026.

Ford's schedule: dealers notified Aug. 28, 2026; VINs searchable on NHTSA.gov from Aug. 28, 2026; interim owner letters Aug. 31 to Sept. 4, 2026; remedy letters expected by March 31, 2027. The recall is open and, as of the filing, the repair parts were not yet available. Reuters and Car and Driver reported the recall on Sept. 1, 2026, alongside the separate piston recall. Other late-August 2026 vehicle recalls we have covered 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 dealer's repair order and any receipts for related 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 money you may be owed.

Glossary

NHTSA campaign number

The ID NHTSA assigns to a recall (here 26V547000). Manufacturers also use their own number, such as Ford's 26C40; either works with a dealer.

Part 573 report

The formal defect report a manufacturer must file with NHTSA under 49 CFR Part 573. It contains the population, cause, chronology and remedy schedule.

Ground eyelet terminal

The ring-shaped end of a ground wire that bolts to the body or engine. If it fractures, the circuits it grounds can stop working.

Interim owner letter

A first notice that tells owners about the risk before a repair is available. A second letter follows when parts and procedures are ready.

Loss of motive power

Recall language for a vehicle losing the ability to accelerate or keep moving under its own power while driving.

FMVSS 104 and 108

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for windshield wiping and washing systems (104) and lamps and reflective devices (108). Ford says the affected cars can fail both.

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