2026 Ford (5 models) Engine & Cooling Recall 26V548000 (Ford 26S61)

NHTSA recall 26V548000 (Ford recall 26S61) covers about 10,427 2026 Ford (5 models) vehicles (engine & cooling), filed with NHTSA Aug 25, 2026. There is no do-not-drive or park-outside advisory.

Source: NHTSA campaign 26V548000 · Data as of Nov 6, 2026 · By CarWhere Research

10,427
vehicles affected (potential)
2026
model years
Aug 25, 2026
filed with NHTSA
None
NHTSA advisory

What's recalled

Component: Engine & cooling (engine, hard parts internal/mechanical)

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.

The risk

An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

The remedy and its status

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.

Status: NHTSA’s record says the remedy is not yet available (interim owner notice). Owners get a second letter when the fix is ready.

Ford recall number 26S61

NHTSA lists the manufacturer's own recall number for 26V548000 as 26S61. Owner letters and dealer service departments often use this code, so a search for "26S61 recall" refers to the same campaign.

Affected models and years

Models and model years NHTSA lists for this campaign. Not every vehicle of a listed model and year is included; check by VIN.

VehicleModel yearsMore
Ford Bronco2026All Bronco recalls
Ford Bronco Sport2026All Bronco Sport recalls
Ford Explorer2026All Explorer recallsYears to avoid
Ford Mustang2026All Mustang recallsYears to avoid
Ford Ranger2026All Ranger recallsYears to avoid

Key dates

Report filed with NHTSA
Aug 25, 2026
Owner notification
Not listed yet
Build dates covered
Feb 16, 2026 to Jun 22, 2026
Recall initiated by
the manufacturer
Filed by
Ford Motor Company

Check your VIN for 26V548000

  1. Find the 17-character VIN on the driver-side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the door-jamb sticker, or your registration.
  2. Enter it in NHTSA's free VIN recall lookup. It shows every open recall on that exact vehicle, including this one if it applies and hasn't been repaired.
  3. If 26V548000 is open, call any Ford dealer's service department and give them the recall number (26V548000 or 26S61). The repair is free.

Not sure of the exact model or year? Decode it first with the free VIN decoder.

Frequently asked questions

What is recall 26V548000?

NHTSA recall 26V548000 (Ford recall 26S61) covers about 10,427 2026 Ford (5 models) vehicles (engine & cooling), filed with NHTSA Aug 25, 2026. There is no do-not-drive or park-outside advisory. It covers certain 2026 Explorer, Bronco, Bronco Sport, Mustang, and Ranger vehicles.

Is it safe to drive a vehicle with recall 26V548000?

NHTSA's record for 26V548000 carries no do-not-drive or park-outside advisory. The risk NHTSA lists is: "An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash." Get the free repair as soon as it is available for your vehicle.

How do I know if my vehicle is affected by 26V548000?

Only a VIN lookup can tell you. Not every vehicle of the listed models and years is included, and repaired vehicles drop off. Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's free recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or ask any Ford dealer to check it.

What is the fix for recall 26V548000, and is it free?

NHTSA's record says: "Dealers will inspect the engine pistons and replace the engine long block, if necessary, free of charge." NHTSA’s record says the remedy is not yet available (interim owner notice). Owners get a second letter when the fix is ready. Safety-recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.

What is the Ford recall number for 26V548000?

NHTSA lists the manufacturer's own recall number as 26S61. Dealers and owner letters often use that code (26S61) instead of the NHTSA campaign number 26V548000.

Sources and method

  • NHTSA recall record for 26V548000, from NHTSA's public recall campaign database. Problem, risk and remedy text is NHTSA's own wording.
  • "Vehicles affected" is NHTSA's potential-units-affected count for the whole campaign.
  • Data as of Nov 6, 2026. NHTSA updates campaigns as manufacturers file amendments, so check the official record for the latest.

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