2025 Ford Bronco Upper Ball Joint Recall (25V260)
Ford Motor Company · 2 vehicles · Reported April 18, 2025
Ford Motor Company is recalling 2 2025 Ford Bronco vehicles. The front upper control arm ball joint nut may be missing or tightened improperly, allowing the front upper control arm to detach from the knuckle assembly. A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle steering and control, increasing the risk of a crash. The manufacturer is telling owners not to drive these vehicles until the recall repair is done.
Recall 25V260 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 25V260000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 25S40 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | April 18, 2025 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2025 Ford Bronco |
| Units affected | 2 |
| Build dates | January 22, 2025 to March 2, 2025 |
| Component | Suspension > Front > Control Arm > Upper Ball Joint |
| Safety risk | A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle steering and control, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2025 Ford Bronco in recall 25V260?
The front upper control arm ball joint nut may be missing or tightened improperly, allowing the front upper control arm to detach from the knuckle assembly.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Bronco vehicles. The front upper control arm ball joint nut may be missing or tightened improperly, allowing the front upper control arm to detach from the knuckle assembly.
Is it safe to drive a 2025 Bronco with recall 25V260?
No. NHTSA lists recall 25V260 as a Do Not Drive recall. Leave the vehicle parked until the repair is done.
NHTSA lists this as a Do Not Drive recall. The manufacturer is telling owners not to drive these vehicles until the recall repair is done. Call the dealer and ask for a tow and a loaner or rental.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle steering and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Which vehicles are included in recall 25V260?
Recall 25V260 covers 2 vehicles: 2025 Ford Bronco.
NHTSA lists 2 vehicles in this campaign, built January 22, 2025 to March 2, 2025. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Ford | Bronco |
What is the fix for the Bronco upper ball joint recall?
Yes. Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired.
Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. Dealers will inspect and verify that the ball joint fastener is tightened properly. If a fastener is loose or missing, the dealer will replace the ball joint and knuckle assembly. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed in April 2025. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S40.
When was recall 25V260 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 25V260 to NHTSA on April 18, 2025.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| January 22, 2025 | First affected vehicle built (per Ford Motor Company's filing). |
| March 2, 2025 | Last affected vehicle built. |
| April 18, 2025 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 25V260000. |
This recall was filed 17 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 39 days. If your Bronco was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Bronco is part of recall 25V260?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 25V260 is open on your Bronco, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 25V260000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should Bronco owners do about recall 25V260?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 25V260000 applies to your Bronco.
- Do not drive the vehicle. Ask the dealer to arrange a tow and a loaner.
- Call a Ford dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Write down when symptoms involving the upper ball joint happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Bronco owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 52 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 2 of them about the suspension, wheels and tires.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the suspension, wheels and tires have been filed since recall 25V260 was reported (2) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 52 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 2 of them involve the suspension, wheels and tires. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2025 Ford Bronco: 52 complaints in total, 2 about the suspension, wheels and tires
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
Description: My 2025 Ford Bronco suffered a catastrophic failure of both rear shock absorver external reservoirs, consistent with Recall 25S01 (NHTSA 25V025). The reservoirs detached intirely while driving out-of-state, forcing an 800-mile transit with 5 passengers on an unstable suspension.
2025 Ford Bronco owner, CO, NHTSA complaint 11730482, filed April 10, 2026
Possible suspension on front driver side caused loss of control of vehicle and separation of front tire from body. Failure of front airbags to deploy despite impact, Recall of front seat or seatbelt entire malfunction caused ejection and death of driver.
2025 Ford Bronco owner, VA, NHTSA complaint 11763792, filed September 12, 2026
Can recall 25V260 make my Bronco a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Recall 25V260000 does not automatically make your Bronco a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
If a suspension or wheel problem on the 2025 Ford Bronco returns after the recall work, keep the repair orders. Repeat visits for the same defect are what California's lemon law looks at.
This is not the first recall for this problem. When a manufacturer has to recall the same upper ball joint again, that suggests the earlier fix did not work. If your 2025 Ford Bronco has had this repair more than once, keep every repair order.
Earlier campaigns on these vehicles involving the same component: 24V770000.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Bronco been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Ford Bronco recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 25V260
Is the 25V260000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Bronco is part of recall 25V260000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 25V260000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Ford. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.