2025 Ford Ranger Seat Fastener Recall (25V311)
Ford Motor Company · 46 vehicles · Reported May 9, 2025
Ford Motor Company is recalling 46 2025 Ford Bronco; 2025 Ford Ranger vehicles. The bolts that secure the driver's seat frame to the body may be loose or missing. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 207, "Seating Systems." A seat with loose or missing fasteners may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 25V311 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 25V311000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 25C16 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | May 9, 2025 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2025 Ford Bronco; 2025 Ford Ranger |
| Units affected | 46 |
| Build dates | February 20, 2025 to February 21, 2025 |
| Component | Seats > Critical Fasteners |
| Safety risk | A seat with loose or missing fasteners may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2025 Ford Ranger in recall 25V311?
The bolts that secure the driver's seat frame to the body may be loose or missing.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Ranger and Bronco vehicles. The bolts that secure the driver's seat frame to the body may be loose or missing. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 207, "Seating Systems."
Is it safe to drive a 2025 Ranger with recall 25V311?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A seat with loose or missing fasteners may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A seat with loose or missing fasteners may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Ranger shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the critical fasteners, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 25V311?
Recall 25V311 covers 46 vehicles: 2025 Ford Bronco; 2025 Ford Ranger.
NHTSA lists 46 vehicles in this campaign, built February 20, 2025 to February 21, 2025. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Ford | Bronco |
| 2025 | Ford | Ranger |
What is the fix for the Ranger seat fastener recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect the seat fasteners and tighten or install new fasteners as necessary, free of charge.
Dealers will inspect the seat fasteners and tighten or install new fasteners as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 23, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C16.
When was recall 25V311 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 25V311 to NHTSA on May 9, 2025. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as May 23, 2025.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| February 20, 2025 | First affected vehicle built (per Ford Motor Company's filing). |
| February 21, 2025 | Last affected vehicle built. |
| May 9, 2025 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 25V311000. |
| May 23, 2025 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 17 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 1 days. If your Ranger was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Ranger is part of recall 25V311?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 25V311 is open on your Ranger, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2025 Ranger vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should Ranger owners do about recall 25V311?
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 25V311000 applies to your Ranger.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Ford dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Keep a simple log of any critical fasteners symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Ranger owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 94 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 4 of them about the body, doors and seats.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the body, doors and seats have been filed since recall 25V311 was reported (4) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 94 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 4 of them involve the body, doors and seats. 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 body, doors and seats
- 2025 Ford Ranger: 42 complaints in total, 2 about the body, doors and seats
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
The contact's wife owns a 2025 Ford Bronco. Upon taking delivery of the vehicle, the door stops on both rear doors began detaching and the plastic fender components fell off while the vehicle was parked. Additionally, the rear passenger’s side window intermittently failed to roll up.
2025 Ford Bronco owner, GA, NHTSA complaint 11765342, filed September 18, 2026
They have yet to repair this recall even though a remedy has been available. I have asked multiple times at my dealer and they always have a reason they can’t do it. They text me one time and never set the appointment. I have called and called and even went in.
2025 Ford Bronco owner, VA, NHTSA complaint 11752761, filed July 25, 2026
The head rest leans out so far at the top that my chin hits my chest. It doesn't matter if I try to lean the seat back of forth. Please evaluate the head rest as I believe it will cause serious injury as there is no back and forth adjustment.
2025 Ford Ranger owner, WA, NHTSA complaint 11697252, filed November 3, 2025
Can recall 25V311 make my Ranger 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 25V311000 does not automatically make your Ranger 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))?
Body and latch defects on the 2025 Ford Ranger may seem minor until a door opens while driving or a seat will not lock. Problems that return after repair belong in your records.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2025 Ford Ranger has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
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 Ranger been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Ford Ranger recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 25V311
Is the 25V311000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed May 23, 2025.
How do I know if my Ranger is part of recall 25V311000?
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 25V311000 (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.