2025-2026 Ford Bronco Instrument Cluster Recall (25V788)
Ford Motor Company · 229,609 vehicles · Reported November 14, 2025
Ford Motor Company is recalling 229,609 2025-2026 Ford Bronco; 2025-2026 Ford Bronco Sport vehicles. The Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) may fail at startup. An instrument panel display that does not show critical information, such as warning lights or vehicle speed, increases the risk of a crash. The fix is an over-the-air software update.
Recall 25V788 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 25V788000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 25SC3 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | November 14, 2025 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2025-2026 Ford Bronco; 2025-2026 Ford Bronco Sport |
| Units affected | 229,609 |
| Component | Electrical System > Instrument Cluster / Panel |
| Safety risk | An instrument panel display that does not show critical information, such as warning lights or vehicle speed, increases the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Over-the-air software update |
What is wrong with the 2025-2026 Ford Bronco in recall 25V788?
The Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) may fail at startup.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Bronco and Bronco Sport vehicles. The Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) may fail at startup.
Is it safe to drive a 2025-2026 Bronco with recall 25V788?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An instrument panel display that does not show critical information, such as warning lights or vehicle speed, increases the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: An instrument panel display that does not show critical information, such as warning lights or vehicle speed, increases the risk of a crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the instrument cluster and panel.
Which vehicles are included in recall 25V788?
Recall 25V788 covers 229,609 vehicles: 2025-2026 Ford Bronco; 2025-2026 Ford Bronco Sport.
NHTSA lists 229,609 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-2026 | Ford | Bronco |
| 2025-2026 | Ford | Bronco Sport |
What is the fix for the Bronco instrument cluster recall?
Yes. The fix is an over-the-air software update.
The instrument panel cluster software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SC3.
When was recall 25V788 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 25V788 to NHTSA on November 14, 2025. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as December 4, 2025.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| November 3, 2025 | Last affected vehicle built. |
| November 14, 2025 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 25V788000. |
| December 4, 2025 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 10 months ago. 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 25V788?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 25V788 is open on your Bronco, 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 2025-2026 Bronco 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 Bronco owners do about recall 25V788?
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 25V788000 applies to your Bronco.
- 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.
- Write down when symptoms involving the instrument cluster and panel 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 recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Bronco owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 105 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 19 of them about the electrical system.
Since recall 25V788 was reported on November 14, 2025, owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the electrical system and were received on or after November 14, 2025, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related electrical system issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 105 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 19 of them involve the electrical system. 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, 14 about the electrical system
- 2025 Ford Bronco Sport: 38 complaints in total, 2 about the electrical system
- 2026 Ford Bronco: 8 complaints in total, 2 about the electrical system
- 2026 Ford Bronco Sport: 7 complaints in total, 1 about the electrical system
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
2026 Bronco SportDescription Your vehicle may display a blank instrument panel cluster ipc screen upon startup. This may occur when the vehicle is restarted within a specific time interval after turning the vehicle off.
2026 Ford Bronco Sport owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11743715, filed June 12, 2026
The contact owns a 2025 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving downhill on the freeway with the adaptive cruise control engaged, the transmission independently shifted into neutral, the vehicle lost power, and failed to accelerate as needed.
2025 Ford Bronco Sport owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11763116, filed September 9, 2026
The 2026 Ford Bronco Outer Banks instrument cluster has gone blank on two occasions (4/3/26 and 4/23/29). The first time the service department at Joe Mahan Ford, Paris, TN reported the display returned when connected to thier computer, but kept the Bronco for several days trying to replicate the condition.
2026 Ford Bronco owner, TN, NHTSA complaint 11734948, filed April 30, 2026
Can recall 25V788 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.
Owners often ask whether this instrument cluster and panel recall means their Bronco qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Electrical faults are hard to diagnose, so dealers often try several fixes before one works, if one works at all. That pattern of repeat visits for the same instrument cluster and panel problem is common in lemon law claims.
This recall is handled by an over-the-air software update, so many owners never visit a dealer. If the problem returns after the update, take the 2025-2026 Ford Bronco to the dealer and make sure the visit is written up on a repair order. An update that does not work is still a failed repair.
Earlier campaigns on these vehicles involving the same component: 25V049000.
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.
A software update can count as a repair attempt, especially if you complained about the problem or the update keeps being repeated. I've seen dealers do the same software update five or six times with no 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 25V788
Did the recall 25V788 fix work?
Since recall 25V788 was reported on November 14, 2025, owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed December 4, 2025.
Is the 25V788000 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 25V788000?
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.
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 25V788000 (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.