2021-2025 Ford Bronco Transmission Recall (26V236)
Ford Motor Company · 4,922 vehicles · Reported April 14, 2026
Ford Motor Company is recalling 4,922 2021-2025 Ford Bronco vehicles. The transmission to transfer case joint may be misaligned due to an incorrectly performed previous repair, which could lead to wear of the transmission output shaft splines and transfer case input splines. Excessive wear of the transmission and transfer case splines may result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 26V236 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 26V236000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 26S26 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | April 14, 2026 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2021-2025 Ford Bronco |
| Units affected | 4,922 |
| Component | Power Train > Automatic Transmission |
| Safety risk | Excessive wear of the transmission and transfer case splines may result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021-2025 Ford Bronco in recall 26V236?
The transmission to transfer case joint may be misaligned due to an incorrectly performed previous repair, which could lead to wear of the transmission output shaft splines and transfer case input splines.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Bronco vehicles. The transmission to transfer case joint may be misaligned due to an incorrectly performed previous repair, which could lead to wear of the transmission output shaft splines and transfer case input splines.
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2025 Bronco with recall 26V236?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Excessive wear of the transmission and transfer case splines may result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Excessive wear of the transmission and transfer case splines may result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Bronco shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the automatic transmission, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 26V236?
Recall 26V236 covers 4,922 vehicles: 2021-2025 Ford Bronco.
NHTSA lists 4,922 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2025 | Ford | Bronco |
What is the fix for the Bronco transmission recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect the transmission to transfer case joint and replace the transmission and transfer case as necessary, free of charge.
Dealers will inspect the transmission to transfer case joint and replace the transmission and transfer case as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 9, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S26. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 15, 2026.
When was recall 26V236 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 26V236 to NHTSA on April 14, 2026. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as July 9, 2026.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| April 14, 2026 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 26V236000. |
| July 9, 2026 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 5 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 26V236?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 26V236 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 26V236000. 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 26V236?
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 26V236000 applies to your Bronco.
- 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 automatic transmission 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 958 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 78 of them about the transmission.
Since recall 26V236 was reported on April 14, 2026, owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 1 of them (8%) 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 transmission and were received on or after April 14, 2026, 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 transmission issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 958 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 78 of them involve the transmission. 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.
- 2022 Ford Bronco: 376 complaints in total, 39 about the transmission
- 2021 Ford Bronco: 229 complaints in total, 7 about the transmission
- 2023 Ford Bronco: 226 complaints in total, 21 about the transmission
- 2024 Ford Bronco: 75 complaints in total, 6 about the transmission
- 2025 Ford Bronco: 52 complaints in total, 5 about the transmission
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Bronco. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and flat towing an RV, the Flat-Tow mode inadvertently disengaged and the contact smelled a burning odor permeating the interior of the vehicle with the message "Stop vehicle immediately, excessive temperature detected" displayed.
2023 Ford Bronco owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11676815, filed July 28, 2025
Front differential mounts are cracking and breaking leading to insecure front differential and damage to adjacent suspension and power train components. This is a significant risk to both the driver/occupants and potentially other vehicles on the road.
2023 Ford Bronco owner, WA, NHTSA complaint 11712487, filed January 21, 2026
Automatic 10 speed transmission has unpredictable shifting from 1st through 3 gears, offten with long lags between shifts, losing power temporarily, especially from 1st to 2nd gear, and harsh shifting.
2023 Ford Bronco owner, VA, NHTSA complaint 11719951, filed February 23, 2026
Can recall 26V236 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.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Transmission problems tend to come back. Harsh shifts, slipping, delayed engagement and sudden loss of drive power often return after a dealer reflashes software or replaces a part, and each return trip to the dealer is another repair attempt on the record.
This campaign follows an earlier recall for the same issue. A second recall can mean the first remedy failed, and repeated repair attempts on the same defect are the core of most lemon law claims.
Earlier campaigns on these vehicles involving the same component: 23V070000.
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 typical pattern: an owner reports the transmission slipping, and the dealer can't verify it. Six months later, NHTSA issues a recall for the same problem. Because the recall confirms the defect, the mileage offset goes back to that first visit.
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 26V236
Did the recall 26V236 fix work?
Since recall 26V236 was reported on April 14, 2026, owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 1 of them (8%) 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 July 9, 2026.
Is the 26V236000 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 26V236000?
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.
Will a transmission software update fix the problem for good?
Sometimes. Many owners report that shifting problems return after an update. If yours does, go back to the dealer and make sure the visit is written up.
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 26V236000 (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.