2021-2026 Ford Bronco Sport Lower Ball Joint Recall (26V340)
Ford Motor Company · 4,653 vehicles · Reported May 27, 2026
Ford Motor Company is recalling 4,653 2021-2026 Ford Bronco Sport; 2022-2026 Ford Maverick vehicles. The front lower control arm ball joints may have been incorrectly installed or incorrectly repaired at the vehicle assembly plant, allowing the control arm to disconnect from the front wheel knuckle. A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. The manufacturer is telling owners not to drive these vehicles until the recall repair is done.
Recall 26V340 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 26V340000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 26S36 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | May 27, 2026 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2021-2026 Ford Bronco Sport; 2022-2026 Ford Maverick |
| Units affected | 4,653 |
| Component | Suspension > Front > Control Arm > Lower Ball Joint |
| Safety risk | A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021-2026 Ford Bronco Sport in recall 26V340?
The front lower control arm ball joints may have been incorrectly installed or incorrectly repaired at the vehicle assembly plant, allowing the control arm to disconnect from the front wheel knuckle.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 Bronco Sport and 2022-2026 Maverick vehicles. The front lower control arm ball joints may have been incorrectly installed or incorrectly repaired at the vehicle assembly plant, allowing the control arm to disconnect from the front wheel knuckle.
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2026 Bronco Sport with recall 26V340?
No. NHTSA lists recall 26V340 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 control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Which vehicles are included in recall 26V340?
Recall 26V340 covers 4,653 vehicles: 2021-2026 Ford Bronco Sport; 2022-2026 Ford Maverick.
NHTSA lists 4,653 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2026 | Ford | Bronco Sport |
| 2022-2026 | Ford | Maverick |
What is the fix for the Bronco Sport lower ball joint recall?
Yes. Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is completed.
Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and repair the front lower control arm ball joints as necessary, free of charge.Owner notification letters were mailed September 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S36. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 29, 2026.
When was recall 26V340 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 26V340 to NHTSA on May 27, 2026. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as September 2, 2026.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| May 27, 2026 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 26V340000. |
| September 2, 2026 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 4 months ago. If your Bronco Sport was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Bronco Sport is part of recall 26V340?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 26V340 is open on your Bronco Sport, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 26V340000 is open on your Bronco Sport, it will be listed there, along with Ford recall number 26S36. You can also ask any Ford dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should Bronco Sport owners do about recall 26V340?
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 26V340000 applies to your Bronco Sport.
- 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.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the lower 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 Sport owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 1,697 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 81 of them about the suspension, wheels and tires.
Since recall 26V340 was reported on May 27, 2026, owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA about the suspension, wheels and tires on these vehicles. 1 of them (6%) 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 suspension, wheels and tires and were received on or after May 27, 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 suspension, wheels and tires issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 1,697 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 81 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.
- 2021 Ford Bronco Sport: 696 complaints in total, 27 about the suspension, wheels and tires
- 2022 Ford Bronco Sport: 358 complaints in total, 8 about the suspension, wheels and tires
- 2023 Ford Bronco Sport: 158 complaints in total, 7 about the suspension, wheels and tires
- 2022 Ford Maverick: 150 complaints in total, 7 about the suspension, wheels and tires
- 2024 Ford Bronco Sport: 108 complaints in total, 6 about the suspension, wheels and tires
- 2023 Ford Maverick: 81 complaints in total, 11 about the suspension, wheels and tires
- 2024 Ford Maverick: 72 complaints in total, 9 about the suspension, wheels and tires
- 2025 Ford Bronco Sport: 38 complaints in total, 4 about the suspension, wheels and tires
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
Fuel system 1. I don't know what failed because the dealership didn't do anything to repair it. It is available for inspection upon request 2. Intensely strong fuel odor at the front of the car, inside and out. Strong exhaust odor at the back of the car.
2022 Ford Bronco Sport owner, NM, NHTSA complaint 11724824, filed March 16, 2026
When turning any direction or hitting speeds of 75 mph +, vehicle makes loud noise and starts shaking. Took it to an independent mechanic and ran a diagnostic, they said the rear differential is going out which isn't normal for vehicles with this mileage and said it was a manufacturer defect.
2022 Ford Bronco Sport owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11761898, filed September 3, 2026
Front and rear axle, 4 wheel drive, and differential issues, causing steering, wheel, and driving issues. There is a nationwide back order on parts needed to repair this common, and known issue, leaving Ford service to return customers to continue driving unsafe vehicles until parts arrive.
2022 Ford Bronco Sport owner, IL, NHTSA complaint 11766030, filed September 22, 2026
Can recall 26V340 make my Bronco Sport 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)).
Suspension, wheel and tire defects can affect handling and control. Clunks, pulling and vibration that return after a repair point to a defect that has not been fixed.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
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 Sport been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Ford Bronco Sport recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 26V340
Did the recall 26V340 fix work?
Since recall 26V340 was reported on May 27, 2026, owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA about the suspension, wheels and tires on these vehicles. 1 of them (6%) 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 September 2, 2026.
Is the 26V340000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Bronco Sport is part of recall 26V340000?
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 26V340000 (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.