2026 Ford Explorer Engine Recall (26V548)

Recall 26V548 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2026 Ford Explorer in recall 26V548?

The engine piston domes may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in piston dome failure and lead to a loss of drive power.

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer, Bronco, Bronco Sport, Mustang, and Ranger vehicles. The engine piston domes may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in piston dome failure and lead to a loss of drive power.

Is it safe to drive a 2026 Explorer with recall 26V548?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: An unexpected loss of drive power 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 hard parts internal and mechanical.

Which vehicles are included in recall 26V548?

Recall 26V548 covers 10,001 vehicles: 2026 Ford Bronco; 2026 Ford Bronco Sport; 2026 Ford Explorer; 2026 Ford Mustang; 2026 Ford Ranger.

NHTSA lists 10,001 vehicles in this campaign, built February 20, 2026 to April 18, 2026. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the Explorer engine recall?

An interim notice went out first. Check NHTSA to see if the final repair is now available for your VIN.

Dealers will inspect the engine pistons and replace the engine long block, if necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed September 3, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in December 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S61. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on August 28, 2026.

When was recall 26V548 announced?

Ford Motor Company reported recall 26V548 to NHTSA on August 25, 2026.

This recall was filed 1 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 57 days. If your Explorer was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my Explorer is part of recall 26V548?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 26V548 is open on your Explorer, 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 2026 Explorer 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 Explorer owners do about recall 26V548?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 26V548000 applies to your Explorer.
2. Book the recall appointment with any authorized Ford dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
3. 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.
4. Write down when symptoms involving the hard parts internal and mechanical happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. 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 Explorer owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 67 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 13 of them about the engine.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the engine have been filed since recall 26V548 was reported (4) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 67 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 13 of them involve the engine. 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.

• 2026 Ford Explorer: 38 complaints in total, 6 about the engine
• 2026 Ford Bronco: 8 complaints in total, 1 about the engine
• 2026 Ford Mustang: 8 complaints in total, 3 about the engine
• 2026 Ford Bronco Sport: 7 complaints in total, 2 about the engine
• 2026 Ford Ranger: 6 complaints in total, 1 about the engine

Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):

While driving my new Ford explorer, with 638 miles on it, on the highway I heard a loud pop, and lost power steering. I was barely able to pull the vehicle over to the shoulder to get off the highway.

2026 Ford Explorer owner, WI, NHTSA complaint 11733462, filed April 23, 2026

At approximately 1,700 miles, my brand-new 2026 Ford Explorer ST (3.0L EcoBoost) suffered a sudden, catastrophic engine failure while driving, causing an immediate and dangerous loss of motive power. Prior to the failure, the engine experienced severe misfires.

2026 Ford Explorer owner, OH, NHTSA complaint 11737580, filed May 13, 2026

Description On your vehicle, some of the bolts used to attach the vehicle trailer tow hitch may have below-specification torque. Safety Risk This condition may affect vehicle handling characteristics or lead to loss of attachment of the trailer hitch while towing, increasing the risk of a crash.

2026 Ford Explorer owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11744048, filed June 14, 2026

Can recall 26V548 make my Explorer 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 26V548000 does not automatically make your Explorer 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))?

An engine problem that leaves you stranded, or that keeps lighting up the check engine light after a repair, is the kind of defect that can substantially impair a vehicle's use, value or safety.

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: 24V635000, 25V344000, 26V205000, 26V343000, 26V532000.

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.

Frequently asked questions about recall 26V548