2026-2027 Ford Transit Seat Belt Buckle Recall (26V579)

Recall 26V579 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2026-2027 Ford Transit in recall 26V579?

The wireless seat belt reminder system (SBR) within the rear seat belt buckles may malfunction and fail to show a change in buckle status.

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026-2027 Transit vehicles. The wireless seat belt reminder system (SBR) within the rear seat belt buckles may malfunction and fail to show a change in buckle status.

Is it safe to drive a 2026-2027 Transit with recall 26V579?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A faulty seat belt status indicator may fail to alert occupants to an unfastened seat belt, increasing the risk of injury.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: A faulty seat belt status indicator may fail to alert occupants to an unfastened seat belt, increasing the risk of injury.

There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Transit shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the buckle assembly, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 26V579?

Recall 26V579 covers 1,945 vehicles: 2026-2027 Ford Transit.

NHTSA lists 1,945 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the Transit seat belt buckle 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 rear seat belts and replace the wireless seat belt buckles, as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, are expected to be mailed September 21, 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 26S67. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 10, 2026.

When was recall 26V579 announced?

Ford Motor Company reported recall 26V579 to NHTSA on September 9, 2026.

This recall was filed 0 months ago. If your Transit was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my Transit is part of recall 26V579?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 26V579 is open on your Transit, it will be listed there.

Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 26V579000 is open on your Transit, it will be listed there, along with Ford recall number 26S67. 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 Transit owners do about recall 26V579?

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 26V579000 applies to your Transit.
2. Call a Ford dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
3. Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
4. Write down when symptoms involving the buckle assembly 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 Transit owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 0 of them about the seat belts.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the seat belts have been filed since recall 26V579 was reported (0) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 5 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 0 of them involve the seat belts. 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 Transit: 5 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
• 2027 Ford Transit: 0 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts

Can recall 26V579 make my Transit 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 buckle assembly recall means their Transit 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)).

Seat belt defects are safety defects. If the belt, buckle or pretensioner still does not work right after the recall repair, the repeat visit belongs 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 2026-2027 Ford Transit has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.

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.

Frequently asked questions about recall 26V579