Big trouble ahead for two of Ford’s flagships as they recall nearly 180,000 Broncos SUVs and Ranger pickups for a potentially dangerous manufacturing defect. It involves a compromised interior component during a crash event. Per the latest reports, 117,443 Broncos and 62,255 Rangers sold between 2024 and 2026 are affected by the this recall, representing a significant percentage of Ford’s truck and SUV sales for those two years. Per the latest NHTSA report, affected vehicles suffer from dislodged seat bolts which may not maintain integrity in a collision.
Affected VINs are searchable via the NHTSA website.
Here is the relevant information from the NHTSA Recall notice:
NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V268
Manufacture: Ford Motor Company
Potential Number of Units Affected: 179,700
Components: Seats, Critical Fasteners
Estimated Percentage With Defect: 7%
Descriptive Information:
Ford’s team reviewed supplier process records to determine the population of affected parts. Affected vehicles are equipped with front seat height-adjust pivot link bolts that may loosen or dislodge from the pivot joint on one or both front seats and were built between November 1, 2024 and October 1, 2025.
These vehicles are not produced in VIN order. Information as to the applicability of this action to specific vehicles can best be obtained by either calling Ford’s toll-free line (1-866-436-7332) or by contacting a local Ford or Lincoln dealer who can obtain specific information regarding the vehicles from the Ford On-line Automotive Service Information System (OASIS) database.
Description of the defect or noncompliance:
On affected vehicles, one or more of the seat frame height adjustment pivot bolts may become loose and eventually dislodge on one or both front seats.
Description of the safety risk, including crash, fire, death, injury: If the seat frame height-adjust pivot bolt comes out of the pivot joint, this can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Description of the cause: The seat structure assembly supplier initiated a process to check the torque of the front seat frame height adjustment pivot bolts. This action inadvertently disrupted the curing of the adhesive patch on the threaded fastener, which can allow a pivot bolt to loosen over time and eventually dislodge.Identification of any warning that can occur: Seats with this condition may exhibit squeaks, looseness, or rattles.
Chronology:
On October 17, 2025, Ford approved safety recall 25SB5 (NHTSA 25V721) to address a population of vehicles produced from 2020 to 2022 with front seat pivot bolts that may be loose. Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group (CCRG) continued to monitor an additional population of vehicles that were produced in 2024 and 2025 during the time a torque check for the front seat pivot bolts was in place at the seat structure assembly supplier.
On March 13, 2026, the CCRG confirmed an increasing number of warranty reports for the monitor period. Upon investigation, CCRG discovered the torque check at the supplier was performed before the thread adhesive patch was fully cured, preventing full effectiveness of the adhesive patch. The CCRG investigation studied the design and performance of the joint and determined that the compromised thread adhesive patch, in conjunction with vibration associated with road loads, may result in a reduced break-way torque that can lead to loosening of the front seat pivot bolts.
As of April 10, 2026, Ford is aware of 60 warranty claims and one field report, representing 59 unique VINS, for Ford Bronco and Ford Ranger vehicles produced during the time the supplier torque check was in effect. The reports were received from June 2, 2025 to March 27, 2026.
On April 21, 2026, Ford’s Field Review Committee reviewed the concern and approved a field service action. Ford is not aware of any reports of accident or injury related to this condition.
Remedy:
Description of Remedy
Owners will be notified by mail and instructed to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to remove both front seats and inspect the seat cushion height-adjust link pivot bolts per technical instructions. If any height-adjust link pivot bolt fails inspection, the height-adjust link and pivot bolts will be replaced. There will be no charge for this service. How remedy component differs from recalled component: The replacement pivot links will be installed to meet torque specifications. Identify how/when recall condition was corrected in production: Not required per 49 Part 573
Description of recall schedule:
Notification to dealers is expected to begin April 29, 2026 and is expected to be completed by May 1, 2026. Mailing of interim owner notification letters is expected to begin May 11, 2026, and is expected to be completed by May 15, 2026. Mailing of remedy owner notification letters is expected to begin July 13, 2026 and is expected to be completed by July 17, 2026. The date VINs are planned to be searchable is April 30, 2026.
For more information on this and other recalls, visit the NHTSA website.
