Ford recall: Engine and engine cooling
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer and Mustang vehicles. The engine piston circlips may have been incorrectly installed during manufacturing, which can result in piston failure and engine damage, leading to a loss of drive power.
What could happen
An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The fix
Dealers will inspect the engine for missing or mis-installed circlips and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S23. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 2, 2026.
Vehicles covered
- Ford Explorer 2026
- Ford Mustang 2026
Facts
- NHTSA recall number
- 26V205000
- Type
- Vehicle
- Filed by
- Ford Motor Company
- Reported to NHTSA
- Mar 31, 2026
- Owners notified
- Apr 10, 2026
- Vehicles or items affected
- 278
- Started by
- The manufacturer
- Built
- Feb 17, 2026 to Feb 26, 2026
- Part
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Hard parts internal/mechanical
- Maker's own recall number
- 26S23
Other recalls for the same vehicles
- Ford recall: Air bags Sep 9, 2026
- Ford recall: Engine and engine cooling Aug 25, 2026
- Ford recall: Engine and engine cooling Aug 13, 2026
- Ford / Lincoln recall: Seats Jul 21, 2026
- Ford / Lincoln recall: Seats Jul 14, 2026
- Ford recall: Structure Jul 14, 2026
To check one car, enter its 17-character VIN on the official NHTSA page: a recall may cover only some vehicles of a model year.
Recall data: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by NHTSA.