FORD — recall

Automotive · United States · 2026-03-31

Ford Explorer/Mustang vehicles: engine piston circlips incorrectly installed

Country	United States
Category	Automotive
Published	2026-03-31
Manufacturer	Ford Motor Company
Models affected	EXPLORER, MUSTANG
Model year	2026, 2026
Units affected	278
Defect	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._x000D_ An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Component	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Remedy	Dealers will inspect the engine for missing or mis-installed circlips and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 14, 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.
Recall number	26V205000
Official notice	View source ↗

What this means for sellers

Likely platform / channel actions	OEMs/dealers will run the remedy (repair, replace or refund); component suppliers in the chain may face traceback.
Self-check for comparable products	Check your comparable products' design, materials and QC records against the defect described here.
Rules & standards likely involved	FMVSS (NHTSA) · Full guide →

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