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NHTSA recall,

Ford 2026 Explorer and Mustang Vehicles

The 2026 Explorer and Mustang vehicles have incorrectly installed piston circlips that can cause engine damage and loss of drive power.

Summary by Recall Canary from the NHTSA notice

What happened

Ford Motor Company is recalling certain 2026 Explorer and Mustang vehicles because the engine piston circlips may have been incorrectly installed during manufacturing. This can result in piston failure and engine damage, leading to a loss of drive power. An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

The recall affects 278 vehicles nationwide. The issue was reported to NHTSA on March 31, 2026. 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.

More engine defect recalls

What to do

If you own a vehicle in this recall:

  1. Check your VIN (vehicle identification number) at nhtsa.gov/recalls. VINs are searchable from April 2, 2026.
  2. Dealers will inspect the engine for missing or mis-installed circlips and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge.
  3. You may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
  4. Look for the owner letter. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2026.

What you get Free repair

Full text from NHTSA

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.

Is your Ford affected?

2 models

These models and years may be affected.

Model years
2026

Ford

  • Explorer
  • Mustang

Your VIN confirms it. Find the 17-character VIN on the driver's side of the dashboard or on your registration card.

Check your VIN on nhtsa.gov (opens in a new tab)

Recall details

Reported to NHTSA
Sold in
Nationwide
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Component
Engine defect
Campaign
26V205000
Vehicles affected
278
Repair cost
Free of charge
Owner letters mailed
Manufacturer's recall number
26S23
Manufacturer phone
1-866-436-7332

All recalls from Ford Motor Company

Timeline

  1. Reported to NHTSA

  2. Listed on Recall Canary

  3. Summary updated

Other engine defect recalls

See all: Other engine defect recalls

Summary by Recall Canary, written with AI · summary updated Oct 2, 2026 · primary source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (opens in a new tab)