Ford Explorer and Mustang recall 26V205000 - Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical

NHTSA · March 31, 2026

• NHTSA recall campaign 26V205000 (Ford), reported March 31, 2026.
• Potentially affected vehicles: 278.
• Component: Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical.
• Details as of October 23, 2026; the linked official notice is authoritative for lot codes, VINs, and remedies.

Agency

NHTSA

Posted

March 31, 2026

Recalling firm

Ford Motor Company

Source ID

26V205000

NHTSA campaign →

How this recall compares

• NHTSA's recalls file lists 890 recall campaigns from Ford Motor Company since 2010, 82 of them reported in 2026 so far.
• At 278 vehicles, it is larger than 42% of the 738 NHTSA campaigns from 2026 so far with a count of potentially affected vehicles.

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.

Consequence

An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

Corrective action

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.

Affected vehicles

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