2026 Ford Explorer, 2026 Ford Mustang recall: Incorrectly Installed Piston Circlips
Report received by NHTSA: March 31, 2026.
Built by the Tribune's code from NHTSA's official records. No AI wrote this page. Updated Nov. 4, 2026.
- What's recalled
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.
- The risk
An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
- Who's affected
278 vehicles potentially affected, according to NHTSA. Models: 2026 Ford Explorer, 2026 Ford Mustang.
- Compared with
Ford Motor Company has 84 NHTSA recalls in 2026 so far, compared with 153 in all of 2025.
Counted by the Tribune from NHTSA's records since Nov. 1, 2016.
- Before this
580 earlier NHTSA recalls by Ford Motor Company since Nov. 1, 2016; the 5 most recent:
- March 31, 2026 2021-2023 Ford Expedition, 2021-2023 Lincoln Navigator, 2022-2023 Ford F-250 SD and 4 more models recall: Windshield Wipers May Fail
- March 31, 2026 2026 Ford Explorer, 2026 Lincoln Aviator recall: Inoperative Defrosting and Defogging System
- March 31, 2026 2025-2026 Ford Bronco Sport, 2025-2026 Ford Maverick recall: Front Passenger Air Bag May Not Deploy/FMVSS 208
- March 19, 2026 2022-2025 Lincoln Navigator, 2024-2025 Lincoln Nautilus, 2025 Ford Explorer and 1 more model recall: Loss of Rearview Camera Image and ADAS Features
- March 17, 2026 2020-2026 Ford Explorer, 2020-2026 Lincoln Aviator recall: Improperly Secured Seat Belt Anchors
Counted by the Tribune from NHTSA's records since Nov. 1, 2016.
- What to do and when
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.
NHTSA's record, word for word
- Check it yourself
NHTSA's VIN lookup shows whether a specific vehicle has an open recall.
Models in this recall
- Ford Explorer 2026
- Ford Mustang 2026
The record as NHTSA published it
| NHTSA recall number | 26V205000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Recall type | Vehicle |
| Component | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING |
| Report received by NHTSA | March 31, 2026 |
| Potentially affected | 278 vehicles |
| Manufacturer's recall number | 26S23 |
| “Do not drive” warning | No |
| Fire risk when parked (“park outside”) | No |
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall records (public domain). NHTSA's record