2026 Ford Explorer, 2026 Ford Mustang Recall: Engine piston circlips may have been incorrectly installed during…
NHTSA campaign 26V205000 · Engine and Engine Cooling · filed Mar 31, 2026 · verified Jul 30, 2026
The 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.
The risk
An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →The fix — what to do
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
Related recalls
More Ford Explorer recalls
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- 2018–2021 Ford Expedition and 4 other models — Transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in…
- 2024 Ford Explorer — An unintentional powertrain control module (PCM) reset may…
Other campaigns involving Ford vehicles
Source: NHTSA recall database, campaign 26V205000 (manufacturer number 26S23). Data last verified Jul 30, 2026.