Ford Bronco Engine Fire Recall: Your California Lemon Law Rights

Ford is recalling 565,691 Bronco and Bronco Raptor SUVs (NHTSA recall 26V468000; Ford's number is 26S55) because the engine compartment wiring harness can rub through its insulation, short-circuit, and start a fire. Ford has linked at least 15 fires to the defect. This is the full-size Bronco and Bronco Raptor — a separate vehicle from the smaller Bronco Sport, which had its own Do Not Drive recall earlier in 2026. Here's what the recall covers, what to do right now, and when a fire-risk recall like this can become a California lemon law claim. This is general information, not advice about a specific case.

What the recall covers

The recall affects certain model-year 2021–2026 Ford Bronco and Bronco Raptor SUVs, built September 23, 2020 through June 28, 2026. On these vehicles, the engine compartment wiring harness is not adequately protected and can chafe against surrounding components until the insulation wears through. Exposed wires can then short-circuit, generating heat and sparks. According to Ford, drivers may first notice smoke coming through the air vents or an electrical warning message on the dashboard, followed by flames from the passenger side of the engine compartment. Ford estimates that roughly 1% of the recalled vehicles actually have the defective condition, but because you cannot tell from the outside which vehicles those are, the entire population is covered.

What owners should do now

• Take any burning smell, smoke from the vents, or electrical warning message seriously — pull over somewhere safe, turn the vehicle off, and get away from it. If you suspect a problem, have it towed rather than driving on.
• Check your VIN. Inclusion is tied to the vehicle's build date, not just the model year, so enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm whether your specific Bronco is covered.
• Get the free remedy: dealers will install protective sheathing over the engine compartment wiring at no cost. Ford expects to begin mailing owner notification letters on August 24.
• Keep your recall letter and every repair order, and write down any towing costs, loaner charges, and days your Bronco spends out of service.

Ford has not ordered owners to stop driving — but a fire defect is still serious

Unlike some fire recalls, Ford has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside instruction for this campaign. That does not make it minor. The fires reported so far occurred while the vehicles were being driven, and a fire is among the most serious defects a vehicle can have — it threatens not just the value of the SUV but the safety of everyone in it. A large recall like this also tells you the problem is a design or manufacturing shortfall built into hundreds of thousands of vehicles, not a one-off fluke.

When this recall can become a California lemon

A recall on its own is not a lemon — Ford is offering a free repair, and that is the system working as intended. California's Lemon Law comes into play when the fix fails, the fix is unreasonably delayed, or the defect has already taken away your ability to safely use the vehicle. If the sheathing repair doesn't hold, if parts are backordered and your Bronco sits waiting, or if it has other substantial warranty defects that can't be fixed after a reasonable number of attempts, the Song-Beverly Act may entitle you to a buyback, replacement, or cash settlement — with Ford paying your attorney fees. Because this is a safety defect, California treats it more seriously and requires fewer failed repair attempts to qualify. Save every document; the repair history is the case. We offer free case reviews to California drivers.