NHTSA Recall 26V468000: Ford Bronco & Bronco Raptor Engine Compartment Fire Risk

What the recall covers

Recall 26V468000 (Ford reference 26S55) covers 565,691 model-year 2021–2026 Ford Bronco and Bronco Raptor SUVs built September 23, 2020 through June 28, 2026. The engine compartment wiring harness is insufficiently protected and can chafe through its insulation, exposing wires that may short-circuit. A short circuit can generate heat and sparks capable of starting a fire — drivers may notice smoke coming through the air vents or a dashboard warning, followed by flames from the passenger side of the engine compartment. Ford has linked at least 15 fires to the defect and estimates roughly 1% of the recalled population carries the underlying condition. This is the full-size Bronco and Bronco Raptor — a separate vehicle and a separate recall from the smaller Bronco Sport, which had its own Do Not Drive ball-joint recall (26V340000) earlier in 2026.

The remedy

Dealers will install protective sheathing over the engine compartment wiring, free of charge. Ford expects to begin mailing owner notification letters on August 24, 2026. Ford has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside instruction for this recall, but the fires reported to date occurred while the vehicles were being driven.

What owners should do now

• Take any burning smell, smoke from the vents, or an electrical warning message seriously — pull over safely, shut the vehicle off, and get away from it. Have it towed rather than driven if you suspect a problem.
• Confirm your specific VIN rather than relying on model year — inclusion is tied to build date. Enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
• Keep the recall letter when it arrives. It is Ford's written admission that your vehicle has a fire-risk defect, and it is dated proof of when you were notified.
• Schedule the free sheathing repair as soon as parts are confirmed available at your dealer, and get the appointment and any parts-availability answer in writing.
• Record every date: dealer visits, days out of service, and any loaner or towing costs. Repeat attempts and cumulative days out of service are what a lemon law claim is built on.

How to check your VIN

Confirm whether a specific vehicle is included by entering the 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or ford.com/support/recalls. Inclusion is VIN-specific and tied to build date, not model year alone, so not every 2021–2026 Bronco is affected.

Ford customer service: 866-436-7332 (recall reference 26S55). NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline: 888-327-4236.

When this recall can become a California lemon law claim

A recall is not automatically a lemon — it is the manufacturer acknowledging a defect and offering a free fix. Your Ford may qualify under California's Lemon Law if the recall repair is significantly delayed, doesn't resolve the problem, or your vehicle has other unrepaired warranty defects. In those cases you may be entitled to a buyback, replacement, or cash settlement, with the manufacturer paying your attorney fees. For the full breakdown, see the guides below.