NHTSAENGINE AND ENGI...
Ford Motor Company - Incorrectly Installed Piston Circlips
Published: March 31, 2026Recall ID: 26V205000Category: vehiclesCountry: US
Reason for Recall / Hazard
An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Product Description & Identification
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.
Affected Products
Incorrectly Installed Piston Circlips
Additional Source Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Subject | Incorrectly Installed Piston Circlips |
| Nhtsa id | 26V205000 |
| Component | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING |
| Recall link › Url | https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=26V205000 |
| Recall link › Description | Go to Recall |
| Recall type | Vehicle |
| Do not drive | No |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Defect summary | 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. |
| 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. |
| Consequence summary | An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash. |
| Mfr campaign number | 26S23 |
| Potentially affected | 278 |
| Report received date | 2026-03-31T00:00:00.000 |
| Fire risk when parked | No |