Recall 25V396 affects 2,272 2025 Ford Bronco vehicles for a passenger air bag deployment defect. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
Ford is recalling 2,272 2025 Bronco vehicles because the passenger-side active vent flap can keep the air bag from deploying as intended. That failure increases the risk of injury during a crash, and the Ford dealer repair will be free once Ford makes it available.
Does this recall apply to your specific vehicle?
The official, free per-VIN recall check is run by NHTSA. Enter your VIN and we'll forward you directly — and add you to a free watchlist so you hear about new recalls for your vehicle.
Check my VIN at NHTSARecallNotify doesn't check your VIN — NHTSA's official tool does. We use your email only to alert you to new recalls.
Watch this vehicle for recalls
Add it to your free watchlist and we will alert you as new federal recalls are posted for your year, make and model. New-recall alerts are rolling out now.
You are on the watchlist.
We will email you as new federal recalls are posted for your vehicle.
What's wrong?
The passenger airbag module in the 2025 Ford Bronco sits behind the dashboard on the passenger side. In a frontal crash that calls for deployment, the air bag inflates between the passenger and the hard parts of the cabin. An active vent flap helps manage cushion pressure by opening during deployment so pressure bleeds down as designed.
On these Broncos, the passenger airbag was built with plastic flanges that hold the micro gas generator in place. That small gas generator helps operate the active vent. If the plastic flange breaks during deployment, the vent flap does not open. The air bag cushion then stays at a higher pressure than intended, which affects how it interacts with the passenger in a crash requiring passenger airbag deployment.
There is no warning sign before failure. The issue is inside the airbag module, so a driver should not expect a noise, light, or drivability change before the air bag is needed.
Who's affected?
| 2025 Ford Bronco | front air bag |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 2,272 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
Not every 2025 Ford Bronco is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific SUV is included.
What's the safety risk?
An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury during a crash. There is no warning sign before this failure. If your VIN is included, contact a franchised Ford dealer for repair timing. Repair will be free at any franchised Ford dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2025 Ford Bronco is included in this recall.
- Use Ford's owner letter mailed October 3, 2025, then contact a franchised Ford dealer about the free repair.
- Ask the dealer about the passenger air bag module replacement that clears the vent-flap interference so the passenger air bag can deploy as intended.
- Reference recall number 25V396 when you call, or call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 with questions.
- Drive with extra caution until the repair is complete, because the passenger air bag does not deploy as intended in a crash.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Ford technician will replace the passenger air bag module so the passenger air bag can deploy as intended. The final dealer repair will be free once available, with parts and labor covered under the recall. Ford used its general reimbursement plan for this campaign. If you already paid for a related passenger air bag module repair before the recall notice, ask Ford customer service or the dealer service desk how to submit documented expenses under that plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| June 13, 2025 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| June 16, 2025 | Dealer notification began |
| June 16, 2025 | Dealer notification ended |
| June 16, 2025 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| July 28, 2025 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| October 3, 2025 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 25V396?
Recall 25V396 covers 2,272 2025 Ford Bronco vehicles with a passenger-side active vent flap that can block the passenger air bag from deploying as intended. That air bag defect increases injury risk during a crash. Ford dealers will replace the passenger air bag module for free.
What should I do if my 2025 Ford Bronco is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Bronco is included in recall 25V396. If it is, contact a franchised Ford dealer to schedule the passenger air bag module replacement. Reference Ford recall number 25C27 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Ford's remedy for recall 25V396 says dealers will replace the passenger air bag module free of charge at any franchised Ford dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk in recall 25V396 is that the passenger air bag can fail to deploy as intended during a crash. That increases the risk of injury for the front passenger. The fix is replacement of the passenger air bag module by a Ford dealer.
When did Ford mail owner notices for this Bronco recall?
Ford mailed owner notification letters for recall 25V396 on October 3, 2025. If you bought the Bronco used or never received a letter, the VIN still decides whether the recall applies. Check your VIN, then call a Ford dealer if it is included.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/25V396000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-866-436-7332 |
| NHTSA recall # | 25V396 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 25V396000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 19, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →