Recall 25V397 affects 27,768 2025 Ford Bronco SUVs for a rear-door child safety lock defect. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
Ford is recalling 27,768 2025 Bronco four-door vehicles because the left-hand rear door can open from inside the vehicle when the child safety lock is turned on. If the lock does not hold, a child or passenger can open the rear door unintentionally, which raises the risk of injury; Ford dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The child safety lock on the 2025 Ford Bronco four-door rear door is built into the side door latch. When the lock is set to "ON," it is supposed to block the inside rear door handle so a passenger in the back seat cannot open that door from inside the vehicle. The outside handle still controls normal entry from outside.
On affected Broncos, the problem is in the left-hand rear door latch area. Ford found that the latch and nearby inner door parts do not have enough clearance on some vehicles, which creates binding inside the child safety lock mechanism. That binding distorts the latch mechanism, so the left rear door can open from the inside even when the child safety lock is turned on.
There is no warning sign before failure. The owner-facing check is simple: with the vehicle parked, set the left rear child safety lock to "ON" and confirm the inside handle no longer opens that door.
Who's affected?
| 2025 Ford Bronco | Lock |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 27,768 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific SUV is included.
What's the safety risk?
A rear child safety lock that does not hold can let the rear door open unintentionally, increasing injury risk for rear-seat passengers. Keep children secured and schedule the latch inspection soon. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2025 Ford Bronco is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Ford dealer to schedule the free rear door latch inspection and replacement that addresses the child-safety-lock defect.
- Bring any Ford recall letter you received, or reference recall number 25V397 and Ford recall 25S64 when you call.
- Keep children away from the left rear door until the repair is complete, and verify the child safety lock before each trip.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Ford technician inspects the left rear door latch and replaces it if needed so the child safety lock works as intended. The recall repair is free, including parts and labor. If you already paid out of pocket for a related rear door latch or child safety lock repair before the recall notice, Ford's standard reimbursement plan covers documented expenses. Bring receipts or repair paperwork to the service desk and ask how to submit the claim under recall 25S64.
| 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. |
| June 27, 2025 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 25V397?
Recall 25V397 covers 27,768 2025 Ford Bronco four-door vehicles with a rear-door child safety lock concern. The left-hand rear door can open from inside the vehicle when the child safety lock is set to ON, increasing injury risk. Ford dealers will inspect and replace the rear door latch 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 25V397. If it is, contact a franchised Ford dealer to schedule the rear door latch inspection and replacement. Reference recall 25V397 or Ford recall 25S64 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires Ford to perform the recall repair at no cost. A franchised Ford dealer will inspect the rear door latch and replace it, if needed, free of charge.
Is it safe to drive my 2025 Ford Bronco?
The recall does not include a do-not-drive instruction. The safety concern is the left-hand rear door opening unintentionally from inside the vehicle while the child safety lock is set to ON, which increases injury risk. Until the repair is complete, confirm the rear door is latched before driving.
When did Ford notify owners about this Bronco recall?
Ford mailed owner notification letters on June 27, 2025. If you own a used Bronco or never received a letter, check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included, then contact a franchised Ford dealer for the free repair.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/25V397000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-866-436-7332 |
| NHTSA recall # | 25V397 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 25V397000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (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 →