Recall 26V201 covers 3,170 2025-2026 Ford Maverick and Bronco Sport vehicles for a passenger-seat sensor defect. Free repair once Ford opens it.
Ford is recalling 3,170 2025-2026 Maverick and Bronco Sport vehicles because the occupant classification sensor can misread whether an adult or child is in the front passenger seat. If the sensor reads the seat incorrectly, the passenger air bag can fail to deploy as intended in a crash, increasing injury risk; the Ford dealer repair will be free once 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 Occupant Classification Sensor system in the front passenger seat tells the air bag controller who is sitting there. In affected 2025-2026 Ford Maverick and Bronco Sport vehicles, a bladder in the seat cushion uses pressure to help classify the occupant as an adult, child, or empty seat. That classification helps decide whether the passenger air bag stays active.
The failure starts at the OCS bladder port, where a pressure hose connects to an elbow fitting. On affected vehicles, that connection separates and dielectric fluid leaks out of the bladder system. Ford traced the suspect parts to a specific production window, with the Maverick and Bronco Sport affected because the port shape and bladder shape interact differently on these models. Once the sensor loses pressure, it cannot classify the front passenger correctly.
Owners get warning signs. The dashboard displays the Supplemental Restraint System malfunction light, the driver information center shows a warning, and the passenger air bag telltale displays "Passenger Airbag OFF" with the related ISO symbol.
Who's affected?
Covers Maverick pickups and Bronco Sport SUVs from the 2025 and 2026 model years, with the same front air bag occupant classification system.
| 2025 Ford Maverick | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2026 Ford Maverick | front air bag |
| 2025 Ford Bronco Sport | front air bag |
| 2026 Ford Bronco Sport | front air bag |
| Units affected | 3,170 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the sensor fails to correctly detect a passenger, the air bag can fail to deploy as intended, increasing injury risk during a crash. Watch for the SRS light, a driver information center warning, or the Passenger Airbag OFF telltale, and schedule service soon. Repair will be free at any franchised Ford dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2025-2026 Ford Maverick or Bronco Sport is included in this recall.
- Watch for Ford's final remedy letter before scheduling the repair; interim safety-risk letters were mailed April 10, 2026.
- Call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 with questions and reference recall number 26V201 and Ford recall 26C19.
- Ask a franchised Ford dealer when the free passenger-seat occupant classification sensor replacement opens, since the sensor error can stop the passenger air bag from deploying as intended.
- Use caution with the front passenger seat until the repair is complete, especially when carrying an adult or child passenger.
What happens at the repair
Ford has not opened the final dealer remedy yet. Interim owner letters were mailed April 10, 2026, and Ford expects additional letters when the final repair is available. Once the remedy opens, a Ford technician will replace the passenger seat occupant classification sensor. The final dealer repair will be free once available. Ford's standard reimbursement plan applies to documented owner-paid repairs made before the recall notice. If you paid for a related sensor repair, keep the invoice and ask Ford customer service or the dealer how to submit the claim.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| March 31, 2026 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 2, 2026 | Dealer notification began |
| April 2, 2026 | Dealer notification ended |
| April 2, 2026 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| April 13, 2026 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 26V201?
Recall 26V201 covers 3,170 2025-2026 Ford Maverick and Bronco Sport vehicles with a front passenger occupant classification sensor defect. The sensor can fail to correctly detect an adult or child in the front passenger seat, which affects air bag deployment. Ford dealers will replace the sensor for free once the final repair opens.
What should I do if my 2025-2026 Ford Maverick or Bronco Sport is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 26V201. If it is, contact a franchised Ford dealer or Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 and reference Ford recall number 26C19. Ask what interim guidance applies until the final sensor replacement is available.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Ford dealers will replace the front passenger occupant classification sensor free of charge once the final remedy is available.
What is the safety risk in recall 26V201?
The safety risk is that the front passenger air bag can fail to deploy as intended. If the occupant classification sensor does not correctly detect an adult or child in the front passenger seat, the air bag response can be wrong, which increases injury risk in a crash.
When will Ford notify owners about recall 26V201?
Ford mailed interim owner letters on April 10, 2026 to explain the safety risk. Ford expects to send additional letters once the final remedy is available, anticipated in November 2026.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/26V201000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-866-436-7332 |
| NHTSA recall # | 26V201 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 26V201000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (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 →