Recall 26V268 affects 179,698 2024-2026 Ford Ranger and Bronco vehicles for loose front-seat pivot bolts. Free repair at a franchised Ford dealer once available.
Ford is recalling 179,698 2024-2026 Ranger and Bronco vehicles because a front seat height-adjust pivot bolt can be loose or dislodged. A dislodged bolt can leave the seat unable to properly restrain an occupant in a crash, raising the risk of injury; the Ford dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The front seat height-adjust pivot link on affected 2024-2026 Ford Ranger and Bronco vehicles is part of the seat frame that lets the seat move up or down and stay locked in position. Its pivot bolt is a critical fastener because it holds that height-adjust linkage to the seat structure while the vehicle is moving.
Ford found that a supplier torque check was done before the adhesive patch on the bolt threads was fully cured. That adhesive patch is the locking material that helps keep the bolt from backing out. With vibration from normal road loads, the weakened locking material can let the pivot bolt loosen over time and eventually dislodge from the pivot joint on one or both front seats.
Owners with this condition can hear squeaks, feel looseness, or notice rattles from a front seat. Those are warning signs that the seat frame hardware is not staying tight.
Who's affected?
Includes Ranger pickup trucks and Bronco SUVs from 2024-2026, all tied to the same front height adjust seat linkage.
| 2026 Ford Ranger | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| 2025 Ford Ranger | seat assembly |
| 2024 Ford Ranger | seat assembly |
| 2026 Ford Bronco | seat assembly |
| 2025 Ford Bronco | seat assembly |
| 2024 Ford Bronco | seat assembly |
| Units affected | 179,698 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 61 field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle.
What's the safety risk?
A dislodged seat bolt can keep the seat from properly restraining an occupant in a crash, increasing injury risk. Squeaks, looseness, or rattles from the seat deserve prompt dealer attention. Schedule the inspection soon, and avoid using a loose seat until the dealer checks it. Repair will be free at any franchised Ford dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2024-2026 Ford Ranger or Bronco is included in this recall.
- Wait for Ford's follow-up owner letter before scheduling the final repair; interim safety-risk letters were mailed May 11, 2026.
- Contact a franchised Ford dealer after the final remedy opens to schedule the free seat-frame pivot-link and bolt inspection, which addresses the loose seat height-adjust bolt.
- Reference recall number 26V268 and Ford recall 26S30 when you call Ford customer service or the dealer.
- Use extra care with front-seat occupants until the repair is complete, since a loose seat-frame bolt can reduce crash restraint protection.
What happens at the repair
Ford has not opened the final remedy yet. Once the remedy opens, a Ford technician will inspect the front seat frame height-adjust pivot links and bolts, then replace the pivot links and bolts as needed. Parts and labor will be free under the recall. Ford expected interim owner letters on May 11, 2026, with additional letters after the final remedy is available, anticipated in July 2026. Ford uses its standard reimbursement plan for owners who already paid for related repairs. Keep receipts and ask Ford customer service or the dealer how to submit documentation.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| April 28, 2026 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 29, 2026 | Dealer notification began |
| April 30, 2026 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| May 1, 2026 | Dealer notification ended |
| May 11, 2026 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 26V268?
Recall 26V268 covers 179,698 2024-2026 Ford Ranger and Bronco vehicles with front seats that have a loose or dislodged seat-frame height-adjust pivot bolt. In a crash, the seat can fail to properly restrain an occupant, increasing injury risk.
What should I do if my 2024-2026 Ford Ranger or Bronco is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 26V268. If it is, contact a franchised Ford dealer or Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 and reference Ford recall 26S30. The final dealer repair is free once Ford opens it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Ford dealers will inspect the front-seat pivot hardware and replace the pivot links and bolts when needed, free of charge, once the final remedy is available.
What is the safety risk in recall 26V268?
The safety risk is that a front seat with a dislodged pivot bolt can fail to properly restrain an occupant during a crash. That increases the risk of injury. Ford's repair path is a dealer inspection with pivot-link and bolt replacement when needed.
When will Ford send repair instructions for recall 26V268?
Ford mailed interim owner letters on May 11, 2026, to explain the safety risk. Ford plans to send additional letters once the final remedy is available, anticipated in July 2026. Keep your contact information current with Ford and confirm inclusion by VIN.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/26V268000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-866-436-7332 |
| NHTSA recall # | 26V268 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 26V268000 |
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 →