Ford Ranger Hit with Second Recall in 2 Weeks as Seat Bolt Issue Also Snags Bronco
Ford’s 2024–2026 Ranger gets recalled again, and this time the Bronco is part of the problem too.
It might be time to start naming the vehicles Ford hasn’t recalled so far in 2026, because the list would be very short. Now, its popular midsize body-on-frame vehicles, the Ranger and Bronco, are part of a recall involving loose seat bolts that affects nearly 180,000 vehicles. Worse, this is the second recall issued for the Blue Oval’s midsize pickup in less than a month.
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Wait, Didn’t the Ranger Get Recalled a Couple of Weeks Ago?
Owners of the 2024–2026 Ford Ranger are having a rough stretch. Ford’s midsize pickup has now been hit with two major recalls just days apart. The first, issued April 14, involved the sun visor or headliner wiring harness, which could potentially catch fire. According to Ford, the harness may have been improperly positioned, or the tape used to secure it may have been too thick. Either condition could damage the harness, creating excessive heat or sparks that could lead to a fire.
If you’re one of the 140,201 affected owners, you should have already received a recall notice explaining that repairs will be carried out in phases by model year. Phase one covers the 2025 Ranger, with notices set to go out by May 31. Phase two applies to 2026 models by June 29, while phase three will notify 2024 owners by July 27.
New Recall for Seat Bolts
Now, both the Ranger and Bronco are facing another safety issue. The height-adjust pivot link bolts in both front seats may be loose or missing altogether. If that happens, the seat could move during a crash and increase the risk of injury. Ford says it has not received any reports of injuries related to the defect.
The recall affects 179,698 vehicles in total, including 117,443 Broncos and 62,255 Rangers.
Owners who hear squeaking or rattling from the seat, or notice that it feels loose, may be seeing early signs of the problem. Even so, all affected owners will receive a recall notice. Ford has not yet finalized a repair but expects to have a remedy ready by July, with owner notification letters scheduled between July 13 and 17.
The fix will require dealers to remove both front seats, inspect the height-adjust link pivot bolts, and replace the bolts and links if they are found to be out of specification. As with any recall, the repair will be done free of charge. Owners who previously paid to replace those parts may also be eligible for reimbursement, although those repairs likely would have fallen within the warranty period for both the Ranger and Bronco.
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Having experience in many forms of the automotive industry, Justin Banner has done more than just write about cars. For more than 15 years, he's had experience working as an automotive service technician—including a stint as a Virginia State Inspector—service advisor, parts sales, and aftermarket parts technical advisor (a fancy way of saying he helped you on the phone when you had trouble fitting your brakes over your aftermarket wheels and the like). Prior to his tenure as a full-time editor, Justin worked as a freelance writer and photographer for various publications and as an automotive content creator on YouTube. He’s also covered multiple forms of motorsports ranging from Formula Drift, drag racing, and time attack, to NASCAR, short course off-roading, and open desert racing. He's best known for breaking down complex technical concepts so a layperson can more easily understand why technologies, repairs, and parts should matter to them. At MotorTrend, Justin is part of the news team covering breaking news and topics while also working as a judge for MotorTrend Of the Year events and other major comparison tests.
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