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Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling ~566,000 model year 2021-2026 Bronco and Bronco Raptor vehicles. The Mexican made engine compartment wiring harness may become damaged and short circuit.*
“The problem is caused by insufficient protection on the wiring harness which can lead to exposed wires and short circuiting. In the event of a short, drivers may notice smoke in the air vents or a warning message on their dashboard followed by flames coming from the passenger’s side of the engine compartment,” Ford told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the mandatory safety defect recall filing made public by NHTSA today.
Dealers will install sheathing over the wiring, free of charge as required by U.S. Federal Safety regulations. All “remedied “vehicles will have sufficient protective covering on the engine compartment wiring harness to prevent chafing and future shorts of exposed circuits. Owner notification letters are not expected to be mailed until 24 August 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 26S55. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on 23 July 2026 NHTSA Bronco wiring recall 26V468 or 26V-468.
Chronology
On 18 June 2026: Ford’s Critical Concern Group (CCRG) opened an investigation to review fire events on 2021-2026 model year (MY) Bronco vehicles to combine existing investigatory workstreams. During these investigations, the CCRG identified similarities in certain fire events on 2021-2026MY Bronco vehicles in which some customers observed smoke in the air vent and flames from the passenger side of the engine compartment while driving. Further analysis of these incidents revealed evidence that at least some of the fires originated in the passenger side of the engine compartment. CCRG’s investigation identified seven Bronco Raptor fires and eight base Bronco fires that may have started in the passenger side of the engine compartment.
- CCRG investigated potential root causes for fires originating at this location and found that relative movement between the engine compartment wiring harness and surrounding components and insufficient abrasion protection on the wiring harness can lead to exposure of wiring. After internal harness wires are exposed, intermittent shorts can create arcing and potentially ignite nearby flammable components. Inspections of over 80 Bronco vehicles found evidence of rubbing or chafing on the engine compartment wiring harness covering in a small number of the inspected vehicles.
- CCRG reviewed the differing physical architecture and suspension characteristics between Bronco Raptor and base units. Vehicle reviews, Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) analysis, and vibration testing were conducted to evaluate how these differences affect the underhood environment.
- Assessments on likely movement patterns of the engine compartment wiring harness found that harnesses in Bronco Raptor vehicles are more likely to experience relative chafing contact than harnesses on base Bronco vehicles.
- However, vibration testing on base Bronco resulted in wear levels to the wiring harness covering which still indicate opportunity for eventual exposure of internal circuits. Enhanced protective covering at the wiring harness was introduced into production to address the potential chafing concern.
As of 13 July 2026: Ford is aware 2 warranty reports, 3 field reports, 1 Customer Service Report, 4 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires, and 10 legal claims, representing a total of 15 incidents on 2021- 2026MY Bronco vehicles for which Ford has evidence a fire event may have originated from the engine compartment wiring harness, and which occurred between 15 October 2024 and 20 June 2026.
On 13 July 2026: Ford’s Field Review Committee reviewed the concern and approved a field action aka recall.
*AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Ford Motor Recalls ~566,000 Broncos for Wiring Harness Fires
Click for more.
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling ~566,000 model year 2021-2026 Bronco and Bronco Raptor vehicles. The Mexican made engine compartment wiring harness may become damaged and short circuit.*
“The problem is caused by insufficient protection on the wiring harness which can lead to exposed wires and short circuiting. In the event of a short, drivers may notice smoke in the air vents or a warning message on their dashboard followed by flames coming from the passenger’s side of the engine compartment,” Ford told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the mandatory safety defect recall filing made public by NHTSA today.
Dealers will install sheathing over the wiring, free of charge as required by U.S. Federal Safety regulations. All “remedied “vehicles will have sufficient protective covering on the engine compartment wiring harness to prevent chafing and future shorts of exposed circuits. Owner notification letters are not expected to be mailed until 24 August 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 26S55. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on 23 July 2026 NHTSA Bronco wiring recall 26V468 or 26V-468.
Chronology
On 18 June 2026: Ford’s Critical Concern Group (CCRG) opened an investigation to review fire events on 2021-2026 model year (MY) Bronco vehicles to combine existing investigatory workstreams. During these investigations, the CCRG identified similarities in certain fire events on 2021-2026MY Bronco vehicles in which some customers observed smoke in the air vent and flames from the passenger side of the engine compartment while driving. Further analysis of these incidents revealed evidence that at least some of the fires originated in the passenger side of the engine compartment. CCRG’s investigation identified seven Bronco Raptor fires and eight base Bronco fires that may have started in the passenger side of the engine compartment.
As of 13 July 2026: Ford is aware 2 warranty reports, 3 field reports, 1 Customer Service Report, 4 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires, and 10 legal claims, representing a total of 15 incidents on 2021- 2026MY Bronco vehicles for which Ford has evidence a fire event may have originated from the engine compartment wiring harness, and which occurred between 15 October 2024 and 20 June 2026.
On 13 July 2026: Ford’s Field Review Committee reviewed the concern and approved a field action aka recall.
*AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.