Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling ~48,000 model year 2025 Ranger, Mustang, Maverick, and Lincoln Nautilus vehicles. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may fail, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power. Affected vehicles are equipped with suspect Korean-made EGR valves installed in the 2.0-liter Gas, and 2.0-liter Hybrid Engines.
“Customers may initially experience weak acceleration, engine vibration, a no start condition, or a check engine light,” Ford said in the mandatory safety defect filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning. Ford is operating under a consent order from NHTSA because of its previous handing of recalls.*
The remedy is currently unknown, but under development. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, are expected to be mailed today 16 March 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, not anticipated until September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 26S10. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov. for NHTSA recall 26V122 or 26V-122.
*AutoInformed on
Chronology
July – August 2025
- On July 1, 2025, Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group (CCRG) opened an investigation into five (5) warranty claims of Exhaust Gas Return (EGR) valve poppet heads falling off shared by Ford’s Supplier Technical Assistance (STA) team. The five (5) warranty claims occurred at low mileage (all below 6000 miles) on vehicles in regions outside of North America. Initial part tear-down analysis of returned parts indicated inadequate weld penetration at this joint. Ford engineers replicated the concern in a test vehicle. Based on this testing and the customer comments, the investigation team believed loss of motive power could only occur at a low speed (<20 kph).
- On August 22, 2025, Ford’s CCRG team reviewed this concern with the Technical Review Group (TRG). At that time there were six (6) warranty claims, with only one resulting in a loss of motive power. Based on the low projected lifetime failure rate, and the replication testing indicating any loss of motive power occurrence would be at low speeds, an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety was not identified and the CCRG investigation was placed into monitor status.
September 2025 – January 2026
From September 2025 to early January 2026, an additional six (6) potentially related instances of this concern were identified globally, of which four (4) of the claims cited loss of motive power.
January 2026 – February 2026
- On January 13, 2026, CCRG reopened the investigation based on additional instances identified while the issue was being monitored. CCRG reviewed the additional claims and worked with STA to review the supplier’s production data [Korens, Republic of Korea – AutoCrat]from when these newly failed EGR valves were produced to further establish the suspect population. The CCRG also further analyzed the newly received claims, citing loss of motive power. The language in one of these claims was ambiguous, and the CCRG could not rule out the possibility a stall versus a reduction in power occurred at higher speed.
- On February 24, 2026, Ford’s Field Review Committee reviewed the concern and approved a field action. Ford is not aware of any accidents, injuries, or fires related to this concern.
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.
Sudden Power Loss – Ford Motor Recall Parade Persists
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling ~48,000 model year 2025 Ranger, Mustang, Maverick, and Lincoln Nautilus vehicles. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may fail, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power. Affected vehicles are equipped with suspect Korean-made EGR valves installed in the 2.0-liter Gas, and 2.0-liter Hybrid Engines.
“Customers may initially experience weak acceleration, engine vibration, a no start condition, or a check engine light,” Ford said in the mandatory safety defect filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning. Ford is operating under a consent order from NHTSA because of its previous handing of recalls.*
The remedy is currently unknown, but under development. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, are expected to be mailed today 16 March 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, not anticipated until September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 26S10. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov. for NHTSA recall 26V122 or 26V-122.
*AutoInformed on
Chronology
July – August 2025
September 2025 – January 2026
From September 2025 to early January 2026, an additional six (6) potentially related instances of this concern were identified globally, of which four (4) of the claims cited loss of motive power.
January 2026 – February 2026
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.