03:18 04-06-2026

Ford Recalls 1,536 Bronco, Explorer and Ranger: 2.3L Engines Need a Long Block Swap

Recall 26S35 affects 408 Bronco, 895 Explorer and 233 Ranger units in the U.S. Ford has halted deliveries and dealers will replace the long block free of charge.

Ford has announced the recall of 1,536 Bronco, Explorer and Ranger vehicles from the 2025–2026 model years in the United States. The campaign has been assigned number 26S35: every vehicle on the list is fitted with the 2.3-liter engine, in which a roller follower in the valvetrain may have been improperly installed at the assembly plant.

The defect sounds technical, but the consequences are straightforward and unpleasant: the engine starts making noise, with knocking or ticking sounds, a minor oil leak is possible, and the Check Engine light comes on. In the worst case, the engine fails outright and the vehicle loses motive power while driving. NHTSA explicitly notes that a sudden loss of power increases the risk of a crash.

The list covers 408 Bronco, 895 Explorer and 233 Ranger units. By production date, that means Broncos built between July 24, 2024 and April 26, 2026, Explorers built from February 5, 2024 to May 1, 2026, and Rangers built from February 2, 2025 to April 9, 2026.

Ford has already barred dealers from demonstrating or delivering any new vehicles caught up in the campaign. The repair will be free of charge for customers: dealers will replace the engine’s long block. The first owner notifications are scheduled to go out on June 15–17, but full instructions and parts availability are not expected until November 30, 2026.

According to Ford’s own data, as of May 6 the company is aware of 12 cases, including 9 warranty claims and 3 field reports. No crashes, injuries or fires related to the defect have been recorded.

What makes this recall particularly painful is the scale of the repair. There’s no quick software update or sensor swap here: a portion of nearly new Fords is effectively in line for major engine surgery.