Ford Recalls 148,000 Mustangs Over Wiring Issue That Risks Loss of Drive Power

The Ford Motor Company has issued a recall of 148,663 Mustang models from 2024 to 2026 for a possible electrical system failure that could result in a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of an accident.

According to a report posted on Aug. 25 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a wiring harness ground connection malfunction could affect the drive power, as well as headlights or the windshield washing system, which can also reduce visibility and possibly result in a crash. Additionally, the wiring issue could affect the vehicle’s air conditioning or engine cooling fan.

Notification letters about safety risks were mailed to owners of potentially affected vehicles on Aug. 31, and additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available. This is anticipated to be by March 31, 2027.  

Owners can also contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332, using the recall number 26C40. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall are now searchable on NHTSA.gov.

Dealers will replace the engine compartment wiring harness ground terminals free of charge.

In its investigation, the Ford team found that heat shrink that can result in broken engine compartment wiring harness ground eyelets had been added to the harness starting with 2024 model-year production. Corrective actions to address the condition were introduced in June.

The automaker found that in affected vehicles, the engine compartment wiring harness ground eyelet terminals could experience fatigue fracture. Depending on which eyelet fractured, the condition could result in a loss of drive power, headlights, air conditioning, cooling fan, or windshield washer fluid pump function.

The NHTSA report indicates that between June and July, the Ford team analyzed potential vehicle failure modes. As of Aug. 4, the team identified eight warranty claims related to this condition.

To date, Ford is not aware of any reports, accidents, or injuries related to this condition, it said.

Meanwhile, a same-day NHTSA report indicated Ford is recalling 10,001 2026 Explorer, Bronco, Bronco Sport, Mustang, and Ranger vehicles for possible loss of drive power from another source. In this instance, the engine piston domes may have been manufactured incorrectly, resulting in piston dome failure.

Dealerships will inspect the engine pistons and replace the engine long block, if necessary, free of charge.

Interim letters regarding the safety risk will be mailed out on Sept. 4, and additional letters will follow once the remedy is available, which could be by December 2026.

Owners of these affected vehicles can contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332, using the recall number 26S61. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall are searchable now on NHTSA.gov.

This issue dates back to March, when certain Explorer and Bronco models experienced engine failure in two different Ford assembly plants.

Ford’s teams worked with the piston supplier to identify the root cause. A subsequent analysis from two independent labs noted that the piston dome malfunction resulted from a bond failure between the piston’s nickel-resistant insert and the piston’s aluminum material.  

In April, the piston supplier traced the bond failure to a machining collision issue on a production line at one of their facilities.

As of Aug. 12, Ford reported 38 engine failures due to the condition. The automaker said it is not aware of any reports of accidents or injuries related to the issue.