Ford has issued rare “Do Not Drive” instructions under two separate 2026 safety recalls involving certain Transit vans, Bronco Sport SUVs and Maverick pickups.
These warnings are much more urgent than the instructions issued with a typical vehicle recall. Owners whose vehicle identification numbers appear in either campaign are being told to stop driving immediately and arrange an inspection through a Ford dealership.
One recall involves a brake-pedal assembly that could disconnect and cause a loss of normal braking in certain 2025 Ford Transit vans. The other covers a suspension defect that could allow a front ball joint to separate in selected Bronco Sport and Maverick vehicles, potentially causing the driver to lose control.
The recalls do not include every vehicle from the listed models or model years. Owners must check their individual 17-character VIN through Ford’s recall lookup service or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration before determining whether their vehicle is affected.
Why a “Do Not Drive” Warning Is Different
Most safety recalls allow owners to continue using their vehicles while waiting for an appointment, sometimes with additional precautions.
A “Do Not Drive” advisory is issued when the defect could create an immediate and unusually serious safety risk. The owner should not drive the vehicle to the dealership unless Ford or the dealer specifically confirms that doing so is safe.
For these recalls, Ford is offering dealer-coordinated towing and, where available, mobile inspections at the owner’s location. The company says the inspections and necessary repairs will be completed without charge.
The First Recall Covers Certain 2025 Ford Transit Vans
Ford announced the Transit advisory in February 2026. It covers approximately 15,900 Transit vehicles from the 2025 model year in the United States.
The affected vans were built at Ford’s Kansas City Assembly Plant between January 21 and April 25, 2025. The recall appears under Ford reference number 26C07 and NHTSA campaign number 26V090.
The problem involves the mechanical connection between the brake pedal and the brake-booster pushrod. Ford says some vans may have been assembled without the cotter pin and retainer clip needed to secure that connection.
If those components are missing, the pushrod can loosen. Under heavy pressure on the brake pedal, it could disconnect entirely, causing the driver to lose the normal service-brake function and significantly increasing the risk of a crash.
A Loose Brake Pedal May Be an Early Warning
Ford says a driver may notice that the brake pedal feels unusually loose or wobbly before the pushrod disconnects.
However, the NHTSA filing states that there may be no dependable advance warning. Owners should therefore not assume that a Transit is safe simply because the pedal currently feels normal.
Ford identified three warranty reports and two field reports associated with the issue during its investigation. The automaker said it was not aware of any related crashes or injuries when the recall documentation was filed.
A permanent remedy is already available. Dealers will inspect the brake-pedal and brake-booster connection and install any missing components. Ford says affected owners should use mobile service or dealer-arranged towing rather than driving the van to the dealership.
The Second Warning Covers Bronco Sport and Maverick Vehicles
Ford issued a separate “Do Not Drive” advisory in June 2026 for approximately 4,653 vehicles in the United States and federal territories.
The campaign includes selected 2021 through 2026 Ford Bronco Sport SUVs and 2022 through 2026 Ford Maverick pickups. It is identified as Ford recall 26S36 and NHTSA recall 26V340.
According to the NHTSA filing, the affected population includes approximately 2,296 Bronco Sport vehicles and 2,357 Mavericks. These vehicles were not manufactured in a continuous VIN sequence, so the model and year alone cannot confirm whether a particular vehicle is recalled.
The Suspension Joint Could Separate While Driving
The defect involves the connection between the front lower control arm ball joint and the wheel knuckle.
Ford determined that the ball-joint stud may not have been inserted fully into the knuckle before its pinch bolt was secured. Some later vehicles may also have been flagged for an in-plant repair but shipped before that repair was properly completed.
If the joint is only partially engaged, it can separate while the vehicle is moving. Separation may cause a front wheel to become severely misaligned and could result in the driver losing steering control.
Ford therefore instructed affected owners to stop driving immediately. Dealers will inspect both the left and right front ball-joint connections and complete any required repairs at no cost.
Ford Found Multiple Ball-Joint Separations
Ford began investigating after receiving a warranty claim involving a 2025 Bronco Sport whose left front wheel became misaligned while the vehicle was being driven.
A dealer inspection found that the lower control arm ball joint had separated from the wheel knuckle. Ford later identified another 2025 Bronco Sport in which the customer reported that the front wheel felt as though it had come loose. That vehicle had experienced a similar separation.
The company also identified a potentially related claim involving a 2022 Bronco Sport. Ford said it was not aware of any reported accidents or injuries connected with this condition when the recall was submitted.
Although no crashes had been reported, the potential loss of steering control was considered serious enough to justify the urgent stop-driving instruction.
Not Every Bronco Sport or Maverick Is Affected
The recall applies only to a relatively small group within several model years.
For vehicles manufactured before June 1, 2025, Ford focused on unsold vehicles and newer vehicles whose assembly records or short service history indicated a potential problem. Ford had introduced changes at the assembly station on June 1, 2025, intended to prevent incomplete ball-joint installation.
Some vehicles built after that date are included because they may have entered an in-plant repair process and been released without the work being completed correctly.
Because production dates and model years do not provide enough information by themselves, owners should not rely on a general online model list. A VIN check is the only reliable method for confirming whether the individual vehicle is covered.
Owners Should Not Drive to the Dealership
An owner who finds either recall attached to their VIN should contact an authorized Ford dealer before moving the vehicle.
For the Bronco Sport and Maverick recall, Ford says dealerships can arrange complimentary towing. Mobile inspection may also be available in some locations, allowing dealership personnel to examine the suspension without requiring the owner to drive the vehicle.
Ford has provided similar arrangements for recalled Transit vans, including mobile service, towing and dealer-coordinated repair.
Owners should not attempt to inspect or repair the brake or suspension components themselves. Determining whether the ball-joint stud is seated correctly or whether the brake-pedal hardware is complete may require technical procedures and access to Ford’s repair information.
What Owners Should Check
A Ford vehicle’s VIN is normally visible through the lower driver’s side of the windshield. It can also be found on the registration document, insurance paperwork and driver’s-door label.
Entering the VIN on Ford’s recall page will show safety campaigns attached to that specific vehicle. The NHTSA recall database provides an additional official check for vehicles registered in the United States.
Recall information can change as manufacturers update affected populations and complete repairs. Owners who previously checked their VIN should check again when they receive a notice or become aware of a newly announced campaign.
A vehicle may also have more than one outstanding recall. Completing one repair does not automatically close unrelated campaigns.
Used-Vehicle Buyers Should Check Before Purchase
The advisories are also important for anyone buying a used Transit, Bronco Sport or Maverick.
A used vehicle can be sold with an open safety recall, and the seller may not always know that a campaign remains incomplete. Prospective buyers should run the VIN through both manufacturer and NHTSA databases before completing the purchase.
The recall lookup should show whether the campaign remains open. A Ford dealer can confirm whether the vehicle has passed the required inspection and whether the repair has been recorded in the manufacturer’s system.
A verbal statement that a vehicle is “not affected” should not replace a documented VIN check, particularly when the recall carries a “Do Not Drive” warning.
The Main Safety Message
These recalls involve different defects, but both can interfere with the driver’s ability to control the vehicle.
In the Transit campaign, a missing retaining component could allow the brake pedal to disconnect from the brake-booster pushrod. In the Bronco Sport and Maverick campaign, an incorrectly assembled suspension joint could separate and cause a loss of steering control.
Neither recall covers every vehicle with the listed nameplate. However, owners whose VINs are included should take the warning literally and avoid driving until a Ford dealer completes the inspection.
The repairs are free, and Ford says towing or mobile service is available for affected customers. More information can be found through Ford Owner Support and the NHTSA recall database.
