Ford recalls 565,000 Broncos over wiring fire risk

Ford recalled 565,691 U.S. Broncos and Bronco Raptors on Friday over an engine-compartment wiring harness defect that can short circuit and raise the risk of fire. The recall covers 2021 through 2026 model-year vehicles built from Sept. 23, 2020, through June 28, 2026.

Ford and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimate about 1% of the recalled SUVs may actually have the defect, but the consequence can be severe. The wiring problem can lead to smoke, warning messages or flames. Ford said it was not aware of any crashes or injuries tied to the issue when the recall was announced.

Owner notification letters are expected to begin mailing on Aug. 24. Once drivers are notified, dealers are expected to inspect the affected Broncos and, if needed, repair or replace the wiring harness or related components.

The filing carries Ford recall number 26S55 and NHTSA recall number 26V-468. It adds another large electrical-system safety action for Ford at a time when the Bronco remains one of the automaker’s most visible revived nameplates and one of its most closely watched SUV launches.

The recall also follows Ford’s April 22 action on more than 140,000 U.S. vehicles over damaged wires, giving the company a second major wiring-related safety problem in a little more than three months. For Ford Motor Company, based in Dearborn, Michigan, the pattern increases pressure to show that it can catch defects quickly, notify owners clearly and move vehicles through repairs before small faults become fire hazards.

NHTSA’s filing in Washington lays out the scale of the problem and the repair plan, but the immediate burden falls on owners of Bronco and Bronco Raptor models. Even with the defect estimated at only 1% of the recalled population, the scope of the campaign shows how a narrow wiring flaw can trigger a six-figure safety response.