Ford Bronco Sport Ball Joint Recall — When the Wheel Can Let Go
Ford has put the defect on the record: NHTSA campaign 26V340000 covers front lower control arm ball joints that may have been incorrectly installed or repaired at the assembly plant, allowing the control arm to disconnect from the front wheel knuckle. Ford's instruction is blunt — do not drive the vehicle until it's fixed. When a manufacturer concedes a defect that can take a wheel out of your control, RockPoint Law's attorneys pursue a buyback, replacement, or cash settlement.
Home › Recalls › FORD › BRONCO SPORT
Ford is recalling certain 2021–2026 Bronco Sport and 2022–2026 Maverick vehicles because the front lower control arm ball joints may have been incorrectly installed or incorrectly repaired at the assembly plant, allowing the control arm to disconnect from the front wheel knuckle (NHTSA 26V340000, reported May 27, 2026). Ford's guidance is unusually serious: owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and repair the front lower ball joints as necessary, free of charge. A recall is the manufacturer admitting in writing that the vehicle was sold defective. If Ford cannot make the vehicle right in a reasonable time, or the fix doesn't hold, your state's Lemon Law and the federal warranty acts may entitle you to a refund, a replacement vehicle, or cash, and RockPoint Law pursues that claim directly against Ford.
The official NHTSA filing
| NHTSA Campaign | 26V340000 |
|---|---|
| Date Reported | May 27, 2026 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles Affected | 4,653 (all models in the campaign) |
| Models Covered | Ford Bronco Sport and Ford Maverick |
| Model Years | 2021–2026 Bronco Sport; 2022–2026 Maverick |
| Defect | Front lower control arm ball joints may be incorrectly installed or repaired, allowing the control arm to disconnect from the front wheel knuckle |
| Manufacturer Remedy | Do not drive; dealers inspect and repair the front lower ball joints as necessary, free of charge |
| Ford Customer Service | 1-866-436-7332 (Ford recall no. 26S36) |
| Safety Severity | Do Not Drive |
Can I keep driving while I wait for the repair?
No — NHTSA has issued a Do Not Drive warning for this recall. FORD is advising owners to stop driving affected vehicles until the free recall repair is completed. A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. Arrange the repair before driving again, and ask the dealer about a loaner or alternative transportation while you wait.
A joint that holds the wheel on, and can come apart
The front lower ball joint is the pivot that connects the control arm to the wheel knuckle — the part that lets the wheel steer and travel while staying firmly attached to the suspension. In this recall, Ford concedes that those ball joints “may have been incorrectly installed or incorrectly repaired at the vehicle assembly plant, allowing the control arm to disconnect from the front wheel knuckle.” In plain terms: the wheel can separate from the suspension.
Ford's filing does not soften the stakes. “A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.” A control arm that lets go while you're cornering, braking, or carrying passengers at speed can pull the vehicle in a direction you never asked for, with no warning.
What sets this recall apart is Ford's own instruction: owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is completed. Manufacturers reserve a do-not-drive warning for defects judged dangerous enough that continued use is a risk in itself. By filing 26V340000, Ford has formally acknowledged these Bronco Sports and Mavericks left the line with a suspension defect. Whether the inspect-and-repair remedy fully restores a vehicle you can trust is exactly the question a Lemon Law claim is built to test.
Parked because Ford says don't drive your Bronco Sport? A do-not-drive recall on a daily-use vehicle is the kind of substantial impairment that most often turns a recall into a claim. Let our attorneys review your service history.
Free Case Review →Why a do-not-drive recall strengthens your hand
Owners are right to feel that a vehicle they can't safely drive isn't the vehicle they paid for. That instinct is also the legal heart of a Lemon Law claim.
A recall obligates Ford to attempt a free repair — nothing more. It does not refund you, replace your Bronco Sport, or compensate you for the weeks you couldn't use it. A Lemon Law claim is your personal right to a real remedy when that repair comes up short or takes too long. The recall is the evidence; the claim is what turns that evidence into a check.
Most state Lemon Laws and the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act require three things, and a do-not-drive suspension recall helps satisfy the first two before you ever reach the dealer:
- A substantial defect — a ball joint that can let the control arm disconnect — and that Ford says makes the vehicle unsafe to drive at all — strikes safety, value, and the basic use of the vehicle.
- The manufacturer's knowledge — recall 26V340000 is Ford's written admission, on the record, that the front lower ball joints may be defective.
- A reasonable number of failed repair attempts — this is the part you build — by documenting every dealer visit, the time without your vehicle, and any steering, clunking, or alignment symptom that appears before or after the fix.
Protect the vehicle, and the record
Owners who recover the most treat every dealer visit and every day off the road as evidence. Here is the path that keeps your options open:
- Step 1 · Stop
Heed the do-not-drive warning
Ford advises against driving the vehicle until it's repaired. Check your 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov or call Ford at 1-866-436-7332 (Ford recall 26S36). Arrange dealer service and, if needed, ask about transportation while you wait.
- Step 2 · Document
Get the repair order — in writing
Keep the repair order showing the date, mileage, what the dealer found, parts replaced, the recall number, and every day the vehicle was unavailable. Loss of use is part of the harm, and the record of it matters to any later claim.
- Step 3 · Observe
Watch the front end after the fix
After the ball joints are inspected and repaired, watch for any clunking over bumps, loose or wandering steering, uneven tire wear, or alignment pulls. If a symptom appears, log the date, mileage, and what you felt — a suspension defect that returns is exactly what to capture.
- Step 4 · Act
If Ford can't make it right, call counsel
If the repair drags on, the defect returns, or you've lost the use of your vehicle for an unreasonable stretch, you may qualify for a buyback, replacement, or cash. That's when it stops being your problem and becomes ours.
Lost the use of your Bronco Sport while Ford sorts out a fix? Time without a safe vehicle is compensable harm. Send us your service records and we'll tell you where you stand, free.
Talk to an Attorney →Ford Bronco Sport recall & Lemon Law questions
Does the Bronco Sport ball-joint recall automatically make my vehicle a lemon?
No. Recall 26V340000 is Ford conceding the front lower ball joints may be defective — strong evidence, but not the whole case. Whether your Bronco Sport is a lemon depends on two more things: that the defect substantially impairs the vehicle, and that Ford can't put it right in a reasonable number of attempts or a reasonable time. A do-not-drive warning that keeps you off the road, or a suspension symptom that returns after the fix, is what tips it into a claim. We review your records and tell you if you've crossed that line.
Ford says don't drive it — what about the time I can't use my vehicle?
Loss of use is real harm, and it can factor into a Lemon Law or warranty claim. Keep a record of the dates your vehicle was unavailable, any rental or transportation costs, and what the dealer told you about timing. If the period without a safe vehicle becomes unreasonable, that strengthens your position.
My Maverick is in the same recall — does this apply to me too?
Yes. NHTSA campaign 26V340000 covers certain 2021–2026 Bronco Sport and 2022–2026 Maverick vehicles for the same front lower ball joint defect. The surest way to know if yours is included is to check your 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov or call Ford at 1-866-436-7332 and reference recall 26S36. If your VIN is included, the inspection and repair are free, and the same Lemon Law analysis applies.
What does it cost to have RockPoint Law review my case?
Nothing to start. Your case review is free and confidential. In most Lemon Law and warranty matters the manufacturer pays attorney's fees if your claim succeeds, so you can pursue Ford without paying us out of pocket. Lemon Law eligibility depends on the specific facts of your case.
Bronco Sport sidelined by a do-not-drive recall?
Find out quickly whether you may be entitled to a refund, a new vehicle, or a cash award. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Get My Free Case Review →