Ford Motor Company has issued a critical “Do Not Drive” advisory in the United States, urging owners of specific Bronco Sport SUVs to stop driving their vehicles immediately due to a severe factory defect that could cause the front suspension to fall apart.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published the notice after it was discovered that critical components could separate while the vehicle is in motion, leading to a complete loss of steering control.
The Defect: Suspension at Risk of Detaching
According to the official safety recall report, the front lower control arm ball joints on affected vehicles may have been incorrectly installed or improperly repaired at the assembly plant.
This error means the ball stud may only be partially engaged with the wheel knuckle. Over time, the lower front ball joint can completely disconnect from the wheel knuckle while driving. If this separation occurs while the vehicle is moving, the driver faces an immediate loss of control, severely increasing the risk of a high-speed crash.
Vehicles Impacted
The targeted recall impacts a combined total of 4,653 vehicles in the United States, which includes both compact SUVs and trucks. The specific model years include:
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2021–2026 Ford Bronco Sport (2,296 units)
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2022–2026 Ford Maverick (2,357 units)
Note: This specific suspension-related “Do Not Drive” warning specifically targets the Bronco Sport line built before June 1, 2025, rather than the full-sized Ford Bronco.
What Affected Owners Need to Do
Because of the severity of the steering loss risk, Ford is telling customers not to drive these vehicles to the dealership. Instead, the automaker is offering two immediate accommodation choices:
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Complimentary Towing: Ford will cover all costs to tow the vehicle directly to a Ford or Lincoln dealership for inspection.
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Mobile Service Reps: Where available, dealership personnel will travel directly to the owner’s home or location to inspect and secure the vehicle on-site.
Dealers will visually check the front lower control arm ball joint assemblies on both sides and properly secure or replace the hardware entirely free of charge.
How to Check Your Vehicle
Ford has already begun sending notification letters to owners, with delivery expected to conclude by June 5.
To immediately find out if your vehicle is compromised, locate your 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and input it into the official Ford Support Recalls portal (ford.com/support/recalls) or the official NHTSA.gov/recalls database. Owners can also reach out to Ford Customer Service directly at 1-866-436-7332 referencing recall number 26S36