A suspension defect in thousands of Ford vehicles has triggered a federal do-not-drive order.
Ford has told owners of certain Bronco Sport and Maverick vehicles to stop driving them immediately, citing a suspension defect that could cause drivers to lose control and increase the risk of a crash. The recall covers 4,653 vehicles and comes with a do-not-drive warning issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
What is wrong with the vehicles
The problem traces back to the front lower control arm ball joints, which may have been incorrectly installed or improperly repaired during assembly at the factory. According to NHTSA, a faulty ball joint can cause the control arm to separate from the front wheel knuckle entirely. When that happens, the driver can lose steering control with little to no warning.
Ford believes the defect is likely to show up early in a vehicle’s life, and the automaker says it is not aware of any accidents or injuries connected to this issue so far. That said, the severity of a potential separation prompted federal safety officials to issue the do-not-drive designation rather than a standard recall notice.
Which Ford vehicles are affected
The recall covers 2,296 Bronco Sport vehicles from model years 2021 through 2026, and 2,357 Maverick trucks from model years 2022 through 2026. Together, those two groups account for the full 4,653 vehicles included in the recall population.
Both models rank among Ford’s more popular compact offerings. The Bronco Sport competes in the small SUV segment, while the Maverick has built a loyal following as an affordable compact pickup. Owners of either vehicle who fall within the affected model year range should verify their status through NHTSA’s recall database at NHTSA.gov, where the recall became searchable on May 29.
What owners should do right now
Ford is asking affected owners not to drive their vehicles until a dealer has inspected and, if necessary, repaired the front lower control arm ball joints. The fix is free of charge at any authorized Ford or Lincoln dealership. Ford has already contacted dealers directly, and owner notification letters are expected to arrive by June 5.
For owners who cannot safely drive to a dealership, Ford says towing costs for getting the vehicle to a service location will also be covered. The company is encouraging owners to coordinate with their local dealer on the most practical way to get the inspection done.
Anyone with questions about the recall can reach Ford’s customer service line at 1-866-436-7332. The NHTSA can also be reached at 1-888-327-4236 for independent information about the recall.
A broader recall week for Ford
The do-not-drive order is not the only recall Ford is managing this week. Separately, the automaker is recalling nearly 420,000 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles from model years 2018 through 2022 over a seat belt issue. In those vehicles, the seat belt may lock without warning, preventing it from retracting or extending properly. A seat belt that fails to function correctly during a crash can increase the risk of injury. Dealers will inspect and replace both front seat belt retractors at no cost to owners.
The two recalls together underscore a difficult stretch for one of the country’s largest automakers. Ford has faced a series of safety actions in recent months, including a separate recall of 1.4 million F-150 pickup trucks over a gearshift problem and an earlier action covering nearly 4,900 Broncos that could roll away unexpectedly.
For Bronco Sport and Maverick owners specifically, the message from Ford and federal safety officials is straightforward. Park the vehicle, contact a dealer, and do not get back behind the wheel until the inspection is complete.