Ford announced a recall of 229,609 2025‑2026 Bronco and Bronco Sport vehicles after a software flaw in the instrument panel cluster caused warning lights and speed indicators to fail to illuminate at startup. The recall, which began on November 18, 2025, will affect all 2025‑2026 model‑year Broncos and Bronco Sports that were built with the defective software.
The defect stems from a memory‑protection fault that occurs during the cluster’s sleep‑entry sequence, preventing the instrument panel from displaying critical information. Because the warning lights and speedometer may not function, drivers could be unaware of vehicle status, raising safety concerns. Ford’s engineering team identified the root cause and has developed a software update that restores proper display functionality.
Owners of affected vehicles will receive a free software update, which can be installed at a Ford dealership or delivered via an over‑the‑air (OTA) update. The recall is covered under NHTSA campaign 25V540 and Ford’s internal recall number 25SC3. As of November 7, 2025, Ford had received 12 warranty claims related to the display issue, but no injuries have been reported, indicating that the defect has not yet caused accidents.
The recall follows a string of recent safety actions, including a 740,000‑vehicle recall for camera, steering, and seatbelt issues and a 355,000‑truck recall for a similar instrument‑panel software defect in August 2025. Ford’s Q3 2025 earnings showed strong liquidity, with $33 billion in cash and $54 billion in total liquidity, giving the company the financial capacity to absorb the recall costs. The software‑based fix limits the expense to labor and OTA infrastructure, reducing the impact on margins compared to recalls that require physical part replacements.
From a brand‑trust perspective, the recall underscores Ford’s ongoing quality challenges, but the prompt, free remedy and absence of injuries mitigate reputational damage. The company’s CEO, Jim Farley, has emphasized a renewed focus on quality and cost control, suggesting that the recall will be viewed as a corrective measure rather than a systemic failure. The recall’s timing—just after a major earnings release—may influence investor perception of Ford’s operational resilience, but the low cost of the fix and the company’s strong balance sheet support a neutral to slightly negative sentiment overall.
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