Blog · Recall alert · 2026-10-16
[HIGH] RECALL ALERT: 2025–2027 Ford F-150: front seats may not be properly bolted to the truck
Free VIN check · US assembly
Free VIN check — was it assembled in the US?
Paste the 17-character VIN. This reads NHTSA PlantCountry. It is a data check, not tax advice, and it does not decide whether any loan is deductible.
Severity: HIGH Severity: HIGH (orange). Why: per NHTSA campaign 26V655000, “an improperly secured seat may not adequately restrain the seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.” A crash-injury risk from an occupant-restraint problem falls under HIGH. NHTSA’s record does not set a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory.
Check your VIN free at Assembly Alert →
At a glance
Severity: HIGH
| Severity | Severity: HIGH HIGH |
| NHTSA campaign | 26V655000 |
| Ford recall number | 26S74 |
| Vehicles | Certain 2025–2027 Ford F-150 pickups built at Ford’s Dearborn assembly plant |
| Units affected | 2,276 (Ford estimates about 1% of the involved population have the defect; Ford’s dealer bulletin lists a U.S. population of 2,259) |
| Production dates | August 25, 2025 – September 23, 2026 |
| Risk | The driver and front-passenger seat-to-body bolts may be improperly torqued or missing. A front seat that is not properly secured may have degraded seat stability and occupant restraint performance in a crash, increasing the risk of injury |
| Warning to driver | Seat movement felt by the occupant, or noise from the unsecured seat |
| Remedy | Dealers will inspect the front seat-to-body bolts and tighten them to specification, replacing any that are missing, free of charge. Ford lists mobile repair and vehicle pickup & delivery as options for this recall |
| Manufacturer report date | October 6, 2026 |
| NHTSA acknowledgment | October 15, 2026 |
| Dealer notification | October 9, 2026 (Safety Recall 26S74; new-vehicle demonstration/delivery hold) |
| Owner notification | Letters expected to be mailed October 26, 2026 (Part 573 window Oct 26–30, 2026; Ford’s dealer bulletin says the week of October 19, 2026 or sooner) |
| VINs searchable on NHTSA.gov | October 9, 2026 |
| Component | Front seat-to-body bolt (Ford part W718633-S451) and front seat bolt covers; NHTSA component SEATS |
| Do-not-drive / park-outside | No / No (`parkIt` false; `parkOutSide` false). Ford has not issued stop-driving instructions for this recall |
What happened
On October 6, 2026, Ford Motor Company notified NHTSA of safety recall 26V655 (campaign 26V655000; Ford recall 26S74), subject: “Front Row Seats Improperly Secured.”
According to Ford’s Part 573 Safety Recall Report, the affected trucks “are equipped with front seat-to-body bolts that may not be properly secured.” A front seat that is not properly secured to the body “may affect seat stability and occupant positioning during normal operation and could affect occupant restraint performance in a crash.”
Ford traced the cause to its plant repair process: when an operator could not secure a seat within the workstation cycle time, the truck was flagged for repair, but “a deviation from Ford’s repair verification process occurred when the assigned Team Leader did not properly confirm the completion of necessary repairs identified during production.” The recall covers trucks that plant records show went through seat-to-body bolt repairs at the plant.
Ford’s chronology says its Critical Concern Review Group reviewed a warranty report on July 9, 2026, describing a 2026 F-150 whose driver seat was missing a front seat-to-body bolt and whose front passenger seat bolt was not fully seated. Ford’s Field Review Committee approved the recall on September 29, 2026. As of July 9, 2026, Ford identified 56 warranty reports and 16 field reports related to improperly secured seats, relating to 62 VINs, received between March 5, 2025, and July 6, 2026. Ford says it is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to this condition.
Which vehicles are included
| Model year | Assembly plant | Build dates (per Ford dealer bulletin) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 F-150 | Dearborn | August 25, 2025 – December 20, 2025 |
| 2026 F-150 | Dearborn | September 18, 2025 – September 23, 2026 |
| 2027 F-150 | Dearborn | July 8, 2026 – July 13, 2026 |
| Total (NHTSA) | 2,276 |
Ford says these trucks “are not produced in VIN order,” so a build date alone does not tell you whether a truck is included. The F-150 Lightning is not listed in this campaign. A VIN check is the way to confirm.
What owners should do now
- Check your VIN at assemblyalert.com/recalls or nhtsa.gov/recalls for campaign 26V655000. VINs became searchable on October 9, 2026.
- Pay attention to your seat. Ford says an unsecured seat can be detected by seat movement you can feel or noise from the seat. If you notice either, contact a Ford or Lincoln dealer promptly.
- Schedule the free repair. Dealers will check that the front seat-to-body bolts are present and torqued, and replace or retighten them as needed at no charge. Ford lists mobile repair and pickup & delivery as options; ask your dealer.
- Don’t wait for the letter. Dealers are told to repair affected vehicles whether or not the owner has received a letter.
- Paid for this repair already? Ford’s reimbursement plan for 26S74 covers qualifying owner-paid repairs performed before November 15, 2026.
- Call Ford customer service: 1-866-436-7332 (recall 26S74). NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline: 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-888-275-9171).
FAQ
Is my F-150 included?
Only certain 2025–2027 F-150 pickups built at Ford’s Dearborn plant between August 25, 2025, and September 23, 2026, are covered: 2,276 trucks in the population Ford reported to NHTSA. Ford says the trucks are not built in VIN order, so use a free VIN check to confirm.
What is the risk?
The front seat-to-body bolts may be loose or missing. Per NHTSA, an improperly secured seat may not adequately restrain the seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Is it safe to drive?
NHTSA’s record does not set a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory, and Ford has not issued stop-driving instructions. Ford’s dealer bulletin says owners should contact their dealer for an appointment to have the truck remedied as soon as practicable; get it checked promptly if a seat moves or makes noise.
What does the fix cost, and when do letters arrive?
The inspection and repair are free. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 26, 2026. Ford customer service: 1-866-436-7332 (recall 26S74).
Check your VIN free
Run a free VIN recall check on Assembly Alert →
Disclaimer
Recall facts here come from NHTSA data: NHTSA’s recalls API and safety-issues API for campaign 26V655000, NHTSA’s acknowledgment letter to Ford Motor Company dated October 15, 2026, Ford’s Part 573 Safety Recall Report dated October 6, 2026, and Ford’s dealer notice for Safety Recall 26S74 dated October 9, 2026. Assembly Alert (assemblyalert.com) is operated by Record of Sale, LLC and is not affiliated with NHTSA or Ford Motor Company. This page is public safety information only and is not legal advice. Verify your vehicle’s status with NHTSA or the manufacturer.
Sources
Calculators · Facts · Homepage VIN checker · Commercials (18+)