New York, Feb 26, 2026, 07:08 EST — Premarket
- Ford slipped 0.14% before the bell, snapping a two-day winning streak for the stock.
- NHTSA called out a recall affecting roughly 413,000 Explorer SUVs over a risk linked to steering control.
- Investors eye the speed of repairs and any potential impact on costs.
Ford Motor slipped 0.14% to $14.41 ahead of Thursday’s open, following a 1.62% gain to $14.43 at Wednesday’s close.
Investors are working through news of a major U.S. safety recall—an announcement that landed right in the middle of a two-day rally, just as the stock was making its way back toward recent highs.
Recalls eat up time and cash for automakers: getting parts delivered, finding space at the dealer, hoping the problem doesn’t snowball if more owners complain. With shares already reflecting hopes for a smoother 2026 compared to last year, Ford is working to keep quality issues from dominating the narrative.
Ford is set to recall 412,774 Explorer SUVs after the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration flagged potential fractures in rear suspension toe links—a component critical for rear wheel alignment and steering stability. According to the regulator, dealers will handle the replacements at no cost to owners.
Ford is also pulling back 40,655 more vehicles across the U.S., citing battery failures and faulty brake pedals that could increase the risk of a crash, the NHTSA said.
According to a recall notice filed with NHTSA, 412,774 Explorer SUVs from model years 2017 to 2019 are involved, with roughly 1% estimated to carry the defect. The filing points out that the root cause remains under investigation. Ford cited 26 known incidents of toe link fracture and mentioned it is aware of two possibly related accidents—though no injuries have been linked. Owner notification letters should go out between March 9 and March 13, while dealers are set to be notified on Feb. 25, according to the report.
Ford shares tracked the wider risk-on mood this week, finishing Wednesday just 0.48% shy of their 52-week high at $14.50. General Motors added 1.4% and Tesla climbed 2% in regular trading, according to MarketWatch data.
Ford faces the possibility that a solution that seems straightforward in documentation could bog down during execution—or that the root issue turns out wider than anticipated, triggering additional fixes or drawing heightened attention.
