Ford is Recalling 230,000 2025-2026 Broncos and Bronco Sports Because the Instrument Panels Go Blank

Ford is recalling nearly 230,000 of its popular 2025-2026 Broncos and Bronco Sport SUVs because the instrument panels can go blank when the vehicle is started. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says any attempt to drive the vehicle with a blacked-out instrument panel can raise the risk of a crash. Ford has issued similar recalls for Broncos before. 

Vehicles Affected in this Recall

• 101,002    2025-2026 Ford Broncos
• 128,607    2025-2026 Ford Bronco       Sports

The vehicles were built between March of 2024 and November of 2025. 

What NHTSA Says About the Blank Instrument Panels

According to the NHTSA Safety Recall Report, Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group discovered the issue after several drivers reported problems with starting their vehicles and finding the instrument panels blank. The issue is similar to an earlier recall. “Connected vehicle data indicates 68% of connected vehicles surveyed had ignition cycle events that are in the window of susceptibility to this concern. This value is similar to the connected data for vehicles included in 25S88 / 25V540.” Ford is aware of 12 warranty claims potentially related to this concern. Ford is says it is not aware of any accidents or injuries because of the problem. 

How Ford Will Fix the Software Glitch

Ford says that the problem is caused by a software glitch. 2025 -2026 Ford Bronco owners will be contacted by mail and told to take their SUVs to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the instrument panel software updated. NHTSA does not indicate if the software can be updated over the air. Ford should be sending letters to owners starting Dec 08, 2025.

Ford Photo

Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin.

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