2021-2022 Ford Bronco Recall: What Hardtop Owners Need to Know

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Ford Bronco Recall Overview

Ford has issued a new Ford Bronco recall covering hardtop roof panels on the 2021 and 2022 model years. The action carries NHTSA campaign number 26V299 and Ford recall 26S32. In total, it reaches 16,200 SUVs across the United States. The outer skin of the affected hardtop roof panels develops cracks and separates from the layer underneath. In severe cases, sections of the outer layer detach while the vehicle is moving.

If you own a 2021 or 2022 Bronco with a hardtop, this recall applies to you directly. Ford filed the safety report with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on May 12, 2026. Both the three-door and five-door body styles are included. Soft-top owners are not affected, because the recall covers only the Molded-In-Color hardtop. For this reason, the first step for any owner is confirming which roof the vehicle carries.

The current-generation Ford Bronco returned to the lineup in 2021 after a long absence, and demand was strong from the start. Ford offered the SUV with a soft top or a removable hardtop. The hardtop panels at the center of this recall came from a single supplier during roughly the first 16 months of production. Ford has since changed how the supplier builds the panels, so newer Broncos use an updated design.

The details below come from Ford’s official safety recall filing with federal regulators.

Recall 26S32 at a Glance

The table below summarizes the core facts of the recall from Ford’s federal filing. Use it as a quick reference before reading the full breakdown.

Recall Detail	Information
NHTSA campaign number	26V299
Ford recall number	26S32
Vehicles affected	16,200
Model years	2021 and 2022 Ford Bronco
Body styles	Three-door and five-door
Component	Molded-In-Color (MIC) hardtop roof panels
Supplier	Webasto Roof Systems, Inc.
Defect	Outer roof skin cracks, delaminates, and detaches
Remedy	Free inspection and hardtop replacement
Interim owner letters	May 27 to May 29, 2026
Repair owner letters	November 5, 2026
Ford recall hotline	1-866-436-7332

What Went Wrong With the MIC Hardtop

At the center of the Bronco hardtop recall is a two-layer roof panel. A Molded-In-Color hardtop, often shortened to MIC, builds the color into the roof material instead of adding paint on top. The outer skin is a hard acrylic called poly-methyl methacrylate, or PMMA. Underneath sits a polyurethane substrate, which gives the panel its shape and strength.

On the recalled Broncos, the bond between those two layers breaks down over time. Ford traces the problem to environmental exposure, meaning heat, sunlight, and weather cycling. As the bond weakens, the outer acrylic skin separates from the substrate. This separation is called delamination. Once a large area has delaminated, the acrylic skin starts to crack.

Webasto Roof Systems built the affected panels. Ford determined the supplier’s manufacturing process and equipment settings were not optimized during the recall period. As a result, the adhesion between the acrylic and the substrate fell short of Ford’s standard. The defect affects three core pieces on three-door hardtops and four pieces on five-door hardtops, including the front panels and the rear cap.

Which Vehicles the Ford Bronco Recall Covers

Across the country, the Ford Bronco recall covers 16,200 SUVs built within a defined production window. Of those vehicles, 15,045 are 2021 model year Broncos and 1,155 are 2022 model year Broncos. Ford sorts the affected group by body style and build date rather than model year alone.

Three-door Broncos are included when built between September 23, 2020 and January 13, 2022. Five-door Broncos are included when built between September 23, 2020 and October 22, 2021. These windows match the period before the supplier upgraded its process and equipment. Broncos built after these dates use hardtops made with the corrected production steps.

Build date matters more than model year here, because Ford did not produce these vehicles in VIN order. Two Broncos with similar VINs might fall on opposite sides of the cutoff. Because of this, Ford recommends a VIN check rather than a guess based on the model year badge. Ford also estimates roughly 5 percent of the recalled population will show the defect, though every owner in the group should still complete the inspection.

The Safety Risk Behind the Recall

Parts leaving the vehicle at speed are the core danger in this Bronco roof recall. When the outer acrylic skin cracks badly enough, a section breaks away from the roof while the Bronco is moving. A panel fragment on the highway becomes a road hazard for drivers behind and beside you.

Ford’s filing describes the risk plainly. A detached section of the hardtop outer layer creates a hazard for other road users and raises the chance of a crash. The loose piece threatens following traffic more than the Bronco’s own occupants. Still, a compromised roof panel weakens the structure and invites further damage.

Two warning signs point to a developing problem. A failing panel often shows the outer layer separating in patches, which looks like bubbling or lifting at the edges. You might also hear louder wind noise while driving, since a loosening panel changes how air moves across the roof. If either sign appears, contact a Ford dealer promptly. Ford reports no crashes and no injuries tied to this defect as of the filing date.

How Ford Identified the Hardtop Problem

The Ford Bronco recall began with owner complaints filed to federal regulators. On January 22, 2026, Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group opened an investigation into reports of cracking and delamination on 2021 through 2023 Bronco hardtops. The team then pulled supplier production records the following month.

Those records pointed to two fixes already made at the supplier. The manufacturing process improved in September 2021. Separately, the equipment settings improved in December 2021. Engineers next ran tests to recreate the failure. In February 2026, they built a barrier between the acrylic skin and the substrate to mimic real-world delamination.

Thermal cycle testing followed in March and April 2026. The results showed cracking on the acrylic panel during heat cycling once a delaminated area grew large. Ford also held a customer clinic on March 30 and 31, inspecting hardtops on 2021 through 2024 Broncos. After a final round of worst-case testing on April 7, Ford’s Field Review Committee approved the recall on May 5, 2026.

The investigation logged a limited number of field reports. As of March 19, 2026, Ford counted 25 warranty claims, two field reports, and two customer complaints in the United States. Those reports span December 2021 through December 2025. The low count, combined with the safety risk to other drivers, still pushed Ford toward a full recall.

The Repair Process and Recall Timeline

Ford’s remedy is straightforward. A dealer inspects the hardtop, and if the panel shows cracking or delamination, the dealer replaces it at no cost to you. The new hardtop uses the updated production process, so it resists the adhesion failure behind this recall.

The Bronco roof recall follows a phased timeline, which means notification arrives in two waves. Ford notified dealers on May 12, 2026. Interim owner letters go out between May 27 and May 29, 2026. These first letters explain the defect and the warning signs, though they do not schedule a repair yet.

New parts and full repair instructions follow later in the year. Ford expects to mail the second round of letters on November 5, 2026. The repair letter will tell owners to book the inspection and the panel swap. Until parts arrive, owners should monitor the roof and report any cracking or delamination to a dealer right away.

The wait between the two letters is normal for a phased recall. It lets the manufacturer build enough new panels before dealers begin scheduling work. If you would rather not wait for the mailed notice, you have other ways to confirm your status, covered in the next section.

What Bronco Owners Should Do Now

You do not need to wait for a letter to act. Ford made VIN lookups available on May 12, 2026, so you have a way to confirm your vehicle today. A few simple steps tell you where you stand.

First, find your 17-character VIN. It sits on the lower corner of the windshield on the driver side and on the door jamb sticker. Next, enter the VIN at the NHTSA recall site at nhtsa.gov/recalls or on the Ford recall portal. Either tool reports every open recall on your vehicle within seconds.

If you prefer to speak with a person, call Ford’s recall hotline at 1-866-436-7332 and reference recall 26S32. A representative confirms whether your Bronco falls inside the affected build window. You also have the option of calling any Ford or Lincoln dealer, since dealers look up recall status through Ford’s service database.

While you wait for parts, inspect the roof yourself. Look across the hardtop panels for bubbling, lifting edges, or fine cracks in the outer surface. If you remove and store the hardtop between seasons, check each panel as you handle it. Report anything unusual to a dealer, and keep your interim recall letter with your vehicle records.

Owners of a recalled Bronco keep their normal coverage during the wait. The inspection and any replacement cost nothing, and the repair does not depend on your warranty status. Routine Ford Bronco ownership continues as usual, including trail use and aftermarket roof accessories, though a damaged panel deserves a prompt dealer visit. Drivers who follow Ford recalls will see further updates as the November repair phase opens.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my Bronco is part of the recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Ford recall portal. You also have the option of calling Ford at 1-866-436-7332 and asking about recall 26S32. The build date decides eligibility, not the model year alone, so a VIN check gives the only reliable answer.

Is the Bronco hardtop recall repair free?

Yes. Ford covers the inspection and any hardtop replacement at no charge. The remedy applies regardless of your warranty status or mileage. This Bronco hardtop recall follows standard federal safety recall rules, which require the manufacturer to fix the defect for free.

What should I do while I wait for the repair?

Inspect the roof panels for cracks, bubbling, or lifting edges, and listen for new wind noise on the highway. Report any sign of delamination to a Ford dealer right away. Ford plans to mail repair scheduling letters on November 5, 2026, once the new panels are ready.

Does the Bronco roof recall cover soft-top models?

No. The Bronco roof recall covers only the Molded-In-Color hardtop. Soft-top Broncos are not included in recall 26S32. Check which roof your Bronco carries before assuming the recall applies.

Are newer Ford Broncos affected by this recall?

No. This Ford Bronco recall covers only 2021 and 2022 vehicles built within the listed production windows. Ford corrected the hardtop manufacturing process in late 2021, so later Broncos use the updated panels. Ford continues to add new Bronco models and trims to the lineup.

Will the recall affect my Bronco’s warranty or resale value?

Open recalls do not void your warranty, and completing the free repair keeps your vehicle compliant. A finished recall repair removes a common concern for buyers, so handling recall 26S32 promptly protects resale value. Keep the recall paperwork with your service records.