Ford is recalling 42,784 Mustang Mach-E crossovers from the 2021–2023 model years because the rear differential pinion shaft may fracture, resulting in a loss of drive power or unintended vehicle movement if the vehicle is placed in Park without the parking brake applied. The company reported the defect this week in a Part 573 Safety Recall Report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration under NHTSA Recall No. 26V417. Ford estimates that 100 percent of the recalled population contains the defect.
Highlights
- The recall covers 42,784 rear-wheel-drive 2021–2023 Mustang Mach-E vehicles, with an estimated defect rate of 100 percent.
- The affected component is the Primary Drive Unit assembly, part number LJ9P-7P500-A, supplied by Tier 1 supplier BorgWarner in San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
- Drivers may see a Malfunction Indicator Light and diagnostic trouble codes P174E, P0A2F, P019C, or P27B2 before a failure.
- Interim owner notification letters are scheduled for July 13–17, 2026, with remedy letters to follow December 28–31, 2026.
What Causes the Pinion Shaft to Fracture?
Metallurgical analysis determined that the differential pinion shaft fractures due to bending fatigue, though the root cause of the fatigue remains under investigation. Affected vehicles carry a rear-wheel-drive drivetrain built around a rear differential pinion shaft susceptible to this failure mode. The recalled part entered production on February 27, 2021, and was removed from production on August 21, 2025.
If the shaft fails, the driver may lose motive power. The vehicle may also move unintentionally when Park is requested if the parking brake is not applied, and either condition increases the risk of a crash. Because affected vehicles were not produced in VIN order, Ford directs owners to its toll-free line, 1-866-436-7332, or to Ford and Lincoln dealers, who can check applicability through the OASIS database.
Investigation Timeline
Ford’s Product Development team reviewed teardown results in March 2026 from a failed rear differential recovered from a 2023 Mustang Mach-E in Europe, and the company’s Critical Concern Review Group opened an investigation on March 17, 2026. From March to May 2026, Ford’s material laboratories analyzed six additional warranty-return pinion shafts, all of which showed bending fatigue failures. Two more shafts previously analyzed by the drive unit supplier in 2025 showed the same evidence.
The investigation team identified discrepancies in part core hardness measurements while working with the supplier. As of June 11, 2026, Ford was aware of 62 warranty claims, 14 internal quality-system reports, 4 customer contact-center reports, and 2 European White Alerts related to the condition. Ford’s Field Review Committee approved a field action on June 23, 2026. The company is not aware of any accidents, injuries, or fires related to the defect.
Remedy and Recall Schedule
Ford and Lincoln dealers will repair or replace the rear differential assembly as necessary, free of charge. The repaired or replacement assembly includes a differential pinion shaft more robust to bending fatigue failure. Ford’s internal number for the campaign is 26S50.
- Dealer advance notification: expected July 1, 2026
- Interim owner letters: July 13–17, 2026
- Remedy owner letters: December 28–31, 2026, as a phased recall
- VIN searchability: December 28, 2026
The action joins a series of loss-of-motive-power campaigns across electrified powertrains, including a prior Mustang Mach-E recall for overheating high-voltage battery contactors and Toyota’s recall of roughly 55,400 hybrids for an inverter assembly defect.
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