Ford has issued another recall for the Bronco, this time involving hardtop roof panels that could crack, separate, and potentially detach while driving. Unfortunately for affected owners, the fix may still be more than six months away.
The recall affects 16,200 examples of the 2021 and 2022 Ford Bronco equipped with Molded-In-Color hardtops. According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, sections of the roof’s outer panel may have been manufactured improperly, creating the possibility of cracking or delamination over time.
Federal regulators warn that detached roof pieces could create a road hazard for nearby drivers, increasing the risk of a crash. The issue impacts both three-door and five-door Broncos built between September 2020 and January 2022.
Ford says owners will begin receiving interim notification letters later this month, but repairs are not expected to begin until November 2026. That unusually long delay is likely to frustrate Bronco owners already dealing with one of Ford’s most popular models being tied to another major recall campaign.
Roof Panels Could Crack And Separate
According to Ford’s recall filing, the issue stems from manufacturing problems involving the Bronco’s removable hardtop roof panels. The Molded-In-Color roof system may develop cracking or delamination in the exterior skin, potentially allowing sections of the panel to separate from the vehicle.
The automaker says the problem was linked to supplier manufacturing processes that were “not optimized” during early production. The hardtops were produced by Webasto Roof Systems, which worked alongside Ford engineers to investigate the failures.
Ford says thermal cycle testing eventually reproduced the cracking issue under certain temperature conditions. Investigators determined that process improvements introduced in September 2021 corrected the defect for later-production five-door hardtops, though earlier vehicles remain affected.
The company has documented 25 warranty claims, two field reports, and two customer complaints in the United States related to the issue. Those reports were submitted between December 2021 and December 2025, suggesting the problem has been under investigation for years before triggering a formal recall.
Owners Face A Long Wait For Repairs
While Ford says dealers will eventually inspect and replace affected roof panels free of charge, the remedy itself is not yet ready. Interim owner notification letters are expected to be mailed between May 27 and May 29, but the final repair campaign is not anticipated to begin until November 5, 2026.
That leaves many Bronco owners facing a wait of more than six months before they can have their vehicles properly inspected and repaired. The recall documents do not instruct owners to stop driving their vehicles, which suggests Ford does not view the issue as an immediate catastrophic failure risk.
Still, the possibility of roof pieces detaching at highway speeds is serious enough for NHTSA to classify the issue as a safety recall. Owners experiencing visible roof cracking, unusual wind noise, water leaks, or signs of delamination will likely want to have their vehicles inspected sooner rather than later.
The vast majority of affected vehicles are 2021 Broncos. Ford says approximately 15,045 units from the 2021 model year are included, compared to just 1,155 examples from 2022.
Another Recall Headache For Ford
The recall adds to Ford’s ongoing quality-control struggles, which have resulted in a growing number of safety campaigns across its lineup in recent years. The Bronco itself has faced multiple recalls since launch, including issues involving windshield bonding, seat belts, fuel systems, and rear suspension components.
Ford has consistently ranked among the automakers with the highest number of recalls in the United States, and the company appears on track for another difficult year in 2026. While many recalls involve software fixes or minor component replacements, this latest Bronco issue is particularly concerning because it involves body panel parts potentially separating from the vehicle.
For Bronco owners, the timing is especially frustrating given the SUV’s strong reputation as a rugged outdoor vehicle often used for long-distance road trips and off-road adventures. A roof panel defect severe enough to trigger a federal safety recall is not exactly the kind of durability buyers expect from a modern off-roader.
Ford says affected owners can check their VIN through the NHTSA recall database or contact Ford customer service directly for additional information regarding recall campaign number 26S32.