Ford New Zealand is recalling 2602 of its 2026.5 model year Ranger Double Cabs to replace B-pillar trim, though roughly two-thirds of the affected utes remain in Ford or dealer hands.
The company says the side curtain airbags may interact with the B-pillar trim during inflation in a crash and not deploy as intended. The issue was identified through Ford’s internal routine vehicle testing, and the company is not aware of any incidents in customer vehicles.
The majority of the affected vehicles are in Ford New Zealand and dealer stock, including 400 still enroute to the country, and are now under a temporary delivery and demonstration hold. The remaining roughly 900 vehicles are with customers and have been prioritised in the repair process.
It is not a stop-drive recall. Ford says customers can continue using their vehicles, with all other airbags, including the front driver and passenger, centre, knee and side thorax units, continuing to operate as designed.
Around 80% of affected customers use the FordApp and will have already received a notification. Ford will also contact owners by mail with instructions once parts are ready, with the remedy expected to be available from mid-September. The repair takes just under two hours and will be completed free of charge by authorised Ford dealers.
Owners can check for open recalls by entering their VIN on the Ford New Zealand recall and service action page at ford.co.nz/support/recalls, contact their dealer, or call Ford’s customer relationship centre on 0800 367 369. Ford has notified the NZTA and the recall is expected to appear on the agency’s vehicle recall listing shortly.
The customer-held vehicles represent less than 1% of Rangers on New Zealand roads. The Ranger has been the country’s best-selling vehicle for more than a decade, with Ford moving around 900 of them a month, meaning the number in customer hands equates to about one month of sales. The company points to its 55-strong dealer and service network as positioning it to complete the repairs with minimal inconvenience.
