Words: Richard Edwards
Published 13 August 2026
Ford New Zealand is recalling 2602 Ranger Double Cabs over an airbag trim issue, though only around 900 of the affected utes have actually reached customers.
The recall covers certain 2026.5 model year Double Cabs, in which the side curtain airbags may interact with the B-pillar trim during inflation in a crash and not deploy as intended. The fix is a replacement of parts of the B-pillar trim.
Ford found the problem through its own routine vehicle testing and says it is not aware of any incidents in customer vehicles.
Crucially, this is not a stop-drive recall. Affected Rangers can be driven as normal, and every other airbag in the vehicle, including the front driver and passenger, centre, knee and side thorax airbags, continues to work as designed.
Most of the recalled vehicles never made it to a driveway. The bulk are still in Ford New Zealand and dealer stock, including 400 on ships bound for New Zealand, and all are now under a temporary delivery and demonstration hold. The roughly 900 customer vehicles are first in line for repairs.
If you’re affected and use the FordApp, as around 80% of owners do, you’ll already have been notified. Ford will also write to owners with instructions once parts arrive, with the fix expected to be available from mid-September. The repair takes just under two hours at any authorised Ford dealer and is free.
To check whether your Ranger, or any other Ford, has an open recall, enter your VIN at ford.co.nz/support/recalls, ask your dealer, or call 0800 367 369.
For context, 900 vehicles is less than 1% of the Rangers on New Zealand roads. The Ranger has been the country’s best-selling vehicle for over a decade.
