Ford Recalls 11,405 2026 Rangers: 10.1-Inch Screen Can Blank the Rearview Camera (26V605)

Ford is recalling 11,405 certain 2026 Rangers equipped with a 10.1-inch center stack screen because the display may lose power and fail to show the rearview camera image. That puts the trucks out of compliance with federal rear-visibility rule FMVSS 111. NHTSA lists the campaign as 26V605 (26V605000); Ford’s number is 26C42. Involved VINs have been searchable on NHTSA.gov since September 25, 2026. The remedy is still under development — interim owner letters are expected to mail October 5, 2026.

A blank reverse image is not a “nice to have” glitch. It cuts what you can see behind the truck and raises crash risk. Ford has not published a repair procedure yet. Until the fix ships, the move for owners and shoppers is the VIN check — not waiting for the mailbox.

Sources

• NHTSA Vehicle Recalls API — 2026 Ford Ranger (primary: campaign 26V605000, Summary / Consequence / Remedy, Ford 26C42, VIN searchable Sep 25, interim letters Oct 5)
• NHTSA recalls / VIN lookup (owner VIN check live for this campaign since September 25, 2026)
• NHTSA acknowledgment letter to Ford, dated September 25, 2026 — population 11,405; components BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION and EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT; mfr report date September 22, 2026
• autoevolution coverage of the Part 573 filing (secondary — capacitors, Michigan Assembly Plant build window, related equipment campaign 26E065; not a substitute for the NHTSA API record)
• Ford customer service 1-866-436-7332; NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-888-275-9171)

Recall facts

TruckDaily take

Who this is for. Anyone who owns, ordered, or is shopping a 2026 Ranger with the 10.1-inch center screen — and anyone taking delivery before the free remedy exists.

Who should skip the shrug. Skip treating a blank reverse camera as “just the screen acting up.” FMVSS 111 is the federal rear-visibility rule. Skip waiting for the October 5 interim letter if you can run the VIN today. Skip signing delivery on a truck that blanks Reverse until you know the campaign status and have a plan for the free fix when Ford releases it.

What we’d do today. Plug the 17-digit VIN into nhtsa.gov/recalls — searchable since September 25. On a lot truck, shift to Reverse yourself and confirm the image paints. If the screen is dark or flickers off, walk until Ford’s free remedy is on it. Keep Ford customer service 1-866-436-7332 handy. Do not invent a “park it” order Ford and NHTSA did not flag — the API leaves parkIt / parkOutSide false — but also do not pretend a missing reverse image is optional equipment.

What NHTSA and Ford filed

NHTSA’s Vehicle Recalls API lists Ford Motor Company campaign 26V605000 for certain 2026 Ranger vehicles equipped with a 10.1-inch center stack screen. The Summary is short: the screen may lose power and fail to display the rearview camera image, so the trucks fail FMVSS 111. The Consequence line is the one that matters in a driveway or a jobsite — reduced view behind the vehicle and a higher crash risk.

The NHTSA acknowledgment letter dated September 25, 2026, locks the population at 11,405 units and lists two component buckets: back-over prevention display function and electrical / infotainment equipment. Ford’s manufacturer report date is September 22, 2026. Ford’s internal number is 26C42.

The Remedy is unfinished: under development. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed October 5, 2026, with more mail when a repair exists. Involved VINs became searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 25, 2026. Owners may also call the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-888-275-9171).

What autoevolution adds from the Part 573 filing

autoevolution’s coverage of Ford’s Part 573 details — clearly secondary to the NHTSA API and acknowledgment — says Ford traced the black-screen issue to multi-layer ceramic capacitors on the display’s circuit board that may crack, short, and blow the display fuse. Ford’s filing language, as summarized there, uses “potentially” / “suspected” counterfeit language and says the parts fail engineering and material specs.

That same coverage cites a Michigan Assembly Plant build window of April 21 through September 3, 2026 for the truck population, a related equipment campaign 26E065 covering 46 of the same displays sold as service parts, an estimated ~47% defect rate inside the 11,405-truck tally, and dealer notification on September 25, 2026. TruckDaily is not treating those Part 573 details as NHTSA Vehicle API fields — they are attributed filing coverage. The core story stands without them: 11,405 Rangers, blank reverse image, FMVSS 111, no remedy yet.

Shopper checklist

1. Write down the 17-digit VIN from the dash plate or door sticker.
2. Search that VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls — searchable since September 25, 2026.
3. If 26V605 / 26C42 is open, watch for the interim letter expected around October 5, 2026 and schedule the free remedy when Ford releases it.
4. Before purchase or delivery, shift to Reverse and confirm the rearview image appears on the 10.1-inch screen.
5. Keep Ford customer service 1-866-436-7332 if the dealer stalls once a free compliance fix exists.
6. Do not wait on USPS for the first signal — the VIN lookup is live now; the October 5 mailer is the interim risk notice, not the first chance to check.

FAQ