Ford Bronco instrument panel recall: IPC Goes Dark During Start-up

Ford Bronco instrument panel recall Issued for 229,609 Units Over Software Fault

The Bronco and Bronco Sport are incredibly successful models in Ford’s lineup, but they are not without their problems. Ford’s latest safety action addresses something far more widespread than a one-off glitch. The Ford Bronco instrument panel recall affects 229,609 vehicles across the 2025 and 2026 model years, targeting a faulty Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) software.

The issue, which can cause the instrument panel to go dark during start-up, renders critical safety-related telltales and gauges unreadable. This increases the risk of a crash because the driver lacks essential information like vehicle speed or warning lights.

Here is a breakdown of the fault, the affected vehicles, and the free remedy being offered by Ford.

The Cause: A Narrow Software Fault

According to the NHTSA, the instrument panel may go out during start-up, depriving drivers of essential safety information. The technical cause of the fault stems from a specific software bug:

• Trigger: A CAN (Controller Area Network) wakeup interrupt can hit during a very narrow moment when the IPC is entering sleep mode.
• Failure: This interaction causes a memory protection fault, triggering an unnecessary CPU reset.

Ford confirmed that it had already removed the recalled IPC software from production on November 3, 2025, so Broncos built after that date should be fine. Ford has received 12 warranty claims regarding the faulty IPC but has reported no related injuries so far.

Recall Scope and Timeline

The recall targets both the full-size Bronco and the smaller Bronco Sport, with the latter accounting for the majority of the affected units.

The Free Software Fix

The fix for the Ford Bronco instrument panel recall is straightforward and can be administered easily.

• Remedy: Ford will disable the memory protection feature via a software update.
• Method: The update can be performed by a technician at a Ford or Lincoln dealership for free, or it may be delivered wirelessly through an over-the-air (OTA) update in some vehicles.
• Owner Action: Owners will receive notification letters starting December 8, 2025, and are instructed to contact their dealer (or check their VIN on the NHTSA website using campaign number 25V788) to schedule the free software update.

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