Ford Ranger recall in SA: Is your bakkie on the list?

If you’re one of the thousands of proud Ford Ranger owners in South Africa, it might be worth checking your VIN this week. The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has announced a new safety recall affecting 2275 Ford Ranger Double Cabs, due to concerns with the side curtain airbags.

WHAT’S THE ISSUE?

According to National Consumer Commission (NCC) spokesperson Phetho Ntaba, the side curtain airbags in the affected vehicles may interact with the B-pillar trim during inflation and fail to deploy as intended. If that happens, the B-pillar ramp could detach from the vehicle entirely and become a projectile inside the cabin when the airbag goes off.

In plain terms: in a crash where the airbag is meant to protect you, a loose piece of trim could become a hazard of its own, increasing the risk of injury to anyone inside.

WHICH VEHICLES ARE AFFECTED?

The recall covers Ford Ranger Double Cab models from the 2026 to 2027 model years, sold nationwide through Ford’s franchised dealerships between 22 May and 23 June 2026. It’s not just a South African problem, either. The recall also extends to units exported to Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini, meaning bakkie owners across the region should be paying attention too.

HOW TO CHECK IF YOUR BAKKIE IS ON THE LIST AND WILL IT COST YOU?

Owners are urged to check their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) against the affected list. This can typically be done via Ford South Africa’s official recall page, or by contacting an authorised Ford dealership directly with your VIN in hand.

If your Ranger is affected, the fix is free. Ford dealerships will inspect and repair the airbag system at no cost to the owner, so there’s no reason to put off booking that appointment.

NOT THE FIRST RECALL IN 2026

This isn’t the Ranger’s first trip into recall territory in 2026. Earlier this year, Ford issued a recall for over 5600 2025 and 2026 model year Rangers across Southern Africa after identifying a fault that could cause a loss of brake boost, making vehicles harder to stop.

Back in April, another batch of Rangers and Pumas were recalled over a faulty EGR valve that could cause a sudden loss of engine power at low speeds. And in July, the NCC flagged transmission fluid pump gear issues in previous-generation Rangers and Everest SUVs sold between 2018 and 2020.

The Ford Rangers weren’t the only vehicles being recalled. The NCC has also recently dealt with recalls affecting Nissan Qashqai models over a fuel pipe fault.

The NCC says it will continue monitoring this recall, along with others, to ensure all affected vehicles in South Africa are properly attended to. For Ranger owners, a quick trip to the dealership now could make all the difference later.

Take a look at our review of the Ford Ranger 2.3 EcoBoost Sport here.