Legacy automaker Ford (F) has had its share of recalls over the course of this year. It had more than its share last year, too, and this year is not looking especially bright in terms of recall figures. More than 179,000 vehicles found themselves up for recall, reports note, and this news did not hit shareholders well at all. Shareholders sent Ford stock reeling, down over 3% in Monday afternoon’s trading.
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The recall hits Ford Broncos and Ford Rangers, with the Ranger taking the biggest percentage of the hit. 117,443 Ford Ranger pickups made between 2024 and 2026 are on the list for recall. Meanwhile, 62,255 Ford Bronco SUVs made in the same time period are subject to recall as well.
The reason for the recall is a pivot bolt in the front seats. This bolt can become loose, or get dislodged, which in turn could keep a seat from properly restraining a passenger in the event of an accident. That in turn makes it more likely that the passenger will be injured. No injuries or accidents have resulted from this defect, yet, and no word from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reveals how the defect was discovered. Still, as usual, Ford dealerships will be tasked with fixing the defects with new pivot links and bolts.
At Least the Bottle Opener Survived
And if you reacted to that subheading with “Wait, what bottle opener?”, then congratulations, as you have just found out one of the best hidden secrets on your Ford Bronco, perfect for tailgate parties. The Bronco actually has a built-in bottle opener, quietly secreted near the rear painted pillar on the driver’s side.
Open the tailgate, and look near the part that looks like a roll cage. You will find a hole therein that looks like a bottle opener, because that is exactly what it is. It may not be the best solution; some point out it would be easy to chip the paint in that area. Others note that losing a cap in that tubing would be pretty easy as well. And still others likely wonder why Ford bothered when just about any multi-tool has a bottle opener.
Is Ford Stock a Good Buy Right Now?
Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Hold consensus rating on F stock based on three Buys, eight Holds and one Sell assigned in the past three months, as indicated by the graphic below. After a 16.81% rally in its share price over the past year, the average F price target of $13.75 per share implies 19.57% upside potential.
