New York, February 24, 2026, 06:13 EST — Premarket
- U.S. regulators flagged a recall of about 413,000 Ford Explorer SUVs over a suspension part that can fracture.
- Ford stock fell 2.6% on Monday in a broader market slide; Tesla and GM also dropped.
- Traders are watching recall follow-through, insider Form 4 activity, and upcoming calendar items.
Ford Motor (F) stock was back on traders’ screens early Tuesday after U.S. auto safety regulators said the company will recall 412,774 Explorer SUVs over a rear suspension toe-link issue that could fracture and lead to a loss of steering control. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also listed another 40,655 Ford vehicles for separate recalls tied to battery failures and brake pedal defects. (Reuters)
The timing matters because Ford has been trying to convince investors it can stop quality and warranty issues from eating into profit, even as it spends on electrification and restructures parts of the business. Earlier this month, Ford projected 2026 adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of $8 billion to $10 billion, and Chief Executive Jim Farley told analysts the plan is about “really hitting the EV market in the core” while cutting costs. (Reuters)
Ford shares slid 2.64% on Monday to $13.64, leaving the stock about 6% below its 52-week high of $14.50 hit on Jan. 8. The session was ugly across the tape — the S&P 500 fell 1.04% and the Dow dropped 1.66% — while Tesla sank 2.91% and General Motors lost 2.27%, MarketWatch data showed. (MarketWatch)
A separate filing also drew attention. Executive Chair William Clay Ford Jr. reported Ford share acquisitions in a Form 4 filing accepted on Monday, including 583,025 common shares described as coming from a trust distribution, and a voting trust purchase of 140,000 Class B shares at $13.8175 each. Form 4 is a U.S. securities disclosure that reports changes in insider ownership. (SEC)
Insider filings can be noisy. Some transactions reflect trust mechanics, gifts or planned transfers rather than a straight-up bet on the stock, and the market usually treats them that way unless a pattern builds.
Ford also has a near-term shareholder return date on the calendar. The company declared a regular quarterly dividend of 15 cents per share, payable on March 2 to shareholders of record at the close of business on Feb. 13. (Nasdaq)
The risk for Ford stock is that recall headlines rarely stay put. If the Explorer action widens, or if repair complexity and costs surprise, the company could take another hit to margins and cash flow — and investors are already primed to watch that line item closely.
Next up is Ford’s first-quarter report, which Wall Street Horizon lists as scheduled for April 28 after the market close, when investors expect more detail on warranty trends, recall-related costs and whether the company can keep its 2026 targets intact. (Wallstreethorizon)
