Why Ford Stock Sank This Week

By Howard Smith – Mar 7, 2026 at 11:29AM ESTKey PointsThe oil price spike drove shares lower in several sectors. Ford has its own recall issues to address, too. Ford hired a quality "czar" but the recalls continue.

Ford Motor Company (F 1.66%) stock plunged 13.8% this week, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence. That may not come as too much of a surprise, considering oil prices rose by the largest weekly amount in futures trading history. The 35% jump in U.S. oil prices sent the stocks of automakers, cruise line operators, and airlines plunging. But there was also a company-specific reason that Ford stock dropped as much as it did. Image source: The Motley Fool. Recall headaches continue Ford announced vehicle recalls this week totaling nearly 2.4 million vehicles. The recalls are primarily associated with failures in rearview cameras and windshield wiper problems, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That adds to the news last month that Ford recalled 4.3 million vehicles for safety issues involving towing-trailer lights and brakes. That can be fixed with an over-the-air software update, but it still impacts Ford's margins and reputation. ExpandNYSE: FFord Motor CompanyToday's Change(-1.66%) $-0.20Current Price$12.13Key Data PointsMarket Cap$48BDay's Range$12.03 - $12.3152wk Range$8.44 - $14.79Volume2.1MAvg Vol63MGross Margin6.52%Dividend Yield4.94% In 2022, the company brought on board a "quality czar" to lead enhancement initiatives. Jim Baumbick was chosen for this position to supervise the company's efforts to improve vehicle quality and resolve quality-related challenges. However, despite CEO Jim Farley's promotion of quality improvements, problems continue to persist. The rash of recalls only exacerbated investor selling in a week driven by uncertainty over conflict in the Middle East and concerns about how high oil prices may go. Read NextMar 7, 2026 •By Sean WilliamsSurprise!

America Has Chosen Its Favorite Auto Brand -- and It's Not Ford, General Motors, or Tesla!Mar 5, 2026 •By Daniel MillerHow Being Early to the Market Cost These Companies Tens of BillionsMar 2, 2026 •By Howard SmithStock Market Today, March 2: Ford Falls After Multi-Million-Vehicle Recall Hits Investor ConfidenceFeb 27, 2026 •By Neil PatelWhere Will Ford Motor Company Stock Be in 10 Years?Feb 26, 2026 •By Daniel MillerHow Ford's Q4 Shows More Profits on the WayFeb 25, 2026 •By Daniel MillerThe Dirty Little Secrets That Sank Ford's Q4About the AuthorHoward Smith is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering technology and industrial stocks. Prior to The Motley Fool, Howard spent nearly 30 years supervising quality and operations in the steel industry, mostly with leading steel company Nucor. He holds a bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering from Lafayette College and a master’s degree in environmental engineering from Johns Hopkins University.TMFBuilt2LastStocks MentionedFord Motor CompanyNYSE: F$12.14(-1.66%)-$0.21*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.