Recalls apply to specific production ranges. To see whether a particular car still has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Repairs for safety recalls are free at authorised dealers.
2026 Ford Explorer recalls
Air bags: frontal
NHTSA campaign 26V581000 · reported September 9, 2026 · Ford Motor Company · 7 vehicles potentially affected
- The problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer vehicles. The active vent on the passenger side may not open as intended, preventing the air bag from deploying properly.
- The risk
- An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S65. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 14, 2026.
Engine and engine cooling: engine, hard parts internal/mechanical
NHTSA campaign 26V548000 · reported August 25, 2026 · Ford Motor Company · 10,001 vehicles potentially affected
- The problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer, Bronco, Bronco Sport, Mustang, and Ranger vehicles. The engine piston domes may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in piston dome failure and lead to a loss of drive power.
- The risk
- An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect the engine pistons and replace the engine long block, if necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed September 3, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in December 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S61. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on August 28, 2026.
Engine and engine cooling: engine, hard parts internal/mechanical
NHTSA campaign 26V532000 · reported August 13, 2026 · Ford Motor Company · 6 vehicles potentially affected
- The problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.3L engine. The engine connecting rod bearings may seize, which can result in engine failure.
- The risk
- Engine failure can result in a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, bearing failure may cause a breach in the engine block, allowing oil to leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the engine long blocks, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 25, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S58. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on August 18, 2026.
Seats: front assembly, power adjust
NHTSA campaign 26V470000 · reported July 21, 2026 · Ford Motor Company · 76,748 vehicles potentially affected
- The problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2027 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. An unoccupied driver's seat may recline unintentionally during certain scenarios, such as remote unlock or remote start.
- The risk
- Unexpected movement of the driver’s seat back may trap a second-row occupant, increasing the risk of injury.
- The fix
- Dealers will disable the driver seat module (DSM) feature until parts are available. Once available, the motor will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 3, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S53.
Seats: mid/rear assembly
NHTSA campaign 26V451000 · reported July 14, 2026 · Ford Motor Company · 387,911 vehicles potentially affected
- The problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2027 Aviator and 2020-2026 Explorer vehicles. The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, tipping, or sliding unexpectedly.
- The risk
- A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect and replace the bezel around the switch as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters explaining the safety risk were mailed August 19, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Lincoln Aviator owner notification letters were mailed August 21, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S52. This recall expands Recall 25V393. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026.
Engine and engine cooling: engine, hard parts internal/mechanical
NHTSA campaign 26V343000 · reported May 27, 2026 · Ford Motor Company · 1,536 vehicles potentially affected
- The problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Explorer, Ranger, and Bronco vehicles. The engine may fail, which can result in a loss of drive power.
- The risk
- A sudden loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the engine long block, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 23, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S35. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 28, 2026.
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system, fan/motor
NHTSA campaign 26V202000 · reported March 31, 2026 · Ford Motor Company · 55 vehicles potentially affected
- The problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Lincoln Aviator and Explorer vehicles. The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system may fail, which can cause the defrosting and defogging system to become inoperative.
- The risk
- An inoperative windshield defrosting and defogging system may decrease the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect and secure the instrument panel joints as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S22. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning April 3, 2026.
Engine and engine cooling: engine, hard parts internal/mechanical
NHTSA campaign 26V205000 · reported March 31, 2026 · Ford Motor Company · 278 vehicles potentially affected
- The problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer and Mustang vehicles. The engine piston circlips may have been incorrectly installed during manufacturing, which can result in piston failure and engine damage, leading to a loss of drive power.
- The risk
- An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect the engine for missing or mis-installed circlips and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S23. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 2, 2026.
Seat belts
NHTSA campaign 26V159000 · reported March 17, 2026 · Ford Motor Company · 561 vehicles potentially affected
- The problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer seating positions may be improperly secured.
- The risk
- A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect the second-row outer seat belt lower anchor bolts and replace or repair them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 30, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C18. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 19, 2026.
Exterior lighting: headlights
NHTSA campaign 26V121000 · reported March 3, 2026 · Ford Motor Company · 35,772 vehicles potentially affected
- The problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Explorer vehicles. The Dynamic Bending Light (DBL) system software may cause the passenger-side headlight to turn in the wrong direction when driving through curves in the road. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- The risk
- A headlight that turns incorrectly can result in increased glare to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- The headlight control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 23, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C12. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 5, 2026.
Visibility: windshield
NHTSA campaign 26V024000 · reported January 21, 2026 · Ford Motor Company · 8 vehicles potentially affected
- The problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 212, "Windshield Mounting."
- The risk
- In the event of a crash, windshield detachment can increase the risk of injury.
- The fix
- Dealers will remove and replace the windshield, free charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 30, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C02. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 22, 2026.
Engine
NHTSA campaign 25V828000 · reported December 1, 2025 · Ford Motor Company · 6 vehicles potentially affected
- The problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer, Mustang, Lincoln Corsair, and 2025 Maverick vehicles. The cylinder head may have been improperly manufactured, which can cause the ball plugs to fail, resulting in an oil leak.
- The risk
- An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components increases the risk of a fire. In addition, the loss of oil can result in engine seizure and loss of motive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the cylinder head assembly, free of charge. All affected vehicles are still within dealership inventory and therefore no owner notification letters will be mailed. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SD3. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 24, 2025.
Visibility: windshield
NHTSA campaign 25V730000 · reported October 24, 2025 · Ford Motor Company · 56,841 vehicles potentially affected
- The problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Lincoln Corsair, Lincoln Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The windshield glass may have visible air bubbles, which can obscure the driver's visibility. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 205, "Glazing Materials."
- The risk
- Reduced visibility while driving can increase the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect and replace the windshield as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 6, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C60. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 27, 2025.
Trailer hitches
NHTSA campaign 25V687000 · reported October 10, 2025 · Ford Motor Company · 1,412 vehicles potentially affected
- The problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Explorer and 2024-2026 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The trailer hitch assembly bolts may be loose.
- The risk
- While towing a trailer, loose trailer hitch bolts can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, or cause the trailer to detach. Either of these conditions can increase the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect and tighten the trailer hitch bolts, or replace them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 29, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA3. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.
What owners report
Recent complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. These are unverified accounts from owners, not findings.
Oct 13, 2026 · Unknown or other
Rear liftgate window spontaneously shattered while sitting in my driveway.
Oct 13, 2026 · Vehicle speed control
Traveling of the freeway at 80 mph, pull left to pass Semi, upon getting halfway past the truck the adaptive cruise Control activates and brings the vehicle to under 65 mph extremely fast. After a few seconds the vehicle rapidly accelerates back to 80 mph. This has happened at least four times since purchasing the…
Oct 8, 2026 · Latches/locks/linkages · 1,623 miles
The contact owns a 2026 Ford Explorer. While the contact's wife was driving 45 MPH, an unknown warning light illuminated, and the hood latch independently released. The contact stated that the hood opened independently and fractured the front windshield. The contact stated that the front windshield was shattered. The…
Oct 4, 2026 · Seats
- Driver seat back reclines by itself when vehicle is approached by key fob. As acknowledged by Ford, this situation could result in harm to a passenger sitting behind the driver. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. - This issue was demonstrated to several dealer service personnel as early as June…
Sep 28, 2026 · Seats
I was sold and delivered a car with an active safety recall for 2nd row seat easy entry. At the time of sale I was told the recall had been done. 2 days later the dealer called and said the recall had not been done and that the car had a do not sell or demonstrate destination. They wanted me to bring the car back to…
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint data, updated October 27, 2026. Latest complaint received October 13, 2026.