Recall Register

2026 Ford Explorer: recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 14 recall campaigns for the 2026 Ford Explorer. The newest campaign is 26V581000. NHTSA received the report on 9 Sep 2026. The NHTSA record gives the component Air Bags / Frontal. NHTSA has 44 complaints on file for this model year. 1 NHTSA investigation names this model year. The Ford Explorer has 45 model years on the register. 5 of them have more recall campaigns than the 2026 Ford Explorer. The component with the largest gap from all 2026 vehicles is Seats: 104.5 per 1,000 component mentions, against 25.5 for all 2026 vehicles.

The NHTSA recall file shows no do-not-drive advisory and no park-outside advisory on these campaigns.

This page cannot show if a recall applies to one vehicle. The NHTSA VIN lookup shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle.

Remedy of the newest campaign, 26V581000, in the NHTSA record

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.
NHTSA VIN lookup

Complaint information entered into NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation vehicle owner's complaint database is used with other data sources to identify safety issues that warrant investigation and to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.

NHTSA publishes these words. Source: NHTSA Datasets and APIs, section Complaints, read on . Complaint file through . Recall file through .

Since the last update

The data update of changed these figures.

  • Open investigations: 0 before the update, 1 after the update.

All updates to the register

Recall campaigns

14 campaigns, newest first. 571,142 units in total.

  • 26V581000Air Bags / Frontal
  • 26V548000Engine and Engine Cooling / Engine / Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical
  • 26V532000Engine and Engine Cooling / Engine / Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical
  • 26V470000Seats / Front Assembly / Power Adjust
  • 26V451000Seats / Mid/Rear Assembly
  • 26V343000Engine and Engine Cooling / Engine / Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical
  • 26V202000Visibility / Defroster/Defogger/HVAC System / Fan/Motor
  • 26V205000Engine and Engine Cooling / Engine / Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical
  • 26V159000Seat Belts
  • 26V121000Exterior Lighting / Headlights
  • 26V024000Visibility / Windshield
  • 25V828000Engine
  • 25V730000Visibility / Windshield
  • 25V687000Trailer Hitches

  1. 26V581000Received . 7 units.

    Air Bags / Frontal

    Defect, in the NHTSA record
    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.
    Consequence, in the NHTSA record
    An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
    Remedy, in the NHTSA record
    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.

    Report filed by Ford Motor Company. Manufacturer campaign number 26S65. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: .

  2. 26V548000Received . 10,001 units.

    Engine and Engine Cooling / Engine / Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical

    Defect, in the NHTSA record
    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.
    Consequence, in the NHTSA record
    An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
    Remedy, in the NHTSA record
    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.

    Report filed by Ford Motor Company. Manufacturer campaign number 26S61.

  3. 26V532000Received . 6 units.

    Engine and Engine Cooling / Engine / Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical

    Defect, in the NHTSA record
    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.
    Consequence, in the NHTSA record
    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.
    Remedy, in the NHTSA record
    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.

    Report filed by Ford Motor Company. Manufacturer campaign number 26S58. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: .

  4. 26V470000Received . 76,748 units.

    Seats / Front Assembly / Power Adjust

    Defect, in the NHTSA record
    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.
    Consequence, in the NHTSA record
    Unexpected movement of the driver’s seat back may trap a second-row occupant, increasing the risk of injury.
    Remedy, in the NHTSA record
    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.

    Report filed by Ford Motor Company. Manufacturer campaign number 26S53. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: .

  5. 26V451000Received . 387,911 units.

    Seats / Mid/Rear Assembly

    Defect, in the NHTSA record
    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.
    Consequence, in the NHTSA record
    A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
    Remedy, in the NHTSA record
    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.

    Report filed by Ford Motor Company. Manufacturer campaign number 26S52. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: .

  6. 26V343000Received . 1,536 units.

    Engine and Engine Cooling / Engine / Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical

    Defect, in the NHTSA record
    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.
    Consequence, in the NHTSA record
    A sudden loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
    Remedy, in the NHTSA record
    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.

    Report filed by Ford Motor Company. Manufacturer campaign number 26S35. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: .

  7. 26V202000Received . 55 units.

    Visibility / Defroster/Defogger/HVAC System / Fan/Motor

    Defect, in the NHTSA record
    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.
    Consequence, in the NHTSA record
    An inoperative windshield defrosting and defogging system may decrease the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy, in the NHTSA record
    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.

    Report filed by Ford Motor Company. Manufacturer campaign number 26S22. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: .

  8. 26V205000Received . 278 units.

    Engine and Engine Cooling / Engine / Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical

    Defect, in the NHTSA record
    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.
    Consequence, in the NHTSA record
    An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
    Remedy, in the NHTSA record
    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.

    Report filed by Ford Motor Company. Manufacturer campaign number 26S23. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: .

  9. 26V159000Received . 561 units.

    Seat Belts

    Defect, in the NHTSA record
    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.
    Consequence, in the NHTSA record
    A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
    Remedy, in the NHTSA record
    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.

    Report filed by Ford Motor Company. Manufacturer campaign number 26C18. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: .

  10. 26V121000Received . 35,772 units.

    Exterior Lighting / Headlights

    Defect, in the NHTSA record
    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."
    Consequence, in the NHTSA record
    A headlight that turns incorrectly can result in increased glare to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy, in the NHTSA record
    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.

    Report filed by Ford Motor Company. Manufacturer campaign number 26C12. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: .

  11. 26V024000Received . 8 units.

    Visibility / Windshield

    Defect, in the NHTSA record
    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."
    Consequence, in the NHTSA record
    In the event of a crash, windshield detachment can increase the risk of injury.
    Remedy, in the NHTSA record
    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.

    Report filed by Ford Motor Company. Manufacturer campaign number 26C02. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: .

  12. 25V828000Received . 6 units.

    Engine

    Defect, in the NHTSA record
    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.
    Consequence, in the NHTSA record
    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.
    Remedy, in the NHTSA record
    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.

    Report filed by Ford Motor Company. Manufacturer campaign number 25SD3.

  13. 25V730000Received . 56,841 units.

    Visibility / Windshield

    Defect, in the NHTSA record
    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."
    Consequence, in the NHTSA record
    Reduced visibility while driving can increase the risk of a crash.
    Remedy, in the NHTSA record
    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.

    Report filed by Ford Motor Company. Manufacturer campaign number 25C60. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: .

  14. 25V687000Received . 1,412 units.

    Trailer Hitches

    Defect, in the NHTSA record
    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Explorer and 2024-2026 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The trailer hitch assembly bolts may be loose.
    Consequence, in the NHTSA record
    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.
    Remedy, in the NHTSA record
    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.

    Report filed by Ford Motor Company. Manufacturer campaign number 25SA3. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: .

The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.

Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.

Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.

Complaints by component

44 complaints, 67 component mentions.

A complaint can name more than one component. Each component that a complaint names is one component mention. The figure per 1,000 component mentions shows how many of each 1,000 mentions name the component.

  • 2026 Ford Explorer
  • All 2026 vehicles
2026 Ford Explorer: complaints by component, per 1,000 component mentions
Component2026 ExplorerAll 2026 vehiclesExplorer, all yearsMentions
Electrical System164.2142.453.511
Unknown or Other164.213172.511
Seats104.525.5167
Engine89.6106.447.56
Forward Collision Avoidance74.6118.14.95
Visibility/Wiper74.629.38.55
Power Train44.867.9129.43
Lane Departure44.836.71.83
Fuel/Propulsion System44.832.115.73
Vehicle Speed Control29.933.142.62

The table shows the 10 components with the most mentions, of 18.

Complaints that report a crash
3
Complaints that report a fire
0
Injuries in the complaints
3
Deaths in the complaints
0
Date of the newest complaint
29 Oct 2026

These figures are the entries of the persons who sent the complaints.

Complaint: A report about a possible safety problem that a person sends to NHTSA. This site shows the number of complaints and not their text.

Complaints about the 2026 Ford Explorer, by the year NHTSA received them. The largest year is 2026, with 44 complaints.

Investigations

NHTSA investigations that name the 2026 Ford Explorer
NumberTypeSubjectComponentOpenedClosedCampaign
PE26008Preliminary evaluationBurn Injuries From Side Airbag DeploymentAir Bags6 Nov 2026Open

Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.

Other model years

The number under each year is the number of recall campaigns.

  1. 19770
  2. 19840
  3. 19850
  4. 19860
  5. 19870
  6. 19880
  7. 19890
  8. 19900
  9. 19918
  10. 19924
  11. 19936
  12. 19944
  13. 19955
  14. 19966
  15. 19977
  16. 19989
  17. 19999
  18. 20009
  19. 20016
  20. 20024
  21. 20032
  22. 20040
  23. 20050
  24. 20061
  25. 20071
  26. 20081
  27. 20090
  28. 20101
  29. 20116
  30. 20125
  31. 201311
  32. 20146
  33. 20158
  34. 201614
  35. 201713
  36. 20187
  37. 20196
  38. 202033
  39. 202126
  40. 202224
  41. 202315
  42. 202410
  43. 202520
  44. 202614
  45. 20271

A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.

Official channels

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Recall Register. 2026 Ford Explorer: recalls and complaints. https://recallregister.com/vehicle/ford/explorer/2026/. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall, complaint and investigation files. Data through .

Sources

Source
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Licence
US government work, public domain
Recall file through
3 Nov 2026
Complaint file through
5 Nov 2026
First complaint in the file
1 Jan 1995
Manufacturer in the recall file
Ford Motor Company

The NHTSA record is the authority. A complaint count is the number of different complaint numbers for the make, the model and the model year. How the register is made. Report an error.

Questions

How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 2026 Ford Explorer?
571,142 units in 14 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.
How many recall campaigns does the Ford Explorer have for all model years?
NHTSA lists 142 recall campaigns for the Ford Explorer, model years 1977 to 2027. 14 of them name the 2026 model year.
Which component do the complaints about the 2026 Ford Explorer name most often?
Electrical System: 11 of 67 component mentions, or 164.2 per 1,000. For all 2026 vehicles the figure is 142.4 per 1,000.
Is an NHTSA investigation of the 2026 Ford Explorer open?
1 investigation has no closing date in the NHTSA file, of 1 that name this model year.