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2026 Ford Explorer

11 open recalls

Read the first one before you drive it again. Every repair below is free.

Key facts

  • Recall repairs are free by law, however old the vehicle is.
  • You don't need to be the original owner to have it fixed.
  • There is no deadline — an open recall stays open until it's repaired.

Open recalls

Source: NHTSA · synced 29 Jul 2026 12:35
Repair when you can Seats

Unexpected movement of the driver’s seat back may trap a second-row occupant, increasing the risk of injury.

An unoccupied driver's seat may recline unintentionally during certain scenarios, such as remote unlock or remote start.

What to do: Book it in at your next service. There is no deadline and no charge.

Free repair · 79,579 vehicles affected Read campaign 26V470000 on NHTSA.gov ↗
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Repair when you can Seats

A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, tipping, or sliding unexpectedly.

What to do: Book it in at your next service. There is no deadline and no charge.

Free repair · 387,911 vehicles affected Read campaign 26V451000 on NHTSA.gov ↗
Repair when you can Engine and engine cooling

A sudden loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.

The engine may fail, which can result in a loss of drive power.

What to do: Book it in at your next service. There is no deadline and no charge.

Free repair · 1,536 vehicles affected Read campaign 26V343000 on NHTSA.gov ↗
Repair when you can Visibility

An inoperative windshield defrosting and defogging system may decrease the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system may fail, which can cause the defrosting and defogging system to become inoperative.

What to do: Book it in at your next service. There is no deadline and no charge.

Free repair · 55 vehicles affected Read campaign 26V202000 on NHTSA.gov ↗
Repair when you can Engine and engine cooling

An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

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.

What to do: Book it in at your next service. There is no deadline and no charge.

Free repair · 278 vehicles affected Read campaign 26V205000 on NHTSA.gov ↗
Repair soon Seat belts

A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

The seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer seating positions may be improperly secured.

What to do: Book this in with a dealer now. It affects a safety system.

Free repair · 561 vehicles affected Read campaign 26V159000 on NHTSA.gov ↗
Repair when you can Exterior lighting

A headlight that turns incorrectly can result in increased glare to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.

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."

What to do: Book it in at your next service. There is no deadline and no charge.

Free repair · 35,772 vehicles affected Read campaign 26V121000 on NHTSA.gov ↗
Repair when you can Visibility

In the event of a crash, windshield detachment can increase the risk of injury.

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."

What to do: Book it in at your next service. There is no deadline and no charge.

Free repair · 8 vehicles affected Read campaign 26V024000 on NHTSA.gov ↗
Fire risk Engine

An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components increases the risk of a fire.

The cylinder head may have been improperly manufactured, which can cause the ball plugs to fail, resulting in an oil leak.

What to do: Park away from buildings and book the repair now.

Free repair · 6 vehicles affected Read campaign 25V828000 on NHTSA.gov ↗
Repair when you can Visibility

Reduced visibility while driving can increase the risk of a crash.

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."

What to do: Book it in at your next service. There is no deadline and no charge.

Free repair · 56,841 vehicles affected Read campaign 25V730000 on NHTSA.gov ↗
Repair when you can Trailer hitches

While towing a trailer, loose trailer hitch bolts can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, or cause the trailer to detach.

The trailer hitch assembly bolts may be loose.

What to do: Book it in at your next service. There is no deadline and no charge.

Free repair · 1,412 vehicles affected Read campaign 25V687000 on NHTSA.gov ↗

See every model year of the Ford Explorer →

Watch this for new recalls

One email per recall. Nothing else, ever.