Ford is recalling nearly 388,000 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator SUVs because a defect in the second-row easy-entry seats can let them unlatch or slide without warning, raising the risk of injury for families on the road.
Story Snapshot
- Nearly 388,000 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator SUVs are under recall for second-row seats that can tip or slide unexpectedly.
- The problem comes from an easy-entry seat switch that can bind or stick, leaving the seat unlatched while the vehicle is moving.
- Ford dealers will inspect and replace the plastic bezel around the switch at no cost to owners, with full repairs expected to start in early 2027.
- This recall expands an earlier campaign of about 304,000 SUVs, showing the defect was broader than first believed.
Second-row seat defect affects hundreds of thousands of family SUVs
Federal regulators say a key safety feature in Ford’s popular family SUVs is now a potential danger. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 387,911 vehicles are affected, including certain 2020 through 2026 Ford Explorer and 2020 through 2027 Lincoln Aviator models. The switch that controls the easy-entry function for the second-row outer seats can bind or stick. When that happens, the seat may unlatch, tip, or slide unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion.
Regulators warn that a seat that moves without warning may not hold passengers in place during a crash, which increases the risk of injury, especially for children riding in the back. This is not a minor comfort issue. The easy-entry feature is supposed to make it simpler to reach the third row. Instead, when the switch sticks in the down position, the seat can stay partly released even after it looks like it is latched. That kind of hidden failure is exactly why safety recalls exist.
How Ford says it will fix the problem and what owners should do now
Ford’s recall notice explains that dealers will inspect the bezel around the second-row seat switch and replace it with a revised design if needed, at no cost to owners. The bezel is the trim piece that holds and guides the switch. If it is misformed or allows the switch to bind, the whole easy-entry system can fail. Owner letters explaining the safety risk are expected to be mailed in late July, with a second letter going out when parts are fully available, likely in January 2027.
Ford’s customer instructions are clear and simple. Owners are urged to contact Ford customer service by phone and to check their vehicle identification number on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website or Ford’s recall lookup page to see if their SUV is covered. The recall is listed under Ford’s internal number 26S52 and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration campaign number 26V451000. Ford says it is not aware of any crashes or injuries tied to this defect so far, but the company and regulators agree the risk is serious enough that repairs are needed.
Recall expands earlier campaign and adds to broader seat safety concerns
This is not the first time Ford has faced questions about second-row seating in these vehicles. In 2025, Ford recalled 304,662 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator SUVs from model years 2020 through 2025 for what appears to be the same basic switch and bezel problem in the easy-entry second-row seats. That earlier campaign carried National Highway Traffic Safety Administration number 25V393000 and Ford number 25S67. The new action expands that recall to cover later model years after more complaints and reports came in.
#RecallRoundup Ford Motor Company, #Lincoln Aviator (2020-2027); #Ford Explorer (2020-2026): second-row seat may move unexpectedly, and may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash. 387,911 vehicles potentially affected. https://t.co/UPp0piWCjC pic.twitter.com/qY2WoPiZTQ
— Center for Auto Safety (@Ctr4AutoSafety) July 21, 2026
At the same time, there is a separate recall on a much smaller number of these SUVs for loose second-row seat belt anchor bolts, a different defect that can also reduce crash protection. When consumers see many seat-related recalls stacked together, it can feel like yet another sign of slipping quality in modern vehicles. For conservative families who depend on these large SUVs to carry kids, grandkids, and gear, the message is simple: trust, but verify. Check the recall, get the fix, and demand that automakers and regulators stay focused on real safety instead of political sideshows.
Sources:
nypost.com, wardsauto.com, carbuzz.com, consumerreports.org, kbb.com, static.nhtsa.gov, motorbiscuit.com, carcomplaints.com, youtube.com
