Ford Motor Company is recalling roughly 388,000 Lincoln Aviator and Ford Explorer SUVs after regulators flagged a problem with a second-row easy-entry mechanism that can bind and let seats unlatch, tip, or slide unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion. The move expands a safety campaign that began in 2025 and now reaches into certain 2026 and 2027 model years. Dealers will inspect the switch area and replace bezels or housings as needed, at no cost to owners.
According to Autoblog, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) lists the expanded campaign as 26V451, while Ford’s internal recall number is 26S52. The update brings the total affected population to about 387,911 vehicles - roughly 227,520 Explorers and 160,391 Aviators. Vehicle identification numbers (VINs) for the newly added SUVs became searchable in NHTSA’s online database in mid-July.
What Exactly Is Going Wrong With The Seats?
The defect centers on the plastic bezel that surrounds the easy-entry switch on the outboard second-row seats. If the bezel is misaligned, it can interfere with the switch and leave the button stuck in the down position. When that happens, the seat can unlatch and fold forward or slide without warning, which could reduce occupant protection in a crash. Dealers are instructed to inspect the bezel and replace it or the housing as needed, according to CarComplaints.
When Will Owners Hear From Ford?
Ford and federal regulators say interim owner letters describing the safety risk will start going out after July 27. A second round of notices will follow once the final remedy is ready, with that mailing expected in January 2027. The eventual fix may include installing a revised bezel and housing with greater retention force, and the repair work will be performed free of charge, per Boston 25 News.
How To Check If Your SUV Is Affected
Owners can find out whether their vehicle is included by entering the VIN into NHTSA’s online recall lookup tool. If a vehicle shows an open recall, dealers will perform the remedy at no charge. For immediate questions, owners may call Ford’s customer service line at 1-866-436-7332, according to CarComplaints.
Why The Recall Is Expanding Now
This latest action broadens a recall first announced in June 2025 (NHTSA campaign 25V393), which required dealers to inspect the bezel and replace it only when it was damaged or missing. The original NHTSA filing shows that earlier campaign covered roughly 304,662 vehicles. Federal recall documents indicate that Ford and regulators continued monitoring warranty and field reports and expanded the scope after additional vehicles were identified. NHTSA’s earlier report also noted that Ford had not identified any crashes or injuries linked to the condition, per NHTSA.
