Ford recalls 387,911 vehicles: Second-Row Seat May Move Unexpectedly
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. A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. 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. About 387,911 vehicles are covered nationwide. Owners can check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. This is a national recall; it is not specific to New Carlisle or to Ohio.
Writing the report from the record…
The source filing
| NHTSA campaign | 26V451000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Recall type | Vehicle |
| Component | SEATS |
| Units | 387,911 |
| Do not drive | no |
| Park outside | no |
| Defect | 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 | A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. |
| Remedy | 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. |
| Manufacturer campaign | 26S52 |
| Scope | National recall - NHTSA publishes no state or ZIP breakdown |
Published by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (U.S. DOT data hub). This is the agency's public filing as The Lantern received it, shown with its fields named in plain English.