Ford recalls 288,314 vehicles: Roof Rail Covers May Detach
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle. A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will inspect the roof rail covers and as necessary, repair or replace the push-pins, rail clips, or roof rail covers, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 28, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S54. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 21V316. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026. About 288,314 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 | 26V448000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Recall type | Vehicle |
| Component | STRUCTURE |
| Units | 288,314 |
| Do not drive | no |
| Park outside | no |
| Defect | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle. |
| Consequence | A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Remedy | Dealers will inspect the roof rail covers and as necessary, repair or replace the push-pins, rail clips, or roof rail covers, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 28, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S54. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 21V316. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026. |
| Manufacturer campaign | 26S54 |
| 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.