Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator Recall Summary
- Updated on August 25, 2026: Ford mailed the interim owner letters for this recall on August 19, 2026, and Lincoln Aviator owner notification letters on August 21, 2026. The complete parts remedy is still anticipated in January 2027.
- Who is affected: 2020 to 2026 Ford Explorer and 2020 to 2027 Lincoln Aviator owners
- What is the defect: The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats can bind or stick, which can cause the seat to unlatch, tip, or slide unexpectedly
- Recall size: 387,911 vehicles in the United States, roughly 227,520 Explorers and 160,391 Aviators
- Safety warning: A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash
- Fix status: No permanent fix is currently available. Dealers can inspect and replace a switch bezel and housing as an interim measure, and Ford mailed the interim owner letters on August 19, 2026, with Lincoln Aviator owner notification letters following on August 21, 2026. The full parts remedy isn’t expected until January 2027.
- Check your VIN: Search your VIN on NHTSA.gov | Think you may have a lemon law claim? Contact The Margarian Law Firm
- California owners: If your Explorer or Aviator’s second-row seat has unlatched, tipped, or slid unexpectedly and your dealer could not resolve it, contact The Margarian Law Firm for a free case evaluation
What triggered this recall?
Ford Motor Company is recalling certain 2020 to 2026 Explorer and 2020 to 2027 Lincoln Aviator SUVs after finding that the switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats (the button that lets the seat power forward for third-row access) can bind or stick. According to NHTSA’s recall record for campaign 26V451, a stuck switch can cause the seat to unlatch, tip forward, or slide unexpectedly while someone is seated in it, which means it may not properly restrain that occupant in a crash.
This is not the first time Ford has tried to fix this exact problem. The new campaign expands an earlier recall, 25V393, issued in June 2025 for roughly 305,000 vehicles with the same second-row seat switch defect. WardsAuto and Fox Business both reported that this expanded campaign now covers additional model years and a broader set of vehicles that continued to show the same binding switch issue.
Ford has not yet released the full parts fix. Dealers can inspect and replace the switch bezel and housing with a revised, stronger design now as an interim measure. Ford mailed the interim letters explaining the safety risk on August 19, 2026, later than the July 27 date it originally filed with NHTSA, and Lincoln Aviator owner notification letters followed on August 21, 2026. Ford says additional letters will follow once the complete remedy is available, which the company anticipates in January 2027.
Have you had a second-row seat issue with your Explorer or Aviator that your dealer couldn’t resolve? The Margarian Law Firm can help you understand your options.
Sources: NHTSA | WardsAuto | Fox Business
Which vehicles are included in this recall?
- 2020 to 2026 Ford Explorer: 227,520 units
- 2020 to 2027 Lincoln Aviator: 160,391 units
- Total U.S. vehicles affected: 387,911
Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) for this campaign became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026. Owners can check their specific VIN using NHTSA’s recall lookup tool, or contact Ford customer service directly at 1-866-436-7332 and reference Ford’s recall number, 26S52.
What should Explorer and Aviator owners do right now?
- Check your VIN using NHTSA’s recall search tool.
- Your interim letter should have arrived by now, but you do not need to wait for it to book the interim repair.
- Document any symptoms in writing: a second-row seat that unlatches, tips, or slides on its own, or a switch that feels stuck or sticky.
- Keep every service record and repair order related to your second-row seats, including any visits under the earlier 2025 recall.
- Watch for additional letters once the complete parts remedy becomes available, anticipated January 2027.
For repair scheduling and recall status, contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. This contact is for repair tracking only. For questions about your legal rights, contact The Margarian Law Firm.
Could this recall affect your lemon law rights?
Not every recall directly supports a lemon law claim. It depends on the nature of the defect and what your repair history shows. This recall is not that kind of gray area. A second-row seat that can unlatch or slide unexpectedly is a defect that directly affects occupant safety, and it’s Ford’s second attempt at fixing this exact switch issue in about a year. For California owners who experienced this symptom, including under the earlier 2025 recall, and were unable to get a lasting fix from their dealer, it may form the foundation of a lemon law claim.
Reach out to The Margarian Law Firm to discuss your specific situation.
Could your Explorer or Aviator qualify? A quick self-check
- Have you taken your vehicle to the dealer two or more times for a second-row seat issue, including under the earlier 2025 recall, without a lasting fix?
- Has your vehicle been out of service for 30 or more cumulative days because of this or a related issue?
- Have you noticed a second-row seat that unlatches, tips, or slides on its own?
- Did your dealer acknowledge the switch problem but fail to resolve it?
- Is your vehicle still within Ford’s warranty period?
If you answered yes to any of the above, you may be entitled to compensation under California’s lemon law. Contact The Margarian Law Firm for a free case evaluation.
If your vehicle qualifies, California law requires the manufacturer to pay your attorney fees, meaning representation typically costs you nothing out of pocket.
What California’s lemon law actually covers
Why the timing of this recall creates a legal window right now
Here is something most recall notices will not tell you, and most law firms will not explain. Without the complete parts remedy available until January 2027, dealers can only offer an interim measure right now, which creates a documented period where the underlying switch defect is not fully resolved.
The right time to understand your options is before the fix is available, not after. Talk to a lemon law attorney now to understand what your repair history already shows.
Even once the full remedy is released, prior repair attempts remain relevant. If your Explorer or Aviator was in for second-row seat symptoms before this recall was acknowledged, including under the earlier 2025 campaign, those visits may factor into your claim.
The Margarian Law Firm team can review your case and clearly lay out your options.
Get a free, honest case assessment
California Ford Explorer or Lincoln Aviator owner?
If you have experienced a second-row seat that unlatched, tipped, or slid unexpectedly, and your dealer has not been able to fully fix it, or if you want to understand your rights and what you may be legally entitled to, The Margarian Law Firm can help.
Our firm practices exclusively in California automotive consumer law, including lemon law, dealer fraud, and automotive class actions. That exclusive focus means deeper case knowledge, greater litigation resources, and a track record built entirely on cases like yours. We stay closely attuned to how recalls affect consumers’ legal rights and have the resources to litigate, not just negotiate.
Frequently asked questions
1- Is my Ford Explorer or Lincoln Aviator included in this recall?
The recall covers 2020 to 2026 Explorer and 2020 to 2027 Aviator SUVs with the easy-entry second-row seat feature. You can check your specific VIN using NHTSA’s recall lookup tool, or contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 and reference recall number 26S52.
2- Can I still drive my Explorer or Aviator during this recall?
Ford has not issued a directive to stop driving affected vehicles, but the seat can move unexpectedly if the switch binds. If you notice a second-row seat that unlatches, tips, or slides on its own, have it inspected by your dealer promptly, especially if children or other passengers regularly ride in that seat.
3- Does this recall mean my Explorer or Aviator is a lemon?
Not automatically. A recall on its own doesn’t make a vehicle a lemon under California law. What matters is your specific repair history, including any prior visits for this seat issue, even under the earlier 2025 recall. That history is what The Margarian Law Firm reviews when evaluating a case.
4- What is the second-row seat risk exactly?
The switch that powers the second-row outer seats forward for easy entry can bind or stick. If that happens, the seat can unlatch, tip forward, or slide unexpectedly, which means it may not properly restrain an occupant seated in it during a crash.
5- When will the recall repair be available?
Dealers can inspect and replace the switch bezel and housing now as an interim measure. Ford mailed the interim owner letters in August 2026 and anticipates the complete parts remedy will be available in January 2027, with additional letters to follow at that time.
6- What if my Explorer or Aviator was involved in an incident because of this? Do I have a legal claim?
If a second-row seat malfunction in your vehicle contributed to an injury or incident, that may support a legal claim beyond a simple recall repair. Contact The Margarian Law Firm for a free case evaluation of your specific situation.
7- What if my dealer told me nothing was wrong before this recall?
If you raised a second-row seat concern with your dealer, including under the earlier 2025 recall, and were told nothing was wrong or the fix didn’t last, that visit still counts as part of your repair history. Written service records from those visits can matter a great deal to a lemon law claim.
8- Should I take my vehicle to the dealer now, even though the full fix isn’t available yet?
Yes. The interim bezel and housing replacement is available now and worth getting done. Beyond that, documenting any symptoms in writing and keeping every service record helps build the record that may support a claim later, and positions you to get the complete remedy as soon as it’s released.
Standard Legal Disclaimer
The information in this post is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is evaluated on its individual merits, and outcomes vary based on the manufacturer, the defect, repair history, and other factors. Attorney fees in qualifying lemon law cases are paid separately by the manufacturer upon a successful outcome under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Contacting The Margarian Law Firm does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Official sources and further reading
- NHTSA VIN check and recall search
- WardsAuto: “Ford recalls nearly 388K SUVs for binding second-row seat switches”
- Fox Business: “Ford recalls nearly 388,000 vehicles over second-row seat injury hazard”