Ford is recalling 387,911 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator SUVs for a second-row seat defect it already recalled once, 13 months ago. NHTSA logged the new campaign as 26V451 on July 27, 2026. The first attempt at this exact fix, campaign 25V393, closed out in June 2025 and covered nearly the same vehicles.
The defect: the switch that operates the easy-entry second-row outer seats can bind or stick. When it does, the seat can unlatch, tip, or slide unexpectedly, even with the vehicle in drive. Ford's Critical Concern Review Group logged 14 reports of unwanted seat movement as of June 16, 2026. Six of those seats had already been through the 2025 repair.
What's covered this time
| Vehicle | Model years | Units affected |
|---|---|---|
| Ford Explorer | 2020-2026 | 227,520 |
| Lincoln Aviator | 2020-2027 | 160,391 |
| Total | 387,911 |
The remedy is the same as last time: a dealer inspects the second-row switch assembly and replaces the bezel around it, free of charge. Notification letters started going out July 27, 2026. Ford's customer service line is 1-866-436-7332; ask for recall 26S52, the number Ford uses internally, which maps to NHTSA's 26V451.
Why the 2025 fix didn't hold
Campaign 25V393, filed in June 2025, covered 2020-2025 Explorer and Aviator models for the identical problem: a misaligned bezel around the easy-entry seat switch. Dealers replaced the part, NHTSA closed the file, and Ford moved on. Then the same failure mode showed up again, including in vehicles that had already been through the 2025 repair.
A recall that recurs after a documented fix is a different situation than a fresh defect. It means the original remedy either wasn't installed correctly at some dealers or didn't address the actual root cause of the binding switch. For a used buyer, that distinction matters: a service record showing the 25V393 repair no longer guarantees the seat is safe. Only a completed 26V451 repair does.
What this means if you're shopping used
Explorer and Aviator are both high-volume used vehicles. CarScout's July 26 snapshot shows 60,236 active Explorer listings and 6,463 active Aviator listings nationwide, spread across a dozen model years:
| Model year | Explorer listings | Aviator listings |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2,276 | 444 |
| 2021 | 1,815 | 268 |
| 2022 | 2,896 | 344 |
| 2023 | 5,058 | 598 |
| 2024 | 1,627 | 213 |
Every one of those model years falls inside the 26V451 recall window. Run any Explorer or Aviator VIN, 2020 through 2026, through a recall check before you buy, regardless of what the seller says about prior repairs. If the listing or service history mentions 25V393, that only confirms the vehicle went through the earlier, apparently incomplete fix; it doesn't confirm the new one.
What to check at a pre-purchase inspection
Ask the seller for the VIN and look up open campaigns before you view the car. At the inspection itself, cycle the second-row easy-entry switch on both outer seats several times, with someone seated in the row, and confirm the seat stays latched under load. A sticking or slow-return switch is the exact symptom Ford's review group flagged. If the vehicle already shows a completed 26V451 repair in its service history, that's the strongest signal you can get short of a dealer verifying it yourself.
FAQ
Does having the 2025 recall repair (25V393) mean my Explorer or Aviator is safe now? Not necessarily. Ford's own investigation found second-row seat movement in vehicles that had already received the 2025 fix, which is why campaign 26V451 exists. Check for a completed repair under the newer campaign number specifically, not just the 2025 one.
Which model years are affected? Explorer model years 2020 through 2026 and Aviator model years 2020 through 2027 are covered. That spans nearly every Explorer and Aviator currently on the used market, so model year alone doesn't rule a vehicle out.
Is the repair free if I buy the vehicle used? Yes. Recall repairs are free at any Ford or Lincoln dealer regardless of ownership history or whether you bought the vehicle new or used, as long as the VIN is within the recall's scope and the campaign is still open.
Bottom line
If you're looking at a used Explorer or Aviator from the 2020-2026 range, check the VIN against NHTSA's open campaigns before you commit, and don't treat a 25V393 sticker in the service file as proof the seat issue is resolved. CarScout's recall lookup checks the same NHTSA data in one search. Current Explorer and Aviator pricing is holding steady across model years despite the recall, since it's a repair issue rather than a structural one.
Sources: NHTSA Recall Report 26V451 (filed July 27, 2026); NHTSA campaign 25V393000, confirmed via CarScout's recall database; CBS News and Fox Business reporting on the July 2026 recall; CarScout market snapshot, July 26, 2026.