Ask the seller for proof the repair was completed, or run the free VIN check. Recall repairs are done at no cost by a dealer.
Recalls
Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.
Safety recall
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.
- Status
- Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
- What to do
- Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.
Transmission recall
A park system that is damaged may not shift into "PARK," resulting in a vehicle rollaway and increasing the risk of injury or crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect for park system damage and replace the park system components as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 24, 2026. Owners may contact customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S39. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 12, 2026.
- Status
- Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
- What to do
- Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.
Seat belts recall
A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the second-row outer seat belt lower anchor bolts and replace or repair them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 30, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C18. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 19, 2026.
- Status
- Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
- What to do
- Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.
Safety recall
An incorrectly displayed rearview image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 23, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C11. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 5, 2026.
- Status
- Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
- What to do
- Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.
Safety recall
An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed February 13, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in October 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026. This recall expands previous recall number 25V685.
- Status
- Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
- What to do
- Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.
Safety recall
While towing a trailer, loose trailer hitch bolts can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, or cause the trailer to detach. Either of these conditions can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and tighten the trailer hitch bolts, or replace them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 29, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA3. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.
- Status
- Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
- What to do
- Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.
Safety recall
A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.
- Status
- Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
- What to do
- Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.
Safety recall
A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the second-row seat switch, and replace the bezel around the switch as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S67.
- Status
- Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
- What to do
- Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.
Safety recall
Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
- Remedy
- Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.
- Status
- Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
- What to do
- Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.
Safety recall
A short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a tie strap between the battery cable and high voltage cable, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 8, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S61.
- Status
- Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
- What to do
- Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.
Owner complaints by system
Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.
Engine & powertrain
2
Most reports here involve transmission slipping.
Read full complaint
Deputy was going to an incident and after arrival at the scene the patrol car began to smoke, and flames were seen within the wheel well. Deputy was not in the vehicle when the fire was discovered, and Fire responded and extinguished the flames - but not before major damage to the engine compartment.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11671520 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Electrical & infotainment
3
Most reports here involve software faults.
Read full complaint
The center display went blank and a/c controls under it would not work. Stopped vehicle and pushed ignition button to off and waited 1 minute and pushed ignition back to on on and display was still blank. Got to destination and pushed ignition to off. The next day when I got into vehicle and pushed ignition button to on the display worked.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11746112 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Steering, suspension & tires
5
Most reports here involve premature wear.
Read full complaint
Purchased new from dealer. At 3500 miles, noticed rattling and clunking noise under front end, more noticeable at speeds less than 35. Took to dealer who diagnosed as worn struts, saying shocks and struts need to be replaced, but they need to order parts. When asked if safe to drive, was told "yes", but "avoid potholes". Now waiting to hear from dealer when parts come in. They stated it would take 4 to 5 hours to repair/replace.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11635531 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Airbags & seat belts
2
Most reports here involve airbags not deploying. Of these, 1 mention a crash, 3 mention an injury.
Read full complaint
During a severe, multi-lane impact crash, the second-row outer seatbelts completely failed to maintain restraint and failed to retract. Both occupants in the second-row outer seating positions (ages 5 and 7) sustained visible seatbelt friction burns on their arms from the initial impact, but immediately following the crash, both seatbelts were found completely broken, with all slack pulled completely out and zero mechanical retraction. Both children were found entirely unbuckled and unrestrained immediately following the impact. This vehicle is a Ford Explorer, and this failure matches the exact criteria of an active manufacturer safety recall noted on my insurance documentation (NHTSA Campaign ID: 26V159000 / Ford Recall No: 26C18) regarding second-row outer seatbelt anchor bolts being improperly secured. The vehicle has been declared a total loss, but the components are preserved and currently available for inspection upon request under a temporary insurance evidence hold. How safety was put at risk: The safety of two young children was severely compromised. Because the second-row seatbelt mechanisms or anchor bolts failed mid-crash, the children were left entirely unrestrained and unbuckled inside a moving, colliding vehicle after the initial impact, vastly increasing their risk of severe secondary impact injuries. Has the problem been confirmed by a dealer/independent center? UNKNOWN. The failure occurred during the crash, and the vehicle was towed directly to a holding lot. Has it been inspected by others? The vehicle has been documented by insurance representatives for valuation purposes, but a dedicated mechanical inspection of the failed seatbelt components has not yet been performed. Were there warning lamps or prior symptoms? NO. There were absolutely no warning lights, messages, loose seatbelt components, or mechanical symptoms prior to the crash. The system appeared to be functioning normally until it failed under the stress of the impact.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11744835 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Structure & body
4
Most reports here involve other issues.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11730556 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Other systems
4
Most reports here involve premature wear.
Read full complaint
The problem with my car is that I replaced the catalytic converter four months ago; I used an original part from the dealership. I am very concerned that the catalytic converter has failed again after only four months. I am convinced that the manufacturing process is flawed or defective. I am afraid something serious might happen to my only car, or that this could happen to someone else. I urge you to investigate what is going on with Ford, as there seem to be constant recalls for their vehicles. I am lodging a complaint because this has happened to me twice now. Furthermore, I only use Shell gasoline; I don't know what else to do, and I am asking for help.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11763268 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
How does it compare with other years? The 2024 has 20 complaints on file, fewer than the 2023 (108) and fewer than the 2025 (98). Of the 17 model years of the Ford Explorer we cover, the 2016 has the most (2,448). Older model years have had longer to collect complaints.