68 recalls covering model years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. To check whether your vehicle is affected, look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls — a recall may apply only to some vehicles of a given year.
On these SUVs, the driver's seat can tip backward on its own when nobody is sitting in it — for example, after you unlock or start the vehicle remotely. If someone is riding or sitting in the second row behind that seat, the seat back can move into them and pin them against their own seat. Until replacement parts are ready, the dealer will switch off the seat feature that causes it, then replace the seat motor later.
This is a wider version of an earlier recall and covers more model years. The button for the second-row outside easy-entry seats can stick or jam, so the seat may unlatch, tip, or slide when you do not expect it. A seat that moves on its own may not hold a passenger properly in a crash. Dealers will check the switch and replace the plastic ring around it if needed, free.
The covers over the roof rails — the trim strips running along the top of your Explorer — may work loose and fly off while you are driving. A piece coming off at speed can land in the road and become a hazard for you and the drivers behind you. Ford will check the covers and fix or replace the clips, push-pins, or the covers themselves. The parts for the repair are not expected to be ready until January 2027.
The part inside the automatic transmission that locks the wheels when you shift into Park can catch while the vehicle is still moving. That can damage the parking system, so the vehicle may not stay put after you park it and could roll on its own. Ford will update the transmission computer software and inspect and replace any damaged parts. The fix is not ready yet; Ford expects it around April 2027 and will mail a second letter then.
Certain 2024 Explorers with the 2.3-liter engine can have their main engine computer restart by itself while you are driving. That unexpected reset can damage the parking mechanism inside the transmission. If it breaks, the vehicle may not actually lock into "Park" when you shift there, and it can roll away on its own after you get out. A dealer will inspect the parking parts and replace anything damaged.
Certain 2025-2026 Ford Explorer, Ranger and Bronco vehicles may have an engine that fails. If that happens, the vehicle suddenly loses drive power while you are moving, which can leave you unable to keep up with traffic or get out of the way. Ford has already mailed letters warning owners about the danger, but the repair — replacing the main part of the engine — is not ready yet. Ford expects it around November 2026, free of charge.
A computer module that handles the camera images can restart itself over and over without warning. When it does, you lose the backup camera picture on your screen, along with driver-assist features: the pre-collision system, lane-keeping help, and blind-spot monitoring. Those features may not be working when you expect them, which makes it harder to spot a hazard around you. The fix is a free software update, done either at the dealer or sent to the vehicle over the air.
The bolts that hold the bottom end of the second-row outside seat belts to the vehicle may not have been fastened properly. A seat belt held by a loose bolt may not keep a passenger in place during a crash, so the belt may not protect them the way it should. Dealers will inspect those lower anchor bolts on both outer second-row seats and repair or replace them as needed, at no charge.
A valve that routes some exhaust back into the engine can fail. When it does, the vehicle can suddenly lose the power that drives the wheels while you are on the road. That can leave you slowing down or coasting in traffic with other cars around you, with little warning. Dealers will replace the valve at no charge. Notification letters went out and you can look your vehicle up by VIN now.
When you shift into reverse, the picture from the backup camera can show up flipped or upside down on the center screen. A reversed image makes it hard to tell what is actually behind you and which way to steer, so you could back into a person or an object. It is a software problem, and the dealer will load the correct software into the screen system at no cost.
These Explorers have headlights that swivel to follow the road as you steer through a curve. Because of a software error, the passenger-side headlight can turn the wrong direction, pointing away from where the road is going. A beam aimed that way can shine into the eyes of oncoming drivers and people nearby, making it harder for them to see what is in front of them. The fix is a software update, done at a dealer or sent to the vehicle wirelessly.
The motor that drives the windshield wipers can fail, so the wipers may not work the way they should or may stop working at all. If that happens during rain or snow, you can lose your clear view of the road. Ford has already mailed a letter warning owners about the risk, but the final fix is not ready yet; it is expected in October 2026. Dealers will inspect and replace the motor free of charge.
The rear suspension on these Explorers uses a metal arm called a toe link that holds the rear wheel pointed straight. On these vehicles that arm can crack and fracture. If it breaks, the rear wheel can suddenly swing out of position and you can lose control of the steering with no warning beforehand. Dealers replace the toe links at no cost. This recall is a larger version of an earlier Ford recall, 21V537.
These vehicles came with an engine block heater, the cord-and-plug heater that warms the engine in cold weather. The heater can crack and leak coolant onto its electrical parts. When you plug it in, that leak can cause an electrical short circuit, and a short circuit can lead to a fire. Ford says do not plug in the block heater until the vehicle is repaired. A dealer will replace the heater at no charge to you.
The windshield on some of these vehicles was made with air bubbles you can see in the glass. Those bubbles can distort or block part of the driver's view of the road, which makes a crash more likely. Glass like this does not meet the federal safety standard for auto glass. The dealer will look at your windshield and replace it for free if it has the problem. Ford mailed owner letters on November 6, 2025.
The bolts that hold the trailer hitch onto your Explorer or Aviator may not be tight enough. Over time those loose bolts can let the hitch shift or work its way free. If that happens while you are pulling a trailer, the vehicle can become hard to steer and control, or the trailer can come off the back of your vehicle entirely. A dealer will check every hitch bolt and tighten it, or put in new bolts if any are damaged.
An engine block heater is the plug-in warmer some vehicles have to help the engine start in very cold weather. On these Fords and Lincolns the heater can crack and leak coolant, and the leak can cause an electrical short when the heater is plugged in. That short can start a fire. Ford is telling owners not to plug in the block heater at all until the vehicle is fixed. Dealers will replace it, or seal it off and remove the cord, free.
If you tow a trailer, the lights on the back of the trailer may not come on. The problem is a badly made control computer in the vehicle that sends power to the trailer's lights. Drivers behind your trailer may not see it, especially at night or in poor weather. A dealer will replace the computer on low-mileage vehicles, or test it first and replace it if it fails.
On these Ford and Lincoln trucks, SUVs and Mustangs, the low-pressure fuel pump, which is the part that moves gasoline out of the tank, can fail. If it does, the engine can stall and shut off while you are driving. The repair depends on what you own: on Super Duty pickups the dealer replaces the fuel pump itself, and on all the other vehicles the dealer reprograms the engine computer. Either repair is free. Owner letters were mailed July 27, 2026.
A software error affects the backup camera. The screen may show a blank image when you shift into reverse, so you cannot see what is behind the vehicle. Or the camera picture may stay on the screen after you have shifted out of reverse, which can distract you while driving forward. Either situation raises the risk of a crash. A dealer will update the rearview camera software free of charge.
The button that lets the second-row outside seats slide and fold forward for easy entry can stick or jam. When that happens, the seat may unlatch, fold, or slide on its own while you are driving. A seat that shifts like that may not hold a passenger in place during a crash. Dealers will look at the switch and replace the plastic trim ring around it if needed, at no cost.
Some parts deep inside the engine — the connecting rods and their bearings — may have been made wrong. Over time those flawed parts can damage the engine, and the engine can fail while you are driving. If that happens, the vehicle can lose power and stall, possibly in traffic or at highway speed. The dealer will inspect the connecting rods and, if there is a problem, replace the main engine assembly at no cost to you.
On certain 2025 Explorers, the bolts that hold the front brake caliper in place may not have been tightened properly. The caliper is the part that squeezes the brake pads to slow the wheel. If those bolts loosen or fall out, you can lose front braking on that wheel, and the wheel itself may be damaged. Ford dealers will check the bolts and tighten them, or replace the caliper and pads if bolts are missing.
A bolt that holds the front subframe to the vehicle may not have been tightened correctly at the factory. The subframe is the metal structure under the front of the car that carries the engine and steering and helps the vehicle hold together in a collision. If that bolt is loose, the vehicle may not perform as designed in a crash. A dealer will inspect the subframe bolts and tighten any that need it.
On certain 2025 Explorer vehicles, the main engine computer can reset itself while you are driving. That reset can damage the park system or make the engine shut off. If the park system is damaged, the vehicle may roll away after you shift into park without setting the parking brake. If the engine shuts off while you are driving, you can suddenly lose engine power. A dealer will update the engine computer software to fix both problems.
These Explorers were already repaired once under an earlier recall, but the repair was not done correctly. A bolt that holds the rear axle in place can break, which lets the driveshaft come apart. If that happens, the vehicle can roll away after you shift into park unless the parking brake is set, and it can also lose drive power while you are driving. Ford will reprogram the powertrain computer at no charge.
This is a follow-up to an earlier backup camera recall. Some of these Explorers, Aviators and Corsairs were repaired incorrectly the first time, so the problem can still happen: the video signal fails and the rearview camera picture does not show up on the screen when you shift into reverse. With no image, you cannot see people or objects behind you. Dealers will reload the software in the camera's image processing module.
Ford is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150 and Bronco, 2024 Ranger, and 2025 Mustang, Explorer and Aviator vehicles. A part inside the transmission that routes fluid to the gears, called the valve body, may have been machined incorrectly. Reverse gear can fail, or the vehicle can move forward unexpectedly when you have selected reverse or neutral. That kind of surprise movement can cause a crash. Dealers will replace the valve body at no cost.
Ford is recalling certain 2020-2021 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The bolts that hold the seat belt buckles to the seats may not have been tightened properly, at one or more seating positions. Some vehicles may also have a loose bolt at the second-row center belt or the part that winds the belt in. A belt or buckle that is not firmly anchored may not hold a person in place during a crash.
Certain 2025 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles have loose bolts on the cross member, the brace that holds the transmission in place. Because of those loose bolts, the transmission may not be properly secured, and the vehicle can lose drive power while you are on the road. Dealers will inspect and replace the bolts as needed. If any bolts are missing, they will replace the cross member and install new bolts. All of this is free. Ford mailed owner letters on January 29, 2025.
The airbag warning label that belongs on the dashboard may be missing from your vehicle. That label explains how people should be seated and buckled in — for example, where children should ride — so the airbags and seat belts protect everyone properly in a crash. Without it, someone riding in the vehicle could sit in a way that increases their risk of injury. Ford will mail the warning labels to owners free of charge.
The backup camera on these Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator SUVs can quit working once the vehicle is moving 10 mph or faster. If the screen goes out while you are backing up, you lose your view of what is behind you. Federal rules require a working rear camera, so these vehicles do not meet the standard. The fix is a software update, which can arrive over the air or be done by the dealer.
On Explorers with the 3.3-liter hybrid engine, the cable running from the 12-volt battery can rub against the belt-driven starter-generator under the hood. Over time that rubbing wears through the cable's covering, and the bare wire can short out. A short circuit in that spot can start a fire. The repair is quick and free: the dealer adds a tie strap that holds the battery cable away from the high-voltage cable so the two cannot rub together.
Some 2021-2022 Ford and Lincoln models with the 2.7L or 3.0L EcoBoost engine can have an intake valve break while you are driving. Those valves let air into the engine, and if one snaps, the engine can fail and stop making power. That means you could suddenly lose the ability to accelerate or hold speed in traffic. Dealers run a test on the engine and, if it fails the test, replace the whole engine at no charge.
The fuel injectors spray gasoline into the engine. On these vehicles, some injectors were put together at the factory without a small support disc that helps the rubber seal hold tight. Without that disc, gasoline can leak out. If leaking fuel reaches something hot, such as the engine or exhaust, it can catch fire. Only certain vehicles built with the faulty assembly are affected. A dealer will install new seals and the missing support discs at no cost.
These Explorers were built with the Police Interceptor Utility package. If the engine fails, engine oil and fuel vapor can escape into the engine bay and collect near hot parts such as the engine or exhaust. That can set off a fire under the hood. Ford says that if you hear unexpected engine noises, suddenly lose engine power, or see smoke from the engine compartment, you should pull over and shut the engine off as soon as you safely can.
Some 2020 Ford Explorers have a poor electrical connection at the rearview camera. Because of it, the camera picture on your dashboard screen can go blank or turn distorted while you are backing up, and the problem may come and go without warning. Federal safety rules require a working backup camera view, so these vehicles do not meet the standard. A Ford dealer will install a new camera at no cost to you.
On some 2023 Explorers, a bolt on the right front suspension — the one connecting the wheel's steering knuckle to the strut — may be loose or missing entirely. The wheel can then sit at the wrong angle, so the SUV may pull to one side or take extra effort to steer. The loose parts can also let the brake hose touch the tire and get damaged, which leaks brake fluid and can take away your braking. Dealers will tighten or install the bolts.
The A-pillar trim is the plastic strip that covers the post between the windshield and the front door. The clips holding it may not be fully snapped into place, so the trim can work loose and come off the vehicle. A piece that lands in the road can be a hazard for you and for drivers behind you. Dealers will inspect the trim and replace it if needed, at no cost.
When you shift into reverse, the backup camera may show a blank blue screen instead of the view behind your Explorer. The cause is a wiring mistake made during assembly — a loose connection in the bundle of wires that feeds the camera. If you cannot see what is behind you when backing up, it is easier to hit a person, a pet, or another vehicle. A dealer will check the camera wiring and repair any loose connections for free.
A bolt that holds the rear axle in place can crack and break. If it does, the driveshaft — the spinning bar that sends engine power to the rear wheels — can come loose. You could suddenly lose power while driving, or the vehicle could roll away on its own when parked if you did not set the parking brake. Dealers will replace the bolt and a nearby bushing, check the axle cover for damage, and replace it if needed, all at no cost.
These are plug-in hybrids, and one or more cells inside the large high-voltage battery may have been built wrong. A bad cell can short out inside the battery and cause the whole battery to fail. If that happens the vehicle can lose power while you are driving, and there is also a fire risk. Your dealer will run a computer test on the battery control module and replace the whole battery pack if the test shows a problem, free of charge.
On Explorers with the 2.3-liter turbo engine, the small line that carries oil to the turbocharger may be damaged and leak oil inside the engine compartment. Oil that drips onto hot engine or exhaust parts can catch fire. Losing oil can also make the engine stall, so the vehicle could quit while you are driving. Ford says that if you see the oil pressure warning light or smoke from under the hood, park and shut the engine off as soon as you safely can.
These SUVs have a 360-degree camera system, and the part that sends the video picture can fail. When it does, the backup camera image never appears on the dashboard screen while you are reversing, so you cannot see what is behind the vehicle. Dealers will replace the 360-degree camera at no cost. This recall replaces an earlier one, so even if your vehicle was already fixed under recall 23V-022, it needs the new repair.
These Explorer Police Interceptor Utility SUVs have a 12.1-inch computer screen in the dash. If you use the display On/Off button to turn that screen off, and then shift into reverse, the backup camera picture never comes up and the screen simply stays blank. Federal safety rules require a rear view image whenever you back up, so these vehicles do not meet the standard. A dealer fixes it with a free software update to the screen system.
Two problems are covered here. The bolt that holds the rear axle in place can crack, which can let the driveshaft come loose — that means you can lose the power that moves the SUV. On top of that, an earlier software update left out a feature that automatically sets the electronic parking brake when you shift into park. Without it, the Explorer could roll away on its own. A dealer will load corrected engine-computer software.
On these Explorers, the computer that controls the engine and transmission can reset itself unexpectedly while you are driving. That reset can damage the parking mechanism inside the transmission. If it is damaged, the vehicle may not actually lock into Park when you shift there, so it can roll away on its own after you get out. Only Explorers with the 2.3L engine and the 10R60 automatic transmission are affected. A dealer will inspect the park system and repair whatever is damaged.
A bolt inside the automatic transmission may be loose. If it is, the transmission may not actually go into Park, even though the gear shifter shows "PARK." That means the vehicle is not locked in place and can roll away on its own after you get out. Dealers will inspect the transmission and replace it if necessary, at no cost to you. Ford mailed owner letters on April 25, 2023.
Certain Ford Explorer, Lincoln Aviator and Lincoln Corsair SUVs with the 360-degree camera system can lose the video signal. When that happens, the picture from the backup camera does not show up on the dashboard screen after you shift into reverse. You are left backing up with a blank or frozen display and cannot see children, pets or objects behind you. The dealer fixes it with a free software update.
This covers vehicles with the 2.3-liter engine. The connection on one of the fuel lines may not have been tightened enough when the vehicle was built. A loose connection can let gasoline escape under the hood, and gasoline near a hot engine can start a fire. Ford's dealers will inspect the fuel line and install a new fuel line assembly if it is needed. The inspection and any parts and labor are free to the owner.
The engine rails are heavy steel beams in the front of the vehicle that hold the engine and help absorb a front-end crash. On these vehicles the steel may not have been hardened correctly, so the rails can be weaker than they should be. That means less protection for people inside during a crash, and a rail could break loose and drag on the road while you are driving. Dealers test the rails and replace weak ones.
The tube you pour gas down to fill the tank may come loose from the vehicle in a crash. If it does, fuel can leak out, and leaking fuel raises the chance of a fire. The vehicle does not meet the federal safety rule for fuel systems because of this. Ford's fix is to add a small locking clip that keeps the fuel vapor line attached. Dealers install it free of charge in one visit.
Because parts were labeled wrong at the factory, some 2021 Explorer and Aviator vehicles may have been built with the wrong pieces in the rear suspension — the setup that holds up the back of the vehicle and smooths out the road. With the wrong parts, the vehicle may not handle the way it should, may sit at the wrong height, and may not brake the way it is meant to. Dealers will inspect the rear suspension and swap in the correct parts if yours are wrong.
These SUVs came with a 360-degree camera system. The part that sends video to your dashboard screen can fail, so when you shift into reverse the picture from the backup camera does not come up. Without that view you cannot see a child, a pet, or an object directly behind the vehicle, which makes backing into something or someone more likely. The fix is a free software update to the module that handles the camera images.
On certain 2021 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles, the studs that hold the side airbag in place can break loose when the airbag goes off. If that happens, the side airbag will not inflate the way it is supposed to, so it may not protect you properly in a side crash. Because of this, these vehicles do not meet the federal safety rule for side impact protection. Dealers will replace the side airbag assemblies at no cost.
The long covers that run along the edges of the roof are held on by retention pins. Those pins can work loose, and a cover can detach from the vehicle. If one comes off while you are driving, it becomes an obstacle in the road for you and for drivers behind you. Dealers will install push-pins and replace any damaged rail clips or roof rail covers as needed, at no charge.
On certain Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator SUVs, the bolts that attach the rear lower control arms to the rear wheel hubs were not heat-treated, so they are softer than they should be. A bolt like that can snap. If one breaks, the rear wheel can shift out of position and you can lose control of the vehicle. Ford dealers will replace both bolts. Ford began this recall in April 2021 and the repair is free.
The bolts holding the right-side engine mount may not have been tightened correctly, and they can work loose over time. A loose engine mount lets the engine shake around, and that shaking can make the axle pull away from the engine. If that happens, the vehicle can lose power while you are driving. Dealers will remove and replace the right-hand engine mount bolts at no cost to you. This recall began on February 3, 2021.
This covers 2020 Explorers with the 2.3-liter engine and the 19-gallon gas tank. A one-way valve where fuel enters the tank may not be fully welded to the tank. In a crash, that weak spot could open up and let a large amount of gasoline spill out, which can catch fire. You would not see or smell anything during normal driving. Dealers replace the whole fuel tank shell at no cost.
Certain 2020 Explorer and Aviator all-wheel-drive models can have a drive shaft that cracks apart at a weld. The drive shaft is the spinning bar that sends power to the rear wheels. If it breaks, the vehicle can roll away even when you have put it in Park, or it can suddenly stop driving. A broken shaft can also bend, come loose, and hit the fuel tank, which can cause a fuel leak or a fire. Dealers will check the drive shaft and replace it if needed.
A poor electrical connection to the backup camera can make the screen go blank or show a fuzzy, distorted picture when you shift into reverse. It may happen on and off rather than all the time. If you cannot see what is behind you, it is easier to back into a person or an object. Federal rules require a working rear camera on these vehicles. Dealers will replace the camera at no charge.
In these Explorers, the seat belt buckle for the middle seat in the second row may not have been fastened to the seat properly at the factory. If that buckle is not secured, the belt may fail to hold a passenger in place during a crash, so someone riding there could be hurt worse than they otherwise would be. Ford dealers will replace the entire second-row center seat assembly, free of charge, on affected vehicles.
The side airbags sit inside the front seat backs. On these vehicles, the bolts holding the airbag and the seat back panel may not have been tightened enough at the factory. If they are loose, the side airbag may not work the way it should in a crash, so it may not protect the person in that seat properly. A dealer will take off the panel on the back of one or both front seats and check that everything is tight.
On certain 2020 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles, a protective sleeve on one fuel line can rub against the plastic line that carries liquid fuel. Over time that rubbing wears a hole through the line and gasoline can leak out. Leaking fuel near anything hot or sparking can start a fire. The fix is simple: a dealer installs a longer protective sleeve over the liquid fuel line so the two parts no longer rub.
On certain 2020 Explorers with the 2.3L or 3.3L engine, a bundle of electrical wires may not have been tied down properly. It can rub against the spinning air conditioning pulley and wear through the wire insulation. If a bare wire then touches the main battery wire, it can short out and start a fire. A dealer will add a strap to hold the wiring safely in place, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019.
The mechanism that lets a seat back tilt is supposed to have three metal catches holding it in place, and on these vehicles one catch may be missing. With a catch missing, the seat back is weaker than it should be and may feel loose. In a crash, a seat back like this may not hold the person in the seat properly, which can make injuries worse. Dealers will inspect the seats and replace them as needed, free of charge.
Inside the vehicle there is a hand lever that can release the transmission from Park. It is supposed to be hidden under a cover, and on these vehicles that cover may be missing. Without it, the lever can be moved by accident and the vehicle could roll away. Some vehicles were also left in a factory setting that hides dashboard warnings and does not show which gear is selected. Dealers fix both at no cost.
An assembly mistake means the fuel pressure sensor on these 2018 Ford Explorers can leak gasoline. Leaking fuel near anything hot enough to ignite it can start a fire under the hood. This affects Explorers built with the 2.3-liter or 3.5-liter turbocharged engines. The fix is not a patch: the dealer replaces the whole fuel line assembly, free of charge, so the leaking part is gone for good.
Complaints owners have filed with NHTSA about the Ford Explorer. These are unverified reports; better-selling years collect more.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 727 | 15 | 7 | 12 |
| 2019 | 294 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| 2020 | 1208 | 35 | 10 | 38 |
| 2021 | 419 | 14 | 5 | 16 |
| 2022 | 263 | 17 | 1 | 23 |
| 2023 | 107 | 7 | 2 | 9 |
| 2024 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 2025 | 96 | 7 | 0 | 4 |
Recalls and complaint record for one model year at a time: