49 recalls covering model years 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 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Your Aviator has a feature that closes all the windows at once. The rear side windows are supposed to stop and go back down if they hit something on the way up. On these vehicles, those windows press too hard on whatever is in the way before they reverse. That could pinch a hand, an arm, or a child's fingers and cause an injury. Ford is correcting it with a free software update to one of the car's control modules.
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 glue holding some trim pieces on the outside of the Aviator may not be strong enough. The strips around the rear door windows and the covers on the pillars behind the rear doors can come unstuck and fall off while you are driving. A piece flying off on the road can hit or surprise other drivers behind you. Dealers will repair or replace those trim pieces at no cost.
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.
These plug-in hybrid Aviators went in for an earlier battery recall, but the repair was not done correctly. One or more cells inside the big high-voltage battery may have a manufacturing flaw that lets it short out inside the pack. If that happens, the battery can fail, the vehicle can lose drive power while you are on the road, and there is also a risk of fire. The dealer will install corrected battery control software at no charge.
These vehicles went in for an earlier recall repair (22V-953) that was done incorrectly. Now, when you start the vehicle with the driver's seat belt unbuckled, the warning chime sounds for less than four seconds instead of the full time federal rules require. The chime is there to remind you to buckle up, and a short one is easy to miss. Only vehicles with the Revel audio system are involved. The dealer reloads the audio system's software at no charge.
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.
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.
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.
A module behind the Aviator's screen can pick up interference from a cell phone inside the vehicle. When that happens, the picture from the backup camera can flicker or look distorted while you are in reverse. That makes it harder to see people, pets, or objects behind you. Ford says owners should not use a cell phone while backing up until the fix is done. A dealer will add shielding to the module so phone signals no longer disturb the picture.
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 these Ford and Lincoln vehicles, the backup camera may show nothing on the screen when you shift into reverse. Some models also have a 360-degree camera view that can go blank. Without the picture, you cannot see what is behind you on the screen, so you could back into a person, another car, or an object. Dealers will replace the backup camera and update the software and wiring if needed, all free of charge.
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.
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.
These Lincolns with the Revel audio system have a seat belt warning chime that stops too soon. When the car is started and the driver's seat belt is not buckled, the chime sounds for less than four seconds instead of lasting as long as federal rules require. A short chime may not get your attention, so a driver could pull away without being belted. Because the chime plays through the stereo, the dealer fixes it with a free software update to the audio system.
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 padded cushion on the driver and front passenger headrest can come loose and fall off the headrest frame. This happens on power headrests that have been moved all the way forward. Ford has already mailed letters to owners about the problem, and a fix is available. A loose or missing headrest cushion means your head is not properly supported, which matters most in a crash. Dealers will replace both front headrests at no cost.
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.
On certain 2020-2021 Lincoln Aviator vehicles with the 3.0L gasoline engine, a bundle of electrical wiring under the hood may not be fastened down the way it should be. Loose wiring can touch the spinning pulley on the air conditioning compressor. That rubbing can wear through the wires or damage the belt that drives the air conditioning. Worn wires can short out, and a short circuit can start a fire.
The part that handles video from the rear camera may stop sending a picture to the dashboard screen. When that happens, the screen is blank or the image is distorted while you back up. Federal rules require a working rear view, so the vehicle does not meet that standard. With no camera picture, you see less of what is behind you, which raises the chance of a crash. Dealers install updated software.
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.
Ford is recalling certain 2020 Explorer Police Interceptor Utility and 2020 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. They left the factory with brake fluid mixed into the windshield washer fluid. That mixture does not clean glass the way washer fluid should, so spraying it can leave the windshield smeared and hard to see through. It can also damage paint and parts on the outside of the vehicle. Dealers will flush the system and replace several washer parts and the wiper blades.
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.
The steering knuckle is the part that connects each front wheel to the steering and suspension. On some Aviators it may have been made incorrectly, and a bad one can crack. If that happens, you lose some of your ability to steer the vehicle, which could cause a crash. There is no warning light for this. Ford dealers will inspect the front knuckle and put in a new one if there is a problem, free of charge.
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.
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.
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.
Complaints owners have filed with NHTSA about the Lincoln Aviator. These are unverified reports; better-selling years collect more.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 108 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 | 39 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2022 | 44 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 2023 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Recalls and complaint record for one model year at a time: