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Ford Explorer, Lincoln Aviator Side Airbag Weld Defect

NHTSA campaign 21V652000 · Reported Aug 23, 2021 · Ford Motor Company

high How serious is it? About this label

An air bag that does not deploy properly increases the risk of injury in a crash. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving.

Key facts

NHTSA campaign number	21V652000
Reported to NHTSA	Aug 23, 2021
Manufacturer	Ford Motor Company
Part affected	AIR Bags:side/window:curtain
Vehicles covered	2 model/year combinations, model years 2021
Do-not-drive advisory	No
Park-outside advisory	No
Repair	Free at any franchised dealer

What's wrong, in plain English

In some Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles, the mounting studs that hold the side air bag in place could detach when the air bag deploys. This means the side air bag may not inflate the way it is supposed to during a crash. Because of this, these vehicles do not meet a federal safety standard for side-impact crash protection.

What you should do

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm your vehicle is included.
2. Contact a Ford dealer, or call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
3. The repair is free.

Where do I find my VIN, and what do I tell the dealer?

Your VIN is the 17-character code on the lower left of the windshield, on your registration and usually on your insurance card. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether this recall is still open on your car. When you call the dealer, say you have an open safety recall and give them NHTSA campaign number 21V652000. More in how recalls work.

Affected vehicles (2)

2021 Ford Explorer
2021 Lincoln Aviator

Who to contact

Ford — official Ford recall lookup

Customer service: 1-866-436-7332

Lincoln — official Lincoln recall lookup

Customer service: 1-866-436-7332

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

The bigger picture

Ford Airbag Recalls Involving Deployment Failures and Loose Components · all 14 Ford recalls in this area
Lincoln Air Bag Recalls Involving Covers, Attachments, Sensors, and Deployment · all 5 Lincoln recalls in this area

Other Ford Explorer recalls

Jul 21, 2026Ford Explorer, Lincoln Aviator Seats May Reclinemedium
Jul 14, 2026Ford Explorer Roof Rail Covers May Detachhigh
Jul 14, 2026Ford, Lincoln Second-Row Seats May Shift Unexpectedlyhigh
Jun 24, 2026Ford, Lincoln SUVs: Transmission Park System May Failhigh
Jun 9, 2026Ford Explorer Park System May Fail, Rollaway Riskhigh
May 27, 2026Ford Explorer Engine May Fail Suddenlyhigh

All 68 Explorer recalls

Official notice

Component: AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The side air bag attachment weld studs could detach during the deployment of the side air bag, resulting in an improper deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 214, "Side Impact Protection".
Safety risk: Improper deployment of a side air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the side air bag assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 10, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C19.

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.