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Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator trailer hitch bolts may loosen

NHTSA campaign 25V687000 · Reported 2025-10-10 · Ford Motor Company

high How serious is it? About this label

Serious, because a detached trailer or a sudden loss of control can cause a crash; the notice does not tell owners to stop driving, but you should avoid towing anything until the hitch bolts have been checked.

What's wrong, in plain English

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.

What you should do

1. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm your vehicle is included (VINs have been searchable since October 15, 2025). 2. Call your Ford or Lincoln dealer, or Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332, and give them recall number 25SA3 to book the inspection. 3. Have the bolts inspected, tightened, or replaced — the repair is free.

Affected vehicles (4)

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.

Official notice

Component
TRAILER HITCHES
Summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Explorer and 2024-2026 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The trailer hitch assembly bolts may be loose.
Safety risk
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.

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