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Ford, Lincoln Seat Belt Anchor Bolts May Loosen
high How serious is it? About this label
A loose seat belt anchor may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving.
Key facts
| NHTSA campaign number | 26V159000 |
|---|---|
| Reported to NHTSA | Mar 17, 2026 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Part affected | Seat Belts |
| Vehicles covered | 12 model/year combinations, model years 2020–2025 |
| Do-not-drive advisory | No |
| Park-outside advisory | No |
| Repair | Free at any franchised dealer |
What's wrong, in plain English
Ford is recalling certain Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles because the seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer seating positions may not be properly secured. A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain a passenger during a crash. Dealers will inspect the second-row outer seat belt lower anchor bolts and repair or replace them as necessary, at no cost to the owner.
What you should do
2. Contact your Ford dealer, or call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
3. The repair is free of charge.
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 26V159000. More in how recalls work.
Affected vehicles (12)
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
The bigger picture
- Ford Seat Belt Recalls Involving Anchors, Retractors, and Buckles · all 18 Ford recalls in this area
- Lincoln seat belt recalls involving locked belts and loose anchors · all 7 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
Official notice
- Component
- SEAT BELTS
- Summary
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer seating positions may be improperly secured.
- Safety risk
- 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.
Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.