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Ford Explorer Roof Rail Covers May Detach
high How serious is it? About this label
A roof rail cover that comes loose and falls off can create a hazard on the road, increasing the risk of a crash. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving.
Key facts
| NHTSA campaign number | 26V448000 |
|---|---|
| Reported to NHTSA | Jul 14, 2026 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Part affected | Structure:body |
| Vehicles covered | 2 model/year combinations, model years 2018–2019 |
| Do-not-drive advisory | No |
| Park-outside advisory | No |
| Repair | Free at any franchised dealer |
What's wrong, in plain English
On certain Ford Explorer vehicles, the covers on the roof rails may come loose and detach from the vehicle.
What you should do
2. Contact a Ford dealer, who will inspect the roof rail covers and repair or replace parts as needed once the remedy is available; Ford customer service can be reached at 1-866-436-7332.
3. This 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 26V448000. More in how recalls work.
Affected vehicles (2)
Who to contact
Ford — official Ford recall lookup
Customer service: 1-866-436-7332
The bigger picture
- Ford Structure Recalls Cover Loose Trim, Roof Parts, and Joints · all 20 Ford recalls in this area
Other Ford Explorer recalls
- Jul 21, 2026Ford Explorer, Lincoln Aviator Seats May Reclinemedium
- 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
- Mar 19, 2026Ford Explorer and Lincoln Models Camera and ADAS Lossmedium
Official notice
- Component
- STRUCTURE:BODY
- Summary
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle.
- Safety risk
- A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the roof rail covers and as necessary, repair or replace the push-pins, rail clips, or roof rail covers, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 28, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S54. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 21V316. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026.
Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.