NHTSA lists 16 safety recalls and 44 owner complaints for the 2026 Ford Explorer (including the hybrid). It has 1 open investigation that names this model year.
Recalled components: engine and cooling, visibility, seats, air bags, and 6 more. Most-described problem: a shattered sunroof (7 complaints, 16%). Most-reported area: electrical system (11 complaints, 25%).
Too new to rank against other Explorer years
The 2026 Explorer has not had three full years of owner complaints yet.
Years to avoid: 2015 to 2017; best year: 2019. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
Data: NHTSA recall, complaint and investigation filesUpdated
Year to avoidBest year
Excludes the Police Interceptor Utility (EPA lists its 3.3L flex-fuel engine as an Explorer from 2020).
16 safety recalls for the 2026 Ford Explorer
Grouped by the part recalled, largest group first, newest first within each part. Summaries are NHTSA's own wording. Open a recall for what is wrong, the fix and the full notice.
Risk: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The engine piston domes may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in piston dome failure and lead to a loss of drive power.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the engine pistons and replace the engine long block, if necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed September 3, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in December 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S61. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on August 28, 2026.
10,427 vehicles.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer, Bronco, Bronco Sport, Mustang, and Ranger vehicles.
Risk: Engine failure can result in a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, bearing failure may cause a breach in the engine block, allowing oil to leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The engine connecting rod bearings may seize, which can result in engine failure.
Fix: Dealers will replace the engine long blocks, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 25, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S58. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on August 18, 2026.
6 vehicles.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.3L engine.
Risk: A sudden loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The engine may fail, which can result in a loss of drive power.
Fix: Dealers will replace the engine long block, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 23, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S35. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 28, 2026.
1,536 vehicles.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Explorer, Ranger, and Bronco vehicles.
Risk: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The engine piston circlips may have been incorrectly installed during manufacturing, which can result in piston failure and engine damage, leading to a loss of drive power.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the engine for missing or mis-installed circlips and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S23. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 2, 2026.
278 vehicles.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer and Mustang vehicles.
Risk: An inoperative windshield defrosting and defogging system may decrease the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system may fail, which can cause the defrosting and defogging system to become inoperative.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and secure the instrument panel joints as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S22. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning April 3, 2026.
55 vehicles.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Lincoln Aviator and Explorer vehicles.
Risk: In the event of a crash, windshield detachment can increase the risk of injury.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 212, "Windshield Mounting."
Fix: Dealers will remove and replace the windshield, free charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 30, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C02. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 22, 2026.
Fails federal standard 212 · 8 vehicles.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer vehicles.
Risk: Reduced visibility while driving can increase the risk of a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The windshield glass may have visible air bubbles, which can obscure the driver's visibility. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 205, "Glazing Materials."
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the windshield as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 6, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C60. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 27, 2025.
Fails federal standard 205 · 56,841 vehicles.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Lincoln Corsair, Lincoln Aviator, and Explorer vehicles.
Risk: Unexpected movement of the driver’s seat back may trap a second-row occupant, increasing the risk of injury.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
An unoccupied driver's seat may recline unintentionally during certain scenarios, such as remote unlock or remote start.
Fix: Dealers will disable the driver seat module (DSM) feature until parts are available. Once available, the motor will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 3, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S53.
76,748 vehicles.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2027 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles.
Risk: A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The switch for the easy-entrysecond-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, tipping, or sliding unexpectedly.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the bezel around the switch as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters explaining the safety risk were mailed August 19, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Lincoln Aviator owner notification letters were mailed August 21, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S52. This recall expands Recall 25V393. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026.
387,917 vehicles.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2027 Aviator and 2020-2026 Explorer vehicles.
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The active vent on the passenger side may not open as intended, preventing the air bag from deploying properly.
Fix: Dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S65. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 14, 2026.
7 vehicles.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer vehicles.
Risk: A vehicle that does not produce a warning sound may fail to alert pedestrians of an approaching vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
A software error may prevent the vehicle from making the pedestrian warning sound at certain speeds.
Fix: Note: This is an expansion of Recall 25V691. Any vehicles previously repaired under 25V691 must have the new remedy completed. Ford will release an over-the-air (OTA) update or dealers will update the APIM software, free of charge. Additionally, dealers will replace the digital signal processing module in Nautilus Hybrid vehicles equipped with 28 speakers, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S51. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning July 7, 2026.
66,383 vehicles.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2027 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid and 2025-2027 Explorer Hybrid vehicles.
NHTSA listing: EXPLORER HYBRID. Components: Backover prevention and rearview camera: warnings, external/pedestrian alert; Forward collision avoidance: warnings, external/pedestrian alert. Ford campaign 26S51.
Risk: An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components increases the risk of a fire. In addition, the loss of oil can result in engine seizure and loss of motive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The cylinder head may have been improperly manufactured, which can cause the ball plugs to fail, resulting in an oil leak.
Fix: Dealers will replace the cylinder head assembly, free of charge. All affected vehicles are still within dealership inventory and therefore no owner notification letters will be mailed. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SD3. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 24, 2025.
6 vehicles.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer, Mustang, Lincoln Corsair, and 2025 Maverick vehicles.
Risk: A headlight that turns incorrectly can result in increased glare to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The Dynamic Bending Light (DBL) system software may cause the passenger-side headlight to turn in the wrong direction when driving through curves in the road. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Fix: The headlight control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 23, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C12. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 5, 2026.
Fails federal standard 108 (lighting) · 35,772 vehicles.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Explorer vehicles.
Risk: Overhead map lights that illuminate unintentionally and cannot be turned off may distract the driver or cause interior glare, increasing the risk of a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
A phantom "Global On" command in the overhead console may illuminate the map lights and prevent them from being turned off. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Number 101, "Controls and Displays."
Fix: Dealers will replace the overhead consoles on vehicles built prior to July 9, 2026. Dealers will inspect the overhead console for a "SW2" marking on vehicles built after July 9, 2026 and replace as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C50. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 6, 2026.
Fails federal standard 101 (controls and displays) · 33,578 vehicles.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026-2027 Explorer Police Interceptor vehicles.
Risk: A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer seating positions may be improperly secured.
Fix: 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.
Fails federal standard 210 (seat belt anchorages) · 561 vehicles.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles.
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.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The trailer hitch assembly bolts may be loose.
Fix: 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.
1,412 vehicles.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Explorer and 2024-2026 Lincoln Aviator vehicles.
NHTSA listing: EXPLORER. Ford campaign 25SA3.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA has opened 1 investigation that names the 2026 Ford Explorer; it is still open. An investigation means NHTSA is reviewing reports of a problem. It is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
Burn injuries from side airbag deployment
Preliminary evaluation PE26008Open since Nov 6, 2026
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 8 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) and 4 Early Warning Reporting “Death and Injury” reports alleging burn injuries following side airbag deployment in model years… NHTSA's full summary
NHTSA listing: EXPLORER. Component: Air bags (side/window, thorax, cushion).
A preliminary evaluation is NHTSA's first step, to gather information and decide whether to look further. NHTSA lists investigations by make, model and model year only, so one can apply to only some versions of a model, such as one engine; its summary says which.
What owners report
Owners have filed 44 complaints with NHTSA about the 2026 Explorer. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Ford Explorer recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2026 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2016 Explorer drew the most (659).
Owner complaints
2026: 44 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Ford Explorer
Model year
Complaints
2010
115
2011
1,198
2012
831
2013
2,239
2014
1,684
2015
1,820
2016
2,467
2017
1,706
2018
736
2019
303
2020
1,256
2021
463
2022
277
2023
115
2024
21
2025
113
2026
44
Safety recalls
2026: 16 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Ford Explorer
Model year
Recalls
2010
1
2011
6
2012
5
2013
11
2014
6
2015
8
2016
14
2017
13
2018
7
2019
6
2020
34
2021
27
2022
25
2023
15
2024
10
2025
22
2026
16
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 44 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2026 Ford Explorer, the problem described most is a shattered sunroof (7). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2026 Ford Explorer safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2026 Ford Explorer earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2026 Ford Explorer?
Yes. NHTSA has 1 open investigation that names the 2026 Ford Explorer: burn injuries from side airbag deployment (PE26008, opened Nov 6, 2026). An investigation is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
How do I check if my Explorer has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Ford dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Nov 12, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Nov 11, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: EXPLORER, EXPLORER HYBRID.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.