2021-2025 Ford Explorer Label Recall (24V852)
Ford Motor Company · 27,678 vehicles · Reported November 8, 2024
Ford Motor Company is recalling 27,678 2021-2024 Ford Escape; 2021-2024 Ford Expedition; 2021-2025 Ford Explorer; 2021-2024 Ford F-150; 2021-2025 Lincoln Aviator; 2021-2024 Lincoln Corsair; 2021-2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 24V852 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 24V852000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 24C39 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | November 8, 2024 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2021-2024 Ford Escape; 2021-2024 Ford Expedition; 2021-2025 Ford Explorer; 2021-2024 Ford F-150; 2021-2025 Lincoln Aviator; 2021-2024 Lincoln Corsair; 2021-2024 Lincoln Navigator |
| Units affected | 27,678 |
| Build dates | July 23, 2019 to August 19, 2024 |
| Component | Equipment > Other > Labels |
| Safety risk | Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021-2025 Ford Explorer in recall 24V852?
The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2025 Explorer with recall 24V852?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Explorer shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the labels, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 24V852?
Recall 24V852 covers 27,678 vehicles: 2021-2024 Ford Escape; 2021-2024 Ford Expedition; 2021-2025 Ford Explorer; 2021-2024 Ford F-150; 2021-2025 Lincoln Aviator; 2021-2024 Lincoln Corsair; 2021-2024 Lincoln Navigator.
NHTSA lists 27,678 vehicles in this campaign, built July 23, 2019 to August 19, 2024. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2024 | Ford | Escape |
| 2021-2024 | Ford | Expedition |
| 2021-2025 | Ford | Explorer |
| 2021-2024 | Ford | F-150 |
| 2021-2025 | Lincoln | Aviator |
| 2021-2024 | Lincoln | Corsair |
| 2021-2024 | Lincoln | Navigator |
What is the fix for the Explorer label recall?
Yes. Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge.
Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.
When was recall 24V852 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 24V852 to NHTSA on November 8, 2024. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as December 19, 2024.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| July 23, 2019 | First affected vehicle built (per Ford Motor Company's filing). |
| August 19, 2024 | Last affected vehicle built. |
| November 8, 2024 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 24V852000. |
| December 19, 2024 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 23 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 1854 days. If your Explorer was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Explorer is part of recall 24V852?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 24V852 is open on your Explorer, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 24V852000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should Explorer owners do about recall 24V852?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 24V852000 applies to your Explorer.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Ford dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Keep a simple log of any labels symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Explorer owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 4,690 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 690 of them about the other equipment.
Since recall 24V852 was reported on November 8, 2024, owners have filed 410 complaints with NHTSA about the other equipment on these vehicles. 31 of them (8%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the other equipment and were received on or after November 8, 2024, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related other equipment issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 4,690 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 690 of them involve the other equipment. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Ford F-150: 1,015 complaints in total, 94 about the other equipment
- 2022 Ford F-150: 594 complaints in total, 87 about the other equipment
- 2021 Ford Explorer: 430 complaints in total, 84 about the other equipment
- 2023 Ford F-150: 408 complaints in total, 66 about the other equipment
- 2021 Ford Escape: 348 complaints in total, 59 about the other equipment
- 2022 Ford Explorer: 267 complaints in total, 55 about the other equipment
- 2021 Ford Expedition: 235 complaints in total, 29 about the other equipment
- 2022 Ford Escape: 232 complaints in total, 24 about the other equipment
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
Since we purchased the vehicle new, the Sync Touch Screen can take several minutes to come on line and as a result all camera features are disabled and this is a safety issue.
2024 Lincoln Corsair owner, LA, NHTSA complaint 11594022, filed June 12, 2024
I bought my car new. It has 5070 miles and the battery went dead. The car is in the garage when not in use. The dealer would not replace it and I contacted the Lincoln company and hear no response from them.
2022 Lincoln Corsair owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11643038, filed February 16, 2025
Sun roof top trim from down , top trim plastic not securely install. Top trim, It can be projectile to front driver or front passenger when car hid the break. Sun roof screen came down block the sign of center rear view mirror.
2022 Lincoln Corsair owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11748981, filed July 8, 2026
Can recall 24V852 make my Explorer a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Recall 24V852000 does not automatically make your Explorer a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
Even an equipment recall can matter in a lemon law claim if the problem keeps coming back or the 2021-2025 Ford Explorer spends many days at the dealer.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021-2025 Ford Explorer has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Explorer went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Explorer been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Ford Explorer recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 24V852
Did the recall 24V852 fix work?
Since recall 24V852 was reported on November 8, 2024, owners have filed 410 complaints with NHTSA about the other equipment on these vehicles. 31 of them (8%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed December 19, 2024.
Is the 24V852000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Explorer is part of recall 24V852000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 24V852000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 7, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq., Founder and Managing Attorney of America’s Lemon Lawyer (Wynn Law Group, APC). Licensed by the State Bar of California, No. 362320. His practice focuses on California lemon law under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act.
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Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Ford, Lincoln. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.