2025 Ford Explorer Frame Recall (25V020)
Ford Motor Company · 259 vehicles · Reported January 17, 2025
Ford Motor Company is recalling 259 2025 Ford Explorer; 2025 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The transmission may be improperly secured due to loose cross member bolts. An improperly secured transmission can result in a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 25V020 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 25V020000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 25S03 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | January 17, 2025 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2025 Ford Explorer; 2025 Lincoln Aviator |
| Units affected | 259 |
| Build dates | September 17, 2024 to September 17, 2024 |
| Component | Structure > Frame And Members |
| Safety risk | An improperly secured transmission can result in a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2025 Ford Explorer in recall 25V020?
The transmission may be improperly secured due to loose cross member bolts.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The transmission may be improperly secured due to loose cross member bolts.
Is it safe to drive a 2025 Explorer with recall 25V020?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An improperly secured transmission can result in a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: An improperly secured transmission can result in a loss of drive power, increasing the risk 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 frame and members, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 25V020?
Recall 25V020 covers 259 vehicles: 2025 Ford Explorer; 2025 Lincoln Aviator.
NHTSA lists 259 vehicles in this campaign, built September 17, 2024 to September 17, 2024. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Ford | Explorer |
| 2025 | Lincoln | Aviator |
What is the fix for the Explorer frame recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission cross member bolts as necessary, free of charge.
Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission cross member bolts as necessary, free of charge. If the cross member bolts are missing, dealers will replace the cross member and install new bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 29, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S03.
When was recall 25V020 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 25V020 to NHTSA on January 17, 2025. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as January 29, 2025.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| September 17, 2024 | First affected vehicle built (per Ford Motor Company's filing). |
| September 17, 2024 | Last affected vehicle built. |
| January 17, 2025 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 25V020000. |
| January 29, 2025 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 20 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 0 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 25V020?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 25V020 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 25V020000. 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 25V020?
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 25V020000 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.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Keep a simple log of any frame and members 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 117 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 7 of them about the body, doors and seats.
Since recall 25V020 was reported on January 17, 2025, owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the body, doors and seats on these vehicles. 2 of them (29%) 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 body, doors and seats and were received on or after January 17, 2025, 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 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related body, doors and seats issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 117 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 7 of them involve the body, doors and seats. 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.
- 2025 Ford Explorer: 101 complaints in total, 4 about the body, doors and seats
- 2025 Lincoln Aviator: 16 complaints in total, 3 about the body, doors and seats
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
The contact owns a 2025 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, there was an abnormal windy sound coming from the driver's side-view mirror. The vehicle was taken to two different dealers, where it was determined that the turbulence was caused by the mirror.
2025 Ford Explorer owner, MS, NHTSA complaint 11677512, filed July 31, 2025
This vehicle was a rental car. The rear door opens and closes at random times. On multiple occasions even after locking the car, we would come out to the door being open. The door came down on its own and smacked my wife as well as hitting my [XXX] daughter in the head.
2025 Ford Explorer owner, MD, NHTSA complaint 11755681, filed August 8, 2026
The 2nd row seats are malfunctioning, sliding up and folding while the car is moving. The button at the top of the seat seems to be getting stuck.
2025 Lincoln Aviator owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11699708, filed November 16, 2025
Can recall 25V020 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 25V020000 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))?
Door latch, seat and body structure defects can affect safety in a crash and everyday use. If the recall repair does not solve the problem, the repeat visit is part of your record.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
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 25V020
Did the recall 25V020 fix work?
Since recall 25V020 was reported on January 17, 2025, owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the body, doors and seats on these vehicles. 2 of them (29%) 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 January 29, 2025.
Is the 25V020000 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 25V020000?
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 25V020000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
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.