2026 Ford Explorer Windshield Recall (26V024)

Recall 26V024 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2026 Ford Explorer in recall 26V024?

During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash.

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer vehicles. 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."

Is it safe to drive a 2026 Explorer with recall 26V024?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: In the event of a crash, windshield detachment can increase the risk of injury.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: In the event of a crash, windshield detachment can increase the risk of injury.

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 windshield, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 26V024?

Recall 26V024 covers 8 vehicles: 2026 Ford Explorer.

NHTSA lists 8 vehicles in this campaign, built October 19, 2025 to October 20, 2025. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the Explorer windshield recall?

Yes. Dealers will remove and replace the windshield, free charge.

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.

When was recall 26V024 announced?

Ford Motor Company reported recall 26V024 to NHTSA on January 21, 2026. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as January 30, 2026.

This recall was filed 8 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 1 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 26V024?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 26V024 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 26V024000. 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 26V024?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 26V024000 applies to your Explorer.
2. Book the recall appointment with any authorized Ford dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
3. Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
4. Write down when symptoms involving the windshield happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. 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 38 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 0 of them about the lighting and visibility.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the lighting and visibility have been filed since recall 26V024 was reported (0) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 38 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 0 of them involve the lighting and visibility. 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.

• 2026 Ford Explorer: 38 complaints in total, 0 about the lighting and visibility

Can recall 26V024 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.

Owners often ask whether this windshield recall means their Explorer qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).

Lighting and visibility defects, such as headlights that fail, wipers that stop or mirrors that do not work, reduce your ability to see and be seen. They are often electrical, and they often come back.

This campaign follows an earlier recall for the same issue. A second recall can mean the first remedy failed, and repeated repair attempts on the same defect are the core of most lemon law claims.

Earlier campaigns on these vehicles involving the same component: 25V730000.

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.

Frequently asked questions about recall 26V024