2021-2022 Ford Explorer Wiper Motor Recall (26V117)
Ford Motor Company · 604,533 vehicles · Reported March 3, 2026
Ford Motor Company is recalling 604,533 2021-2022 Ford Escape; 2021-2022 Ford Explorer; 2021-2022 Lincoln Aviator; 2021-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The windshield wiper motor may fail and prevent the windshield wipers from operating properly. Windshield wipers that fail to operate properly can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 26V117 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 26V117000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 26S14 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | March 3, 2026 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2021-2022 Ford Escape; 2021-2022 Ford Explorer; 2021-2022 Lincoln Aviator; 2021-2022 Lincoln Corsair |
| Units affected | 604,533 |
| Component | Visibility > Windshield Wiper / Washer > Motor |
| Safety risk | Windshield wipers that fail to operate properly can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021-2022 Ford Explorer in recall 26V117?
The windshield wiper motor may fail and prevent the windshield wipers from operating properly.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Aviator, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The windshield wiper motor may fail and prevent the windshield wipers from operating properly.
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2022 Explorer with recall 26V117?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Windshield wipers that fail to operate properly can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Windshield wipers that fail to operate properly can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the motor.
Which vehicles are included in recall 26V117?
Recall 26V117 covers 604,533 vehicles: 2021-2022 Ford Escape; 2021-2022 Ford Explorer; 2021-2022 Lincoln Aviator; 2021-2022 Lincoln Corsair.
NHTSA lists 604,533 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | Ford | Escape |
| 2021-2022 | Ford | Explorer |
| 2021-2022 | Lincoln | Aviator |
| 2021-2022 | Lincoln | Corsair |
What is the fix for the Explorer wiper motor recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect and replace the front wiper motors as necessary, free of charge.
Dealers will inspect and replace the front wiper motors as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed April 2, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in October 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S14. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 4, 2026.
When was recall 26V117 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 26V117 to NHTSA on March 3, 2026.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| March 3, 2026 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 26V117000. |
| April 2, 2026 | Letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 7 months ago. 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 26V117?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 26V117 is open on your Explorer, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 26V117000 is open on your Explorer, it will be listed there, along with Ford recall number 26S14. You can also ask any Ford dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should Explorer owners do about recall 26V117?
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 26V117000 applies to your Explorer.
- Call a Ford dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- 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 motor 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 1,430 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 61 of them about the lighting and visibility.
Since recall 26V117 was reported on March 3, 2026, owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA about the lighting and visibility on these vehicles. 1 of them (3%) 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 lighting and visibility and were received on or after March 3, 2026, 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 lighting and visibility issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 1,430 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 61 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.
- 2021 Ford Explorer: 430 complaints in total, 18 about the lighting and visibility
- 2021 Ford Escape: 348 complaints in total, 17 about the lighting and visibility
- 2022 Ford Explorer: 267 complaints in total, 10 about the lighting and visibility
- 2022 Ford Escape: 232 complaints in total, 5 about the lighting and visibility
- 2022 Lincoln Aviator: 45 complaints in total, 3 about the lighting and visibility
- 2021 Lincoln Aviator: 39 complaints in total, 3 about the lighting and visibility
- 2022 Lincoln Corsair: 35 complaints in total, 3 about the lighting and visibility
- 2021 Lincoln Corsair: 34 complaints in total, 2 about the lighting and visibility
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
1 Brakes are making noise all times when in slow motion the brake paddle depressed ether is moving forward or reversing the repairs did not fix the problem. 1.
2021 Ford Escape owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11679885, filed August 11, 2025
Vehicle headlights constantly dimming in and out, replaced alternator and battery, problem still persisted if not worse than before.
2021 Ford Escape owner, AZ, NHTSA complaint 11734480, filed April 29, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked with the vehicle turned off, the exterior and interior lights failed to turn off as intended. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure.
2021 Ford Escape owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11754688, filed August 4, 2026
Can recall 26V117 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 26V117000 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))?
A headlight, wiper or visibility defect on the 2021-2022 Ford Explorer can make night or rain driving unsafe, and repeat repairs for the same problem count toward a lemon law claim.
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 26V117
Did the recall 26V117 fix work?
Since recall 26V117 was reported on March 3, 2026, owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA about the lighting and visibility on these vehicles. 1 of them (3%) 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.
Is the 26V117000 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 26V117000?
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.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
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 26V117000 (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.