2021-2026 Ford Explorer Seat Belt Recall (26V159)
Ford Motor Company · 561 vehicles · Reported March 17, 2026
Ford Motor Company is recalling 561 2021-2026 Ford Explorer; 2021-2026 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer seating positions may be improperly secured. A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 26V159 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 26V159000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 26C18 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | March 17, 2026 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2021-2026 Ford Explorer; 2021-2026 Lincoln Aviator |
| Units affected | 561 |
| Component | Seat Belts |
| Safety risk | A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021-2026 Ford Explorer in recall 26V159?
The seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer seating positions may be improperly secured.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer seating positions may be improperly secured.
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2026 Explorer with recall 26V159?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing 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 seat belts, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 26V159?
Recall 26V159 covers 561 vehicles: 2021-2026 Ford Explorer; 2021-2026 Lincoln Aviator.
NHTSA lists 561 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2026 | Ford | Explorer |
| 2021-2026 | Lincoln | Aviator |
What is the fix for the Explorer seat belt recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect the second-row outer seat belt lower anchor bolts and replace or repair them as necessary, free of charge.
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.
When was recall 26V159 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 26V159 to NHTSA on March 17, 2026. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as March 30, 2026.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| February 12, 2026 | Last affected vehicle built. |
| March 17, 2026 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 26V159000. |
| March 30, 2026 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 6 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 26V159?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 26V159 is open on your Explorer, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 26V159000 is open on your Explorer, it will be listed there, along with Ford recall number 26C18. 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 26V159?
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 26V159000 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.
- 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.
- Write down when symptoms involving the seat belts happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- 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 1,101 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 17 of them about the seat belts.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the seat belts have been filed since recall 26V159 was reported (4) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 1,101 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 17 of them involve the seat belts. 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, 3 about the seat belts
- 2022 Ford Explorer: 267 complaints in total, 5 about the seat belts
- 2023 Ford Explorer: 110 complaints in total, 5 about the seat belts
- 2025 Ford Explorer: 101 complaints in total, 1 about the seat belts
- 2022 Lincoln Aviator: 45 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
- 2021 Lincoln Aviator: 39 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
- 2026 Ford Explorer: 38 complaints in total, 1 about the seat belts
- 2023 Lincoln Aviator: 24 complaints in total, 1 about the seat belts
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
Seat belt not working properly, no fix or remedy as of yet. Do not feel safe driving vehicle with passengers. Called Lincoln certified dealer in area and all do not have a fix or availability for months to service vehicle.
2023 Lincoln Aviator owner, MD, NHTSA complaint 11528021, filed June 20, 2023
On a brand new 2025 Ford Explorer the 2nd row seatbelt was never bolted in. The seatbelt was hooked into the bottom so at a glance it looked correctly installed. But after having to remove a car seat the plastic covering looked like it was detaching.
2025 Ford Explorer owner, IL, NHTSA complaint 11677180, filed July 30, 2025
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the seat belt warning light failed to illuminate while the seat belt was manually unlatched.
2023 Ford Explorer owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11564644, filed January 10, 2024
Can recall 26V159 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 seat belts 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)).
Seat belt defects are safety defects. If the belt, buckle or pretensioner still does not work right after the recall repair, the repeat visit belongs in your records.
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: 25V093000.
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 26V159
Is the 26V159000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed March 30, 2026.
How do I know if my Explorer is part of recall 26V159000?
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 26V159000 (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.