2025-2027 Ford Explorer Seat Power Seat Recall (26V470)
Ford Motor Company · 76,748 vehicles · Reported July 21, 2026
Ford Motor Company is recalling 76,748 2025-2027 Ford Explorer; 2025-2027 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. An unoccupied driver's seat may recline unintentionally during certain scenarios, such as remote unlock or remote start. Unexpected movement of the driverâs seat back may trap a second-row occupant, increasing the risk of injury. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 26V470 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 26V470000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 26S53 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | July 21, 2026 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2025-2027 Ford Explorer; 2025-2027 Lincoln Aviator |
| Units affected | 76,748 |
| Component | Seats > Front Assembly > Power Adjust |
| Safety risk | Unexpected movement of the driverâs seat back may trap a second-row occupant, increasing the risk of injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2025-2027 Ford Explorer in recall 26V470?
An unoccupied driver's seat may recline unintentionally during certain scenarios, such as remote unlock or remote start.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2027 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. An unoccupied driver's seat may recline unintentionally during certain scenarios, such as remote unlock or remote start.
Is it safe to drive a 2025-2027 Explorer with recall 26V470?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Unexpected movement of the driverâs seat back may trap a second-row occupant, increasing the risk of injury.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Unexpected movement of the driverâs seat back may trap a second-row occupant, increasing the risk of injury.
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 power adjust.
Which vehicles are included in recall 26V470?
Recall 26V470 covers 76,748 vehicles: 2025-2027 Ford Explorer; 2025-2027 Lincoln Aviator.
NHTSA lists 76,748 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-2027 | Ford | Explorer |
| 2025-2027 | Lincoln | Aviator |
What is the fix for the Explorer seat power seat recall?
Yes. Dealers will disable the driver seat module (DSM) feature until parts are available.
Dealers will disable the driver seat module (DSM) feature until parts are available. Once available, the motor will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 3, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S53.
When was recall 26V470 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 26V470 to NHTSA on July 21, 2026. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as September 3, 2026.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| November 24, 2025 | First affected vehicle built (per Ford Motor Company's filing). |
| July 21, 2026 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 26V470000. |
| September 3, 2026 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 2 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 26V470?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 26V470 is open on your Explorer, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2025-2027 Explorer vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should Explorer owners do about recall 26V470?
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 26V470000 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 power adjust 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 158 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 15 of them about the body, doors and seats.
Since recall 26V470 was reported on July 21, 2026, owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about the body, doors and seats on these vehicles. 1 of them (11%) 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 July 21, 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 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 158 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 15 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
- 2026 Ford Explorer: 38 complaints in total, 6 about the body, doors and seats
- 2025 Lincoln Aviator: 16 complaints in total, 3 about the body, doors and seats
- 2026 Lincoln Aviator: 3 complaints in total, 2 about the body, doors and seats
- 2027 Lincoln Aviator: 0 complaints in total, 0 about the body, doors and seats
- 2027 Ford Explorer: 0 complaints in total, 0 about the body, doors and seats
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
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
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
Can recall 26V470 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.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (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.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have 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 26V470
Did the recall 26V470 fix work?
Since recall 26V470 was reported on July 21, 2026, owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about the body, doors and seats on these vehicles. 1 of them (11%) 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 September 3, 2026.
Is the 26V470000 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 26V470000?
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 26V470000 (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.