2021-2025 Lincoln Aviator Rear Seat Recall (25V393)
Ford Motor Company · 304,662 vehicles · Reported June 13, 2025
Ford Motor Company is recalling 304,662 2021-2025 Ford Explorer; 2021-2025 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, folding, or sliding unexpectedly while driving. A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 25V393 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 25V393000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 25S67 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | June 13, 2025 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2021-2025 Ford Explorer; 2021-2025 Lincoln Aviator |
| Units affected | 304,662 |
| Component | Seats > Mid / Rear Assembly |
| Safety risk | A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021-2025 Lincoln Aviator in recall 25V393?
The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, folding, or sliding unexpectedly while driving.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, folding, or sliding unexpectedly while driving.
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2025 Aviator with recall 25V393?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing their 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 mid and rear assembly.
Which vehicles are included in recall 25V393?
Recall 25V393 covers 304,662 vehicles: 2021-2025 Ford Explorer; 2021-2025 Lincoln Aviator.
NHTSA lists 304,662 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2025 | Ford | Explorer |
| 2021-2025 | Lincoln | Aviator |
What is the fix for the Aviator rear seat recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect the second-row seat switch, and replace the bezel around the switch as necessary, free of charge.
Dealers will inspect the second-row seat switch, and replace the bezel around the switch as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S67.
When was recall 25V393 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 25V393 to NHTSA on June 13, 2025. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as August 7, 2025.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| June 13, 2025 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 25V393000. |
| August 7, 2025 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 15 months ago. If your Aviator was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Aviator is part of recall 25V393?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 25V393 is open on your Aviator, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 25V393000 is open on your Aviator, it will be listed there, along with Lincoln recall number 25S67. You can also ask any Lincoln dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should Aviator owners do about recall 25V393?
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 25V393000 applies to your Aviator.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Lincoln 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.
- Write down when symptoms involving the mid and rear assembly 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 Aviator owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 1,060 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 50 of them about the body, doors and seats.
Since recall 25V393 was reported on June 13, 2025, owners have filed 32 complaints with NHTSA about the body, doors and seats on these vehicles. 6 of them (19%) 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 June 13, 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 1,060 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 50 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.
- 2021 Ford Explorer: 430 complaints in total, 19 about the body, doors and seats
- 2022 Ford Explorer: 267 complaints in total, 6 about the body, doors and seats
- 2023 Ford Explorer: 110 complaints in total, 3 about the body, doors and seats
- 2025 Ford Explorer: 101 complaints in total, 4 about the body, doors and seats
- 2022 Lincoln Aviator: 45 complaints in total, 6 about the body, doors and seats
- 2021 Lincoln Aviator: 39 complaints in total, 4 about the body, doors and seats
- 2023 Lincoln Aviator: 24 complaints in total, 3 about the body, doors and seats
- 2024 Ford Explorer: 21 complaints in total, 2 about the body, doors and seats
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
The contact owns a 2021 Lincoln Aviator. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's side rear door trim detached and flew off the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that after it rained, water entered the interior of the vehicle through the sunroof.
2021 Lincoln Aviator owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11669232, filed June 25, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Lincoln Aviator. The contact stated that the seat folding switch on the third-row seat failed to function as intended. The seat was stuck in the down position. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure.
2021 Lincoln Aviator owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11690747, filed October 1, 2025
The Driver Seat Module (DSM) is known to develop software glitches across the 2020–2024 Aviator/Corsair/Explorer platform, causing the seat to not move to the correct programmed memory position . Lincoln’s fix (per Special Service Message 51406, issued for Corsair but describing the same shared module) is a dealer reprogram of the DSM software.
2021 Lincoln Aviator owner, DE, NHTSA complaint 11764001, filed September 14, 2026
Can recall 25V393 make my Aviator 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)).
Body and latch defects on the 2021-2025 Lincoln Aviator may seem minor until a door opens while driving or a seat will not lock. Problems that return after repair belong in your records.
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 Aviator been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Lincoln Aviator recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 25V393
Did the recall 25V393 fix work?
Since recall 25V393 was reported on June 13, 2025, owners have filed 32 complaints with NHTSA about the body, doors and seats on these vehicles. 6 of them (19%) 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 August 7, 2025.
Is the 25V393000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Aviator is part of recall 25V393000?
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 25V393000 (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.