NHTSA Recall 26V451000: Ford Explorer & Lincoln Aviator Second-Row Seat May Move Unexpectedly

What the recall covers

Recall 26V451000 (Ford reference 26S52) covers 387,911 vehicles — certain 2020–2026 Ford Explorer SUVs built October 20, 2018 through June 24, 2026, and certain 2020–2027 Lincoln Aviator SUVs built October 19, 2018 through June 24, 2026. The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, tipping, or sliding unexpectedly. Ford's analysis of returned parts and warranty claims identified bezels around the switch that had become misaligned or unseated in normal use, some with broken tabs. A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Critically, NHTSA's own filing states that this recall expands recall 25V393 — the June 2025 action covering roughly 304,662 of the same vehicles for the same defect.

The remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the bezel around the switch as necessary, free of charge. Ford mailed interim letters explaining the safety risk beginning July 27, 2026; those letters are notification only. The remedy parts are not expected to be available until approximately January 2027, when Ford plans to send a second round of letters. That leaves affected owners roughly six months holding written notice of a safety defect with no repair available.

What owners should do now

• Confirm your specific VIN rather than relying on model year — the recall is defined by build date and cuts across model years. VINs became searchable on nhtsa.gov on July 16, 2026.
• Keep the interim letter. It is dated proof that Ford notified you of a safety defect and that no remedy was available at that time.
• If a second-row seat has actually moved, folded, or failed to latch, report it to your dealer now and ask for a repair order documenting the complaint — even though no fix is available yet. A documented visit with no remedy still creates a record.
• Record every date: dealer visits, days out of service, loaner receipts, and service notes. Repeat attempts and cumulative days out of service are what a lemon law claim is built on.
• If your seat was already repaired under the June 2025 recall (25V393) and the problem returned, note that clearly — a failed prior repair for the same defect is the strongest fact you have.

How to check your VIN

Confirm whether a specific vehicle is included by entering the 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, ford.com/support/recalls, or lincoln.com. Inclusion is VIN-specific and tied to build date, not model year alone.

Ford customer service: 866-436-7332 (recall reference 26S52). NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline: 888-327-4236.

When this recall can become a California lemon law claim

A recall is not automatically a lemon — it is the manufacturer acknowledging a defect and offering a free fix. Your Ford may qualify under California's Lemon Law if the recall repair is significantly delayed, doesn't resolve the problem, or your vehicle has other unrepaired warranty defects. In those cases you may be entitled to a buyback, replacement, or cash settlement, with the manufacturer paying your attorney fees. For the full breakdown, see the guides below.