NHTSA Recall 26V470000: Ford Explorer & Lincoln Aviator Driver's Seat May Recline Unexpectedly

What the recall covers

Recall 26V470000 (Ford reference 26S53) covers 79,579 vehicles — roughly 64,409 model-year 2026–2027 Ford Explorer and 15,170 model-year 2026–2027 Lincoln Aviator SUVs built November 24, 2025 through June 27, 2026, the window in which a new driver's seat recline motor was in production. The seat's memory recall function can misread the seat's actual position and drive the seatback rearward when it should stay put. Because memory recall can be triggered remotely, the unoccupied driver's seat can begin reclining when the vehicle is unlocked, remote-started, approached with a programmed key fob, or when a saved memory position is selected. If someone is seated in the second row, the reclining seatback can contact them and create an impingement or entrapment hazard. Ford estimates 100% of the recalled population carries the condition; the seat will not move this way once the vehicle is traveling above about 3 mph. As of June 26, 2026, Ford was aware of 133 reports and no accidents or injuries.

The remedy

The remedy is still under development. Ford has described it as a combination of a part replacement and an over-the-air software update, but the specifics and the notification schedule are still to be determined — this is a phased recall filed while the fix was being finalized. When ready, the repair will be free. Ford has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory; because there is no warning before the seat moves, Ford advises keeping the second row clear until the repair is available.

What owners should do now

• Until the repair is available, keep the area behind the driver's seat clear — do not seat a child or passenger directly behind the driver, since that is where the entrapment risk is.
• Confirm your specific VIN rather than relying on model year — inclusion is tied to build date. Enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls once the campaign is searchable.
• If you have seen the driver's seat move on its own, report it to your dealer now and ask for a repair order documenting the complaint, even though no remedy is available yet. A documented visit with no fix still creates a record.
• Keep any interim letter Ford sends. It is dated proof that Ford notified you of a safety defect and that no remedy was available at the time.
• Record every date: dealer visits, days out of service, and loaner receipts. Repeat attempts and cumulative days out of service are what a lemon law claim is built on.

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 26S53). 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.