The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Explorer and 2024-2026 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The trailer hitch assembly bolts may be loose.
The risk
While towing a trailer, loose trailer hitch bolts can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, or cause the trailer to detach. Either of these conditions can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and tighten the trailer hitch bolts, or replace them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 29, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA3. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Explorer | 2024, 2025, 2026 |
| Lincoln Aviator | 2024, 2025, 2026 |
Components: TRAILER HITCHES
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Explorer | 2024 | 21 | 10 |
| Ford Explorer | 2025 | 107 | 20 |
| Ford Explorer | 2026 | 42 | 14 |
| Lincoln Aviator | 2024 | 7 | 8 |
| Lincoln Aviator | 2025 | 18 | 15 |
| Lincoln Aviator | 2026 | 4 | 6 |
Other trailer hitches recalls in 2025
5 of the 891 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2025 concerned the trailer hitches; Ford Motor Company filed 737 campaigns in all.
| 25V893000 18 Dec 2025 | Hyundai Motor America |
| 25V874000 17 Dec 2025 | Kia America, Inc. |
| 25V618000 17 Sept 2025 | Reading Truck Group LLC |
| 25V167000 14 Mar 2025 | Mazda North American Operations |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2025