The defect
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.
The risk
Unexpected movement of the driver’s seat back may trap a second-row occupant, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy
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.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Explorer | 2025, 2026, 2027 |
| Lincoln Aviator | 2025, 2026, 2027 |
Components: SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
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 | 2025 | 107 | 20 |
| Ford Explorer | 2026 | 42 | 14 |
| Ford Explorer | 2027 | 0 | 1 |
| Lincoln Aviator | 2025 | 18 | 15 |
| Lincoln Aviator | 2026 | 4 | 6 |
| Lincoln Aviator | 2027 | 0 | 2 |
Other seats recalls in 2026
29 of the 666 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2026 concerned the seats; Ford Motor Company filed 737 campaigns in all.
| 26V671000 9 Oct 2026 | Volvo Car USA, LLC |
| 26V664000 8 Oct 2026 | Hyundai Motor America |
| 26V655000 6 Oct 2026 | Ford Motor Company |
| 26V588000 11 Sept 2026 | Hyundai Motor America |
| 26V544000 21 Aug 2026 | PACCAR Incorporated |
| 26V451000 14 Jul 2026 | Ford Motor Company |
| 26V430000 2 Jul 2026 | Kia America, Inc. |
| 26V394000 18 Jun 2026 | General Motors, LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2026