The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.3L engine. The engine connecting rod bearings may seize, which can result in engine failure.
The risk
Engine failure can result in a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, bearing failure may cause a breach in the engine block, allowing oil to leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the engine long blocks, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 25, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S58. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on August 18, 2026.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Explorer | 2026 |
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
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 | 2026 | 42 | 14 |
Other engine and engine cooling recalls in 2026
17 of the 666 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2026 concerned the engine and engine cooling; Ford Motor Company filed 737 campaigns in all.
| 26V659000 7 Oct 2026 | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing |
| 26V573000 3 Sept 2026 | Nova Bus (US) Inc. |
| 26V548000 25 Aug 2026 | Ford Motor Company |
| 26V343000 27 May 2026 | Ford Motor Company |
| 26V320000 20 May 2026 | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing |
| 26V287000 6 May 2026 | Corp. Micro Bird, Inc. |
| 26V286000 6 May 2026 | Corp. Micro Bird, Inc. |
| 26V274000 29 Apr 2026 | Storyteller Overland |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2026