Seat Belts
NHTSA campaign 26V159000 · announced March 17, 2026 · filed by Ford Motor Company · 561 units affected
The problem
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer seating positions may be improperly secured.
The risk
A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
What to do
Dealers will inspect the second-row outer seat belt lower anchor bolts and replace or repair them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 30, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C18. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 19, 2026.
Vehicles covered by this recall
- 2020 Ford Explorer
- 2021 Ford Explorer
- 2022 Ford Explorer
- 2023 Ford Explorer
- 2024 Ford Explorer
- 2025 Ford Explorer
- 2026 Ford Explorer
- 2020 Lincoln Aviator
- 2021 Lincoln Aviator
- 2022 Lincoln Aviator
- 2023 Lincoln Aviator
- 2024 Lincoln Aviator
- 2025 Lincoln Aviator
- 2026 Lincoln Aviator
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public recall data. This page reports official records and is not legal or repair advice.