Ford recalls nearly 80,000 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator SUVs over seat defect

Published Jul 28, 01:53 PM UTC

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Ford issued a recall for nearly 80,000 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator SUVs from the 2026 and 2027 model years due to a defect where the driver's seat can recline on its own when the vehicle is remotely unlocked or started, potentially pinning second-row passengers and increasing injury risk. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration identified the issue. Ford has not yet developed a fix or determined a notification schedule, but no accidents or injuries have been reported. This recall adds to Ford's record-setting pace of recalls in 2026, with 61 total U.S. recalls this year—more than the next three automakers combined—following earlier recalls for seats moving unexpectedly and engine fire risks in Broncos and F-series trucks.

Source report

Topline

Ford issued a recall on Tuesday for nearly 80,000 SUVs due to defective driver's seats that may recline on their own, potentially pinning rear passengers. The recall adds to a growing list of notices from the legacy automaker this year, following an earlier recall for seats that could move unexpectedly and another for engine fire risks.

Key Facts

Ford's recall covers Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles from the 2026 and 2027 model years, after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found the driver's seat could recline on its own without anyone sitting in it, according to a regulatory filing.
The unintended reclining can occur when a driver remotely unlocks or remotely starts the vehicle. The resulting movement could pin a second-row passenger, increasing the risk of injury, regulators said.
Ford told the NHTSA that a fix is still under development, and a schedule for notifying affected drivers has not been determined. Owners can contact Ford for possible assistance in the meantime.
There are no known reports of an accident or injury related to the defect, Ford said.

Big Number

61. That is the number of recalls issued by Ford in the U.S. this year, which exceeds the combined total of the next three automakers—Chrysler (24), General Motors (19), and Hyundai (17). Ford issued a record 153 recalls in 2025 involving 12.9 million vehicles, according to federal data. That again surpassed the combined total of the next four automakers, including Chrysler (53), Forest River (36), General Motors (28), and International Motors (26).

Key Background

Ford has maintained its record-setting pace of vehicle recalls in 2026. Many of its notices involve a smaller number of vehicles, including a recall of just 315 Aviator and Explorer cars over second-row seats that may move unexpectedly last week. Others cover hundreds of thousands, such as a notice for 500,000 Bronco SUVs with a wiring issue that could start a fire in the engine. Ford recalled more than 4 million vehicles in one of the largest-ever recalls in U.S. history, after notifying regulators that some of its top-selling F-series trucks had a software glitch. Another 1.4 million F-150s were recalled in April, after the legacy automaker said a defect may cause the vehicles to downshift unexpectedly.

Source

Forbes - BusinessWestern

Original headline: Ford’s Growing Recall List—Trapping Seats, Moving Seats And Engine Fires—Adds 80,000 SUVs

Original language: EN-US

Part of this Story

Ford Recalls 80,000 SUVs Over Defective Seats That Could Trap Rear Passengers

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