Ford Recalls Nearly 390,000 Vehicles for Potential Second-Row Seat Hazard

Ford Motor Company has issued a recall of 387,911 vehicles with possible faulty second-row seats that could move suddenly, increasing the risk of injury to occupants during a crash, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported.

NHTSA indicates that an unexpected shift in the second-row seating could fail to restrain a passenger in an accident and increase injury to occupants.

The recall involves certain 2020–2027 Aviator and 2020–2026 Explorer models in which the switch for the easy-entry, second-row outer seats may stick, causing the seats to unlatch, tip, or slide abruptly. 

Local dealerships will inspect and replace the bezel around the switch as needed for free.

Safety risk notification letters to owners of affected vehicles are expected to be mailed by July 27, and additional letters will be sent out once the solution is available.

Owners can also contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332, using the recall number 26S52. 

According to the NHTSA report, the recall expands a previous one, number 25V393.

Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall are also searchable on the NHTSA.gov website.

The report indicates that the specific root cause of the malfunction remains under investigation.

The automaker suggested that misalignment of the easy-entry switch bezel could be due to incorrect positioning.

This could result in interference between the bezel and the switch button, causing it to stick intermittently.

Ford notes that vehicles produced after the original recall did have proper bezel seating verified by the seat supplier and the vehicle assembly plant.

Dealers who repaired vehicles under the first recall also verified proper bezel seating.  

However, based on its analysis of returned parts,  the automaker determined that bezels could become misaligned during customer usage. 

Filed reports have often referred to broken bezel tabs. 

If the button is stuck in the down position, occupants may be unable to use the easy-entry feature or return the seat to its normal position.

The issue dates back to June 2025, when Ford’s Field Review Committee first addressed the risk of sliding and tipping second-row seats. 

The initial remedy resulted in dealer inspection and replacement of the switch bezel.

In late April 2026, the automaker received five field reports of suddenly moving second-row seats while the vehicle was in motion. A month later, Ford opened a new investigation.

As of June 16, Ford had received 14 reports of unintended second-row seat movement while driving due to a stuck button.

Eight of the reports involved vehicles from North America that were not covered under the original recall, while six included North American vehicles on which the original recall repair had already been completed.

Ford is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to either recall.

In June, Ford recalled more than 255,000 vehicles for possible engine stalls while driving. The recall also involved some vehicles that had previously been repaired incorrectly.

Dealers will now update the powertrain control module software that may not have been done in previous repairs.

An earlier, larger recall in June involved more than 419,000 vehicles for malfunctioning seat belts. Dealers will inspect and replace seatbelt retractors as necessary, for free.