Ford Explorer Air Bag Recall1995, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2020, 2021 · Free Repair
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The side air bag attachment weld studs could detach during the deployment of the side air bag, resulting in an improper deployment.
Is Your Explorer Included?
Enter your 17-character VIN — we query NHTSA in real time and show whether 21V-652000 (and any other open campaign) applies to your exact vehicle.
What Happened — and How It's Fixed
NHTSA 21V-652000 · 2021 · AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The side air bag attachment weld studs could detach during the deployment of the side air bag, resulting in an improper deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 214, "Side Impact Protection".
Improper deployment of a side air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Dealers will replace the side air bag assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 10, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C19.
Verified as of 2026-08-28 against NHTSA · Recall 21V-652000 on NHTSA.gov
NHTSA 20V-497000 · 2020 · AIR BAGS:CRITICAL FASTENERS
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Explorer and 2020 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The side air bag and/or seat back module attachments may not have been properly tightened in the front seat backs.
If the side air bag or seat back fasteners were not properly tightened, the side air bag deployment could be affected, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove front seat back panels from one or both front seats (VIN-specific) and verify that the fasteners have been properly tightened, free of charge. The recall began September 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S48.
Verified as of 2026-08-28 against NHTSA · Recall 20V-497000 on NHTSA.gov
NHTSA 10E-043000 · 2006–2010 · EQUIPMENT
MARATHON IS RECALLING CERTAIN SEAT COVERS, BRAND SUPERHIDES WITH PART NUMBERS 593, 594, 578, 960, 228, 228-09, 267-08, 333, 625, AND 630, SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE SEAT COVERS ARE MADE OF HEAVIER THREAD AND ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH SEATS CONTAINING SIDE AIRBAGS. THE HEAVIER SEAT COVER COULD INTERFERE WITH FULL DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
AN IMPROPERLY DEPLOYED AIRBAG COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY.
MARATHON WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE SEAT COVER FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MARATHON AT 1-800-735-2769.
Verified as of 2026-08-28 against NHTSA · Recall 10E-043000 on NHTSA.gov
NHTSA 00V-179000 · 2000 · AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 4-DOOR SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SIDE AIR BAGS. THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE A REVISED LEVEL SIDE CRASH SENSOR THAT COULD DEPLOY THE SIDE AIR BAG IF THE IGNITION KEY IS IN THE "RUN" POSITION AND THE SEATBELT WEBBING IS FORCIBLY EXTRACTED FROM A LOCKED RETRACTOR WITH A JERKING MOTION.
INADVERTENT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT COULD CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SIDE CRASH SENSORS WITH A REVISED DESIGN THAT WILL REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF AN UNEXPECTED SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.
Verified as of 2026-08-28 against NHTSA · Recall 00V-179000 on NHTSA.gov
NHTSA 95E-006002 · 1995 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG HAS AN INFLATOR BODY THAT CRACKED DURING FORMING OF THE CURL THAT RETAINS THE IGNITER PLUG IN THE END OF THE INFLATOR. ALSO THE IGNITER END CAP CAN SEPARATE FROM THE INFLATOR.
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MAY NOT INFLATE PROPERLY RESULTING IN REDUCED OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. IF THE IGNITER END CAP SEPARATES IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, HOT GASES CAN BE RELEASED AND IGNITE FLAMMABLE MATERIAL OR CAUSE BURN INJURIES.
DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MODULE.
Verified as of 2026-08-28 against NHTSA · Recall 95E-006002 on NHTSA.gov
What To Do
Run your VIN
Confirm 21V-652000 applies to your exact Explorer using the checker above.
Schedule the free repair
Book online or call .
Free, by law
Recall parts and labor are free regardless of age, mileage, or where you bought it.
Keep the paperwork
We provide written proof of completion — useful at resale.
Air Bag Recall FAQs
Is it safe to drive my Explorer before the air bag recall repair?⌄
NHTSA issued no park-outside or do-not-drive advisory for any of the 5 campaigns on this page. Schedule the free repair promptly — until it is completed, the defects described above are still present on affected Explorer vehicles.
Which vehicles are affected?⌄
Campaign 21V-652000 covers certain 2021 Ford Explorer vehicles. Model year alone does not settle it — run your VIN in the checker above, which is the definitive answer for your exact vehicle.
What does the repair cost?⌄
Nothing. By federal law, safety recall repairs are free — parts and labor — at any authorized Ford dealer, regardless of the vehicle’s age, mileage, or where it was bought.
I’m buying a used Explorer. Should I check this recall?⌄
Yes — run the VIN before you buy. If campaign 21V-652000 is still open on that vehicle, any authorized Ford dealer (including us) completes the repair free of charge, no matter where the vehicle was purchased.
