Ford Explorer Seat Belt Recall1990, 1991, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 · Free Repair
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.
Is Your Explorer Included?
Enter your 17-character VIN — we query NHTSA in real time and show whether 26V-159000 (and any other open campaign) applies to your exact vehicle.
What Happened — and How It's Fixed
NHTSA 26V-159000 · 2020–2026 · SEAT BELTS
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.
A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
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.
Verified as of 2026-08-28 against NHTSA · Recall 26V-159000 on NHTSA.gov
NHTSA 25V-093000 · 2020–2021 · SEAT BELTS
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Explorer and Aviator vehicles. The seat belt buckle anchor bolts at one or more seating positions may be improperly secured. Additionally, vehicles may have an improperly secured seat belt retractor anchor bolt and/or seat belt anchor bolt at the second-row center seating position, if equipped.
A loose seat belt or seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Dealers will inspect seat belt buckle anchor bolts in all seating positions. Additionally, dealers will inspect the seat belt retractor anchor bolt and seat belt anchor bolt at the second-row center seating position, if equipped. If loose anchor bolts are found, the affected seat components will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 5, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S09.
Verified as of 2026-08-28 against NHTSA · Recall 25V-093000 on NHTSA.gov
NHTSA 20V-549000 · 2020 · SEAT BELTS: REAR/OTHER:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Explorer vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with second row center seat belt buckles that may not be properly secured to the seat.
Vehicles with seat belt buckles that are not properly secured may fail to restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the second row center seat assembly, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S50.
Verified as of 2026-08-28 against NHTSA · Recall 20V-549000 on NHTSA.gov
NHTSA 92V-113000 · 1990–1991 · SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE RIGID MOUNTED SAFETY BELT BUCKLES ARE DEFECTIVE IN THREE WAYS. FIRST, A FASTENED SAFETY BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT UNLATCH WHEN THE RELEASE BUTTON IS DEPRESSED. THIS RESULTS FROM INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE BUCKLE EJECTOR FINGER AND THE BUCKLE TONGUE WINDOW. THE SECOND DEFECT IS THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MAY NOT LATCH. THE THIRD POSSIBLE DEFECT IS THAT THE TONGUE MAY BE RETAINED BY THE BUCKLE, BUT IT MAY NOT BE LATCHED SUFFICIENTLY TO PROVIDE OCCUPANT PROTECTION.
AN INSUFFICIENTLY LATCHED OR UNLATCHED SAFETY BELTINCREASES THE RISK OF INJURY TO SEAT OCCUPANTS IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP ORACCIDENT. IF THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT UNLATCH, IT WILL NOT ALLOW THEOCCUPANT TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.
FORD WILL REPLACE THE RIGID MOUNTED SAFETY BELT BUCKLES WITH END RELEASE SAFETY BELT BUCKLES DESIGNED TO PREVENT LATCH PROBLEMS.
Verified as of 2026-08-28 against NHTSA · Recall 92V-113000 on NHTSA.gov
What To Do
Run your VIN
Confirm 26V-159000 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.
Seat Belt Recall FAQs
Is it safe to drive my Explorer before the seat belt recall repair?⌄
NHTSA issued no park-outside or do-not-drive advisory for any of the 4 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 26V-159000 covers certain 2020–2026 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 26V-159000 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.
