Ford Explorer Tow Hitch Recall2024–2026 · Free Repair
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Explorer and 2024-2026 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The trailer hitch assembly bolts may be loose.
Is Your Explorer Included?
Enter your 17-character VIN — we query NHTSA in real time and show whether 25V-687000 (and any other open campaign) applies to your exact vehicle.
What Happened — and How It's Fixed
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Explorer and 2024-2026 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The trailer hitch assembly bolts may be loose.
While towing a trailer, loose trailer hitch bolts can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, or cause the trailer to detach. Either of these conditions can increase the risk of a crash.
Dealers will inspect and tighten the trailer hitch bolts, or replace them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 29, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA3. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.
Verified as of 2026-08-28 against NHTSA · Recall 25V-687000 on NHTSA.gov
What To Do
Run your VIN
Confirm 25V-687000 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.
Tow Hitch Recall FAQs
Is it safe to drive my Explorer before the tow hitch recall repair?⌄
NHTSA issued no park-outside or do-not-drive advisory for campaign 25V-687000. Schedule the free repair promptly — until it is completed, the defect described above is still present on affected Explorer vehicles.
Which vehicles are affected?⌄
Campaign 25V-687000 covers certain 2024–2026 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 25V-687000 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.
