Faulty Seat Switch Triggers Recall of Ford Explorers, Aviators
Ford's recall record in recent years has been extensive, with safety campaigns covering everything from engines and electronic glitches to improperly secured parts. Earlier this month, the automaker issued a recall for nearly 500,000 older-generation Ford Explorers due to an issue with the exterior trim that could cause it to come loose. While seemingly innocuous, the loose body panel could pose a potential hazard to other road users, which warranted a voluntary recall from the Blue Oval.
Now, there's another recall notice, and this time it affects more than 300,000 units of two of Ford's most important SUVs: the 2020–2025 Ford Explorer and its luxury sibling, the Lincoln Aviator, manufactured between October 19, 2018, and November 4, 2024.
At the center of this new safety issue is something that seems minor at first – second-row seat switch bezels – but the consequences could be serious.
According to the recall document published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this week, the voluntary safety recall stems from a defect of the second-row seat easy-entry switch bezel. The document says that the trim around the switch may have been installed incorrectly, creating interference that can cause the button to stick in the down position. If that happens, the seat may unexpectedly fold or slide forward, even while the vehicle is moving.
Needless to say, that kind of unprompted movement poses an obvious safety risk, especially to passengers seated in the second row. A seat that folds or shifts without warning during driving could result in injury, and in the event of a crash, the consequences could be compounded.
While Ford has acknowledged nearly 100 reports of the issue across affected models, the automaker says there have been no known accidents or injuries tied to the defect so far.
Ford will begin notifying dealers and affected customers later this month. Owners of affected Explorer and Aviator vehicles will be advised to visit a dealer for a free inspection of the switch bezel. If it's damaged or improperly installed, it will be replaced. Dealers will also test and confirm proper function of the switch to ensure the issue is fully resolved.
The repair process will be carried out at no cost. To check if your Explorer or Aviator is affected, Ford's VIN lookup tool is already live.
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