Recall homework
There are 9 official recalls listed for this model year. Before buying, use the VIN to confirm which campaigns are still open and ask for dealer repair records on completed work.
Vehicle report
2026 Ford Explorer
Recalls, consumer complaints, safety ratings, fuel cost estimate, and next steps from official public data sources.
9 Total recalls
May 27, 2026 Latest recall date
18 Complaint reports
$2,418 Estimated fuel cost
Buyer interpretation
What this record means before you buy
The useful question is not just whether this page has records. It is what those records should make you verify before money changes hands.
Owner complaint pattern
Owner complaints most often mention unknown or other, power train,electrical system,engine, electrical system. Scan those categories before the test drive so you know what symptoms, warning lights, or service history to ask about.
Service bulletin signal
42 manufacturer communications are listed. These are not recalls, but they can reveal repair instructions, warranty extensions, software notices, or known service patterns.
Ownership-cost check
The fuel-cost estimate is based on a representative EPA match, not every trim. Confirm the actual engine, drivetrain, and tire setup before comparing this listing with another year or model.
Questions to ask the seller
- Can you show the current VIN recall status for this 2026 Ford Explorer?
- Do you have dealer invoices or campaign paperwork for the listed recall repairs?
- Have you noticed any issues related to unknown or other, power train,electrical system,engine, electrical system?
- Can I review recent maintenance records before the test drive?
Used-car checklist
Thinking of buying this vehicle?
Use our buyer checklist to know what to inspect, ask, and verify before the test drive.
2026 Ford Explorer Regular Gasoline
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Safety ratings
Official safety ratings were found for 4 tested variants of the 2026 Ford Explorer.
Safety ratings can vary by tested body style, trim, drivetrain,
or variant. Do not assume every trim has the same rating unless
the official record says so.
| Variant | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 FORD EXPLORER GAS SUV N/A RWD Default | 5/5 stars | 5/5 stars | 5/5 stars | 4/5 stars |
| 2026 FORD EXPLORER GAS SUV N/A 4WD | 5/5 stars | 5/5 stars | 5/5 stars | 4/5 stars |
| 2026 FORD EXPLORER HEV SUV HEV 4WD | 5/5 stars | 5/5 stars | 5/5 stars | 4/5 stars |
| 2026 FORD EXPLORER HEV SUV HEV RWD | 5/5 stars | 5/5 stars | 5/5 stars | 4/5 stars |
How many recalls does the 2026 Ford Explorer have?
Verify with official VIN lookup9 official recalls on record for the 2026 Ford Explorer. 7 matched quarterly completion reports are available.
Latest recall: May 27, 2026
Recall data is based on official records. This page is not an official VIN
recall check. Always confirm open recalls with an official VIN lookup, the
manufacturer, or an authorized dealer.
Completion reports are campaign-level, delayed, and not VIN-specific.
| Campaign | Component | Summary | Consequence | Remedy | Date | Completion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26V343000 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Explorer, Ranger, and Bronco vehicles. The engine may fail, which can result in a loss of drive power. | A sudden loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash. | Dealers will replace the engine long block, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 5, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in November 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S35. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 28, 2026. | May 2026 | |
| 26V202000 | VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Lincoln Aviator and Explorer vehicles. The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system may fail, which can cause the defrosting and defogging system to become inoperative. | An inoperative windshield defrosting and defogging system may decrease the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. | Dealers will inspect and secure the instrument panel joints as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S22. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning April 3, 2026. | Mar 2026 | |
| 26V205000 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer and Mustang vehicles. The engine piston circlips may have been incorrectly installed during manufacturing, which can result in piston failure and engine damage, leading to a loss of drive power. | An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash. | Dealers will inspect the engine for missing or mis-installed circlips and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S23. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 2, 2026. | Mar 2026 | |
| 26V159000 | 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. | Mar 2026 | 2026-1 |
| 26V121000 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Explorer vehicles. The Dynamic Bending Light (DBL) system software may cause the passenger-side headlight to turn in the wrong direction when driving through curves in the road. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment." | A headlight that turns incorrectly can result in increased glare to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash. | The headlight control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 23, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C12. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 5, 2026. | Mar 2026 | 2026-1 |
| 26V024000 | VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 212, "Windshield Mounting." | In the event of a crash, windshield detachment can increase the risk of injury. | Dealers will remove and replace the windshield, free charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 30, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C02. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 22, 2026. | Jan 2026 | 2026-1 |
| 25V828000 | ENGINE | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer, Mustang, Lincoln Corsair, and 2025 Maverick vehicles. The cylinder head may have been improperly manufactured, which can cause the ball plugs to fail, resulting in an oil leak. | An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components increases the risk of a fire. In addition, the loss of oil can result in engine seizure and loss of motive power, increasing the risk of a crash. | Dealers will replace the cylinder head assembly, free of charge. All affected vehicles are still within dealership inventory and therefore no owner notification letters will be mailed. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SD3. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 24, 2025. | Dec 2025 | |
| 25V730000 | VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Lincoln Corsair, Lincoln Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The windshield glass may have visible air bubbles, which can obscure the driver's visibility. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 205, "Glazing Materials." | Reduced visibility while driving can increase the risk of a crash. | Dealers will inspect and replace the windshield as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 6, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C60. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 27, 2025. | Oct 2025 | 2026-1 |
| 25V687000 | TRAILER HITCHES | 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. | Oct 2025 | 2026-1 |
Are there manufacturer notices for the 2026 Ford Explorer?
Official records show 42 manufacturer communications on record for the 2026 Ford Explorer.
0 warranty 0 service campaigns 4 software/OTA
Manufacturer communications are not recalls. They can include
service bulletins, repair instructions, warranty extensions,
software updates, service campaigns, and other notices.
| Date | Type | Component | Summary | ID / document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2026 | Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | This bulletin supersedes 26-2150. Reason for update: To remove the M6 nut from the part list and remove the Steps to install the M6 nut from the Service Procedure. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit all of the following conditions: * "Steering Assist Fault Service Required" message displayed in the instrument panel cluster (IPC) * Reduced steering assist * Diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) U3008:1B and/or U3009:1B stored in the power steering control module (PSCM) This may be due to the PSCM ground connections. | 11034225 |
| Jun 2026 | Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions | POWER TRAIN | Some 2025-2026 Explorer/Aviator/Police Interceptor Utility non-hybrid vehicles built on 06-Feb-2025 and through 13-Dec-2025 may exhibit various drivability symptoms including a rough idle or hesitation shortly after refueling. These symptoms may also be accompanied by liquid fuel in the fuel vapor lines and fuel vapor canister as well as an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P0133, P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304, P0305, and/or P0306 stored in the powertrain control module (PCM). This condition may be due to an intermittently sticking fuel level vent valve on the fuel tank allowing fuel to enter the evaporative emissions system lines and evaporative emissions canister during refueling. If the customer states that the drivability symptoms occurred after recently filling the vehicle, replace the fuel tank (9002) and evaporative emissions canister (9D653). Refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 310-01 to replace the fuel tank. Refer to WSM, Section 303-13 to replace the evaporative emission canister. For claiming use causal part 9002 and labor operations 90 | 11034036 |
| Jun 2026 | Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Some 2025-2026 Police Interceptor Utility hybrid vehicles may have previously set a "Procedure Unsuccessful" message in the Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS) scan tool during the passive anti-theft system (PATS) parameter reset. This may have occurred after replacing the body control module (BCM), powertrain control module (PCM), electric brake booster (EBB) and/or secondary on-board diagnostic module C (SOBDMC). To correct this condition, download the latest version of the "PCM - Passive Anti-Theft System (PATS) Programming" application using the latest software version of the FDRS scan tool either by clicking the blue "Download" button in FDRS to the right of the application name, or by clicking the green refresh button (2 arrows in a circle) to the right of the application name, then run the application again and follow the prompts to perform "Module Initialization (Parameter Reset)". | 11033910 |
| Jun 2026 | Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions | POWER TRAIN | For 20202026 vehicles equipped with the 10R60 transmission, a new Transmission Clutch Circuit Leak Test has been introduced in the Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS). This test utilizes the pressure and vacuum transducer (PVT) when available. Workshop Manual (WSM) updates related to this diagnostic procedure are planned for release in Q4 2026. The new test improves the accuracy of detecting leaks within transmission fluid circuits and replaces the previous air check method. The previous air check procedure has been shown to produce a high rate of false positives, which may lead to unnecessary repairs when no actual leak is present. Accordingly, the air check procedure is not to be used for diagnosing internal transmission hydraulic leaks or as justification for transmission replacement. | 11033775 |
| May 2026 | Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions | POWER TRAIN | This bulletin supersedes 26-2112. Reason For Update: add 2026 model year vehicles, update LV fluid XT-10-QLVC and CXT-10-LV6 description to add "Transfer Case Fluid 4WD Only", and update Step 4 to inspect/replace 7H351 and 7B177 outside of this article. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit at least one of the following conditions: - No upshift past second gear - Unable to achieve third gear ratio - Illuminated MIL with DTCs P0757 and P2701 This may be due to a damaged one-way clutch (OWC). | 11033575 |
| May 2026 | Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions | STRUCTURE:BODY | Some 2025-2026 Explorer/Aviator vehicles may exhibit a no crank/no start/discharged battery condition with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) B144D:29, B144E:29, B1555:29, B1556:29 and/or U3003:16 stored in the rear gate trunk module (RGTM). The power liftgate may also be inoperative. This may be due to water intrusion into the left and/or right power liftgate motors caused by a loose grommet on the electrical harness at the body pass-through. To correct this condition, install a new power liftgate motor corresponding to the DTC(s) set in the RGTM (B144D:29/B144E:29 Ýleft¨ or B1555:29/B1556:29 Ýright¨). To prevent water intrusion into the new liftgate motor, make sure the grommet on the new motor is seated properly by pushing on the grommet at the body pass-through until it clicks into place. For claiming, use causal part 14B351 (Explorer) or 14B350 (Aviator) and labor operations 12651D and 14350AL (left) or 14350AR (right) or 14350AT (both) <br /><br /> If a vehicle with this concern exhibits water intrusion, corrosion, or unseated grommets in or around the liftgate motor, submit a Global Concern Report | 11033260 |
| May 2026 | Other | POWER TRAIN | Certain 2026 Model Year Aviator, Explorer and Bronco Vehicles with 10R60 Transmissions: Transmission and Fluid Cooler Replacement | 11033579 |
| May 2026 | Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 2020-2026 Explorer/Escape/Corsair, 2021-2026 Bronco Sport/Bronco, 2022-2026 Maverick, 2024-2026 Mustang/Ranger/Nautilus vehicles equipped with a 2.0L or 2.3L EcoBoost engine may require removal of the turbocharger wastegate control actuator linkage for various reasons. The Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 303-04 Fuel Charging and Controls - Turbocharger - 2.0L/2.3L EcoBoost > Removal and Installation > Wastegate Control Actuator Linkage service procedure been added. In addition, the wastegate actuator rod (9E408), associated retention springs (9342) and retaining clips (00817) have been released as lower-level components to complete the repair without replacing the entire turbocharger wastegate actuator assembly. | 11032924 |
| May 2026 | Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions | STRUCTURE:BODY | Some 2024-2026 Nautilus and 2025-2026 Explorer/Aviator vehicles equipped with power autofold exterior mirrors may exhibit concerns with the passenger mirror not automatically folding in or out at times, while the driver side mirror automatically folds properly. This may be due to the software in the driver door module (DDM) and passenger door module (PDM). To correct the condition, reprogram the DDM and PDM using the latest software level of the Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS) scan tool. For claiming, use causal part 14B291 and labor operation MT14B291SSM up to 0.4 hours. | 11032762 |
| May 2026 | Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions | POWER TRAIN | Some 2020-2026 Explorer/Police Interceptor Utility/Aviator vehicles may require replacement of the front drive halfshaft inner/outer CV joint boot for various reasons. If Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 205-04 > Diagnosis and Testing leads to CV joint boot replacement, L1MZ-3A331-G (Explorer/Police Interceptor Utility front inner/outer CV joint boot kit), L1MZ-3A331-H (Aviator front inner/outer CV joint boot kit), L1MZ-3A331-F (Explorer/Police Interceptor Utility front inner CV joint boot kit) and L1MZ-3A331-E (Aviator front inner CV joint boot kit) have been released for service. Refer to WSM, Section 205-04 for Removal and Installation procedures. | 11032760 |
What are the most common 2026 Ford Explorer complaints?
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 3
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE 1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1
ENGINE 1
ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1
LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1
SEATS 1
18 total complaints on record
How much does the 2026 Ford Explorer cost in fuel?
Estimated annual cost $2,418 $202/month at 12,000 miles/year
Effective efficiency 20.6 MPG
Energy used 583 gal/yr
Price assumption $4.15 $/gal
Assumptions: 18 city / 25 highway / 20 combined MPG · Regular Gasoline · efficiency ratings from official public data when available · fuel price default: official public data (U.S. average, Jul 18, 2026)
439 g/mi CO2Fuel score 4/10