2026 Ford Explorer

During a traffic accident the driver side seat airbag deployed. The airbag vent faces towards the driver when it deploys. The air escaping the vent burned through the shirt of the officer driving the vehicle and also caused a mixture of 2nd and 3rd degree burns to the hip and side abdomen region of their body.

NHTSA ID

11766049

Incident

Aug 20, 2026

The glass roof exploded while traveling down the road. No cause for failure present.

NHTSA ID

11765965

Incident

Sep 21, 2026

Sunroof spontaneously shattered while driving down the road.

NHTSA ID

11763243

Incident

Aug 1, 2026

Ford has issued a recall related to the driver seat recline memory feature. It is recall 26V470. The remedy (software-based) disables the driver seat recline memory feature altogether. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. Instead of correcting the issue with the recline memory feature, Ford has chosen to disable the feature completely. I did not purchase a new vehicle, just to have the manufacturer disable a standard feature than does not function properly. Ford must repair the standard feature and return the vehicle to it's normal operating function. The solution must not diminish the features and usability of the vehicle that was purchased.

NHTSA ID

11762884

Incident

Sep 8, 2026

On several occasions when trying to drive from a stopped position I press the gas and the car will move slowly but not shift into gear and then after turning off it struggles to restart. The check engine light is solid but goes away by the next day. This has happened after sitting idling in a parking lot most often but recently it happened 2 times as I was turning left onto a street where I luckily was able to slow roll to the side and not get hit. I brought it in once for service and they struggled to find the issue for hours and eventually said pins in the fuel injector were lose and replaced but it is continuing to randomly happen.

NHTSA ID

11762692

Incident

Sep 7, 2026

Seal around the panoramic sunroof is failing and has caused loud wind noises and lack of proper weather seal. Vehicle has 7000 miles and this has randomly started. Loud wind whistle noise occurs now 100% of the time when speed reaches 35mph and stays present at higher speeds.

NHTSA ID

11762361

Incident

Aug 15, 2026

On XXX around 6:30pm: Car would not go into reverse. Upon pressing the gas a 2nd time, a loud pop was heard from the back of the car. The car was then able to drive forward, however, when pressing on the brakes, the rear end of the car would wobble, and the brakes were rubbing and making a loud noise. I contacted Rich Ford, explained that my car is brand new (2 months), with less than 4,000 miles, and this should not happen. I was told that “someone would call me the following morning around 7am”. I drove to work the next morning, XXX, avoiding the use of the brakes as much as possible. I called Rich Ford again, at around 07:45, and spoke to “Toby”. Explained to him what had happened, and asked that they pick up the vehicle to see what’s wrong. I was told that they couldn’t look at it until Monday XXX. I told Toby that I did not feel comfortable or safe driving my car anywhere, and asked that they pick up the car and provide a loaner. Toby then told me I could drop the car off on Friday, XXXat 08:00. Around 3:48pm, Wednesday, I called Rich Ford again and asked them to pick it up because I didn’t feel safe to drive it. They said “No, just drop it off on Friday”. At around 5:35pm, I got to my car, which was parked on the side street of [XXX]. I pressed the brakes, pressed the start engine button, and then went to step out of the car to talk to a co-worker. The car was in “park”. Once I stepped out with my left leg, the car began rolling forward, knocked me face down onto the road, and then ran over both of my legs. My coworker ran after the car and it stopped on the side of the road. I was rushed to a Level 1 trauma center, UNMH, with severe injuries to both of my legs. I was unable to take my car to the dealership on Friday, XXX, because of my injuries. Rich Ford had NOT REACHED OUT TO ASK WHY THE CAR WAS NOT TAKEN IN. I plan on contacting my insurance company on XXX.I have very serious injuries as a result. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11762297

Incident

Sep 2, 2026

I had my car in drive in a parking spot. I was ready to go, put the car in drive, DID NOT MOVE but needed to put it in park fast to assist to a child in the back seat. I put it in park pretty fast. Took my seatbelt off and assisted child. It must have not engaged. Car rolled into my office metal mailbox. I 100% put it in park. I took my seatbelt off after so I seen it. It was fast with the gear shift though. Should this have been an issue? I feel like if it was any other car you with a manual gear shifter , not electrical, it’s fine. I feel this was not my fault at all and was a malfunction of the car. The car did not automatically stop either. It hit the mailbox at like 3-4mph. I have never been in an accident of my fault in 10 years of driving. I’ve never made a crazy mistake like that. It should’ve never happened. I drive all types of cars/ and trucks. This is also a lease and I’m SO PISSED. Especially because my kids were in the car. Luckily no one was hurt and no property damage. Just the car.

NHTSA ID

11759587

Incident

Aug 25, 2026

Some 2026 Explorer vehicles may exhibit wind noise and/or water intrusion from the panoramic roof panel glass seal. Inspection may find that the seal is rolled or separated from the glass. The seal is not serviceable separately from the glass. To correct this condition, replace the panoramic roof panel glass assembly. Refer to Workshop Manual, Section 501-11 > Removal and Installation > Panoramic Roof Panel Glass. For claiming, use causal part 78500A18 and labor operation 50282BG.

Some 2025-2026 Aviator/Explorer/Expedition/F-150/Mustang Mach-E/Nautilus/Navigator vehicles may exhibit the hands-free BlueCruise feature intermittently/consistently unavailable when BlueCruise is active and when traveling in a "Blue Zone". Speed sign recognition may also be inaccurate. If there are no active relevant diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) present and the issue persists after multiple key cycles and if the BlueCruise System Health Check passes, download and run the "TCU - Reset Telematics Control Unit (TCU) Module" application using the latest software level of the Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS). If the condition is resolved, inform customers that this may be a temporary fix and engineering is currently working on a solution expected in Q4 2026. Monitor Professional Technician System (PTS) for additional information and schedule service appointments for customers once the repair becomes available. For claiming, use causal 14G229 and labor operations 12651D and 12651D4. If the condition persists after a test drive, refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 419-03B for normal

Quality improvements include: -Rear Gate latch calibration update to permit unlatching via the release button when the system has lost position memory and is stuck in a middle-latch position

Some of the following vehicles: * 2025-2026 Expedition/Navigator built on or after 02-Feb-2025 * 2025-2026 F-Super Duty built on or after 02-Feb-2025 * 2025-2026 Explorer/Aviator built on or after 02-Feb-2025 * 2025-2026 Nautilus built on or after 17-Feb-2025 * 2025-2026 F-150 built on or after 16-Jul-2025 may exhibit all of the following symptoms: - "No Key Detected" message displayed on the instrument panel cluster (IPC) - Key fob does not work in the backup slot. - Remote keyless entry (RKE) (lock and unlock from the key fob) functionality will work to lock/unlock the vehicle. If the vehicle exhibits these symptoms, manually enter the vehicle identification number (VIN) into the VIN entry dialog in the Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS) and then start a session using the Vehicle Communication Module (VCM) II, VCM 3, Vehicle Communication and Measurement Module (VCMM) or later level device with a universal serial bus (USB) cable disconnected from the laptop. Download the "BCM - Body Control Module (BCM) Hardware Test" app

For Various Ford and Lincoln vehicles, if diagnostics lead to the replacement of the front seat cushion cover J-clips, lower-level service parts are now available. Use service part W709919-S901 if the J-clip is completely detached from the seat cover and W715386-S424 if the clip is still partially attached. It is not necessary to replace the seat cover if only the J-clip is separating from the cover. Refer to PTS Home > Technical Assistance > Technical Support Videos > Section 501- Body and Paint > Seat J-Clips. For claiming, use causal parts from list below and labor operations 63100A and 63100A5. Causal Parts for claiming: Bronco/Bronco Sport/Escape/Explorer/Expedition/Navigator: 7862900 or 7862901 F-150/F-Super Duty: 1562900 or 1562901 Ranger/Maverick: 6062900 or 6062901

Quality improvements include: -Android system update