Ford recall overview:
- Who: Ford Motor Co. is recalling 42,784 Mustang Mach-E vehicles, along with 79,579 Lincoln Aviator and Ford Explorer vehicles.
- Why: A rear differential component may fracture on the Mach-E, while a seat motor issue can cause unintended reclining in the Aviator and Explorer.
- Where: The recalls are active across the United States.
Ford Motor is recalling more than 122,000 vehicles across two separate campaigns, one addressing a potential drivetrain failure and another addressing an unintended seat-reclining defect, according to recall notices filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The first recall, filed on June 30 under NHTSA campaign number 26V417, covers 42,784 model year 2021-2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles built with a rear-wheel-drive system.
The recall notice says affected vehicles may experience a fracture in the rear differential pinion shaft. Ford traces the issue to bending fatigue in the shaft, and the automaker says a failure could cause a loss of motive power or unintended vehicle movement, raising the risk of a crash.
The second recall, filed on July 21 under campaign number 26V470, covers 79,579 model year 2026-2027 Lincoln Aviator and Ford Explorer vehicles. The affected SUVs have a driver seat that can recline unexpectedly, a defect Ford ties to a change in the seat’s recline motor supplier introduced in November 2025.
That recall notice says drivers may experience “unintended and unattended driver seat reclining movement” triggered by unlocking the doors remotely, remote-starting the vehicle, approaching with a programmed key fob, or recalling a saved seat memory position.
Ford warns a fully reclined seat could contact the second row, raising the risk of entrapment or injury for rear-seat passengers.
Ford reports no crashes or injuries tied to either recall
Ford said it was aware of 133 field reports connected to the seat-recline defect. For the Mach-E, the company had logged 62 warranty claims and several dozen additional field reports tied to the pinion shaft concern as of mid-June.
Ford says it has not received any reports of crashes, injuries or fires linked to either condition.
For the Mach-E, dealers will repair or replace the rear differential assembly with a more durable pinion shaft at no charge to owners. Interim notification letters for that recall are expected to reach owners beginning July 13, with final remedy letters to follow by Dec. 31.
Ford has not yet finalized a fix for the Aviator and Explorer seat defect but says a remedy, potentially delivered through a software update, is still in development.
Owners with questions about either recall can contact Ford customer service at 866-436-7332. The Mach-E recall is listed under Ford’s internal number 26S50, while the Aviator and Explorer recall is listed under 26S53.
The company is not facing legal action over the recall, but Top Class Actions follows recalls closely as they sometimes lead to class action lawsuits.
Also in July, Ford recalled more than 100,000 Mustangs due to potential safety hazards related to a defect in the rear differential pinion shaft.
Are you affected by these Ford recalls? Let us know in the comments.
Don’t Miss Out!
Check out our list of Class Action Lawsuits and Class Action Settlements you may qualify to join!
Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:
