2020 Ford Explorer seats & seat belts problems

Related recalls

• Recall 26V451000Jul 14, 2026387,911 vehicles
  SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

  Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2027 Aviator and 2020-2026 Explorer vehicles. The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, tipping, or sliding unexpectedly.

  Risk: A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

  Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the bezel around the switch as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters explaining the safety risk were mailed August 19, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Lincoln Aviator owner notification letters were mailed August 21, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S52. This recall expands Recall 25V393. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026.

• Recall 26V159000Mar 17, 2026561 vehicles
  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.

  Risk: A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

  Remedy: 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.

• Recall 25V393000Jun 13, 2025304,662 vehicles
  SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

  Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, folding, or sliding unexpectedly while driving.

  Risk: A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.

  Remedy: Dealers will inspect the second-row seat switch, and replace the bezel around the switch as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S67.

• Recall 25V093000Feb 14, 2025240,510 vehicles
  SEAT BELTS

  Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Explorer and Aviator vehicles. The seat belt buckle anchor bolts at one or more seating positions may be improperly secured. Additionally, vehicles may have an improperly secured seat belt retractor anchor bolt and/or seat belt anchor bolt at the second-row center seating position, if equipped.

  Risk: A loose seat belt or seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

  Remedy: Dealers will inspect seat belt buckle anchor bolts in all seating positions. Additionally, dealers will inspect the seat belt retractor anchor bolt and seat belt anchor bolt at the second-row center seating position, if equipped. If loose anchor bolts are found, the affected seat components will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 5, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S09.

• Recall 20V549000Sep 10, 202029 vehicles
  SEAT BELTS: REAR/OTHER:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

  Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Explorer vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with second row center seat belt buckles that may not be properly secured to the seat.

  Risk: Vehicles with seat belt buckles that are not properly secured may fail to restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

  Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the second row center seat assembly, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S50.

• Recall 20V497000Aug 21, 2020488 vehicles
  AIR BAGS:CRITICAL FASTENERS · AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW · SEATS

  Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Explorer and 2020 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The side air bag and/or seat back module attachments may not have been properly tightened in the front seat backs.

  Risk: If the side air bag or seat back fasteners were not properly tightened, the side air bag deployment could be affected, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

  Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove front seat back panels from one or both front seats (VIN-specific) and verify that the fasteners have been properly tightened, free of charge. The recall began September 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S48.

• Recall 19V633000Aug 28, 2019639,137 vehicles
  SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER · SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

  Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also included are certain 2020 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with rear outboard seats and manual seat back recliner mechanisms. The recliner mechanisms may be missing the third pawl required for seat back strength, resulting in a loose seat back. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems."

  Risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

  Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19C07.

What owners say

1. Filed Aug 19, 2026TNSeats & Seat BeltsTransmission & Drivetrain

   The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V675000 (Power Train), 25V093000 (Seat Belts), 26V402000 (Power Train), and 26V451000 (Seats) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted.

   NHTSA complaint #11758053 · source
2. Filed Jul 21, 2026CASeats & Seat Belts

   My Ford explorer has a 3rd row headrest stuck in a down position. So, the passengers head will not be supported in a whiplash situation. I have found many complaints on this issue but cant find what should be a very important safety recall.

   NHTSA complaint #11751819 · source
3. Filed Jul 13, 2026110,000 miAR1 injuredSeats & Seat Belts

   The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while her son was positioned in the third-row seat, the head restraint unexpectedly slammed down on the tip of his left index finger. As a result, he sustained a severe injury that required immediate medical attention. The injury required 6 to 8 stitches, and the child also required surgery. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The…

   NHTSA complaint #11750070 · source
4. Filed Jun 30, 202638,000 miGATowedSeats & Seat BeltsTransmission & Drivetrain

   The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 30-45 MPH, the vehicle stopped unexpectedly. On another occasion while driving 25-35 MPH, the transmission was shifting and the vehicle bucked. There was an abnormal thumping and metal-against-metal sound coming from the vehicle. There was a grabbing coming from the vehicle. The seat belt became tight while the pretensioner had deployed after detecting the failure. The contact was concerned about…

   NHTSA complaint #11747402 · source
5. Filed Jun 30, 2026OHElectrical SystemSeats & Seat Belts

   With people in the backseat, the seats decided to fold out of nowhere from the previous recall where the seat released buttons on the second row get stuck. Even though it’s very clear that these buttons need to be replaced and I took it to a Ford dealership they said that they were fine even though the buttons literally are stuck in no matter what and ever so slightly touching them causes the seats to fold. The passengers in the second row were not injured, but very easily…

   NHTSA complaint #11747334 · source
6. Filed May 12, 2026HISeats & Seat Belts

   Safety recall NHTSA 25V093, vehicle at dealership Cutter Ford, Aiea, Hawaii, for appointment to correct recall defect with the seat restraint bolts and the technician determined the center two rear seats failed the inspection and the bolts were defective. Cutter Ford invoice #XXX, dated January 15, 2026. Repair and correction not completed, stated back order the parts needed. On February 26, 2026, vehicle appointment at Cutter Ford for brake service and recall service,…

   NHTSA complaint #11737444 · source
7. Filed Apr 15, 2026GAAirbagsOther / UnknownSeats & Seat Belts

   On my 2020 Explorer ST, the plastic backing on the front seats is popping off and exposing the seats airbags. My dealer said ONE replacement backing would be $1400 to replace. In a facebook group I am in, multiple people have complained on the 2020 ST that theirs has done the same thing.

   NHTSA complaint #11731319 · source
8. Filed Mar 17, 2026INSeats & Seat Belts

   I've received more than one recall notice from Ford (Recall Number: 25S09) but ever time I contact my dealer to schedule service, they say that Ford has not released the parts. I'm very concerned since this is a SAFETY recall. I'm also baffled because the letter says it's a "improperly torqued" fastener. I don't understand why they need parts for that. But what the heck do I know? Please help!

   NHTSA complaint #11724921 · source
9. Filed Feb 5, 2026PASeats & Seat Belts

   The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V093000 (Seat Belts); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

   NHTSA complaint #11715903 · source
10. Filed Jan 21, 2026IASeats & Seat Belts

    The middle row passenger side seatbelt randomly unbuckles when we drive. We have had ford dealership look at it and are going to fix it as there is not a spicific recall for this but it is a saftey concern as the seatbelt doesn't stay fastened when driving.

    NHTSA complaint #11712361 · source
11. Filed Jan 12, 2026TXSeats & Seat Belts

    The 2nd row seat folding buttons have been malfunctioning for years and folding unexpectedly but Ford would simply say that it was user error causing it to stick. In June of 2025 I received a recall for the issue stating the buttons on the second row may bind or stick. The notice said the parts werent available and that I would be notified again by Ford when the parts came in to schedule a service appointment to complete the repairs free of charge. However, the notice was…

    NHTSA complaint #11710396 · source
12. Filed Nov 10, 2025109,000 miOHSeats & Seat Belts

    The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the second-row driver's side seat independently shifted backwards. In addition, the contact stated that the contact's [XXX] child was in a car seat attached to the second-row driver's side seat. No injuries were sustained. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V393000…

    NHTSA complaint #11698588 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology