2024-2026 Lincoln Aviator and Ford Explorer loose trailer hitch bolts recall
Certain 2024-2026 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles may have loose trailer hitch assembly bolts. This can cause loss of vehicle control or trailer detachment while towing, increasing crash risk.
What this means for you
Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.
Our severity reasoning: This recall involves a structural vehicle safety defect with potential for serious consequences including loss of vehicle control and trailer detachment while towing. However, no injuries, deaths, or specific incidents have been reported, placing this in the High category as a risk-of-harm recall with preventative remedy.
Plain-English summary
Ford Motor Company is recalling certain 2024-2026 Lincoln Aviator and Ford Explorer vehicles due to potentially loose trailer hitch assembly bolts.
The trailer hitch bolts may become loose, which can cause loss of vehicle handling and control while towing a trailer. In worst-case scenarios, the trailer could detach completely, significantly increasing the risk of a crash.
Owners who received notification letters (mailed October 29, 2025) should contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or visit a Ford dealer. Dealers will inspect and tighten the trailer hitch bolts, or replace them if necessary, at no charge. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) affected by this recall are searchable on NHTSA.gov.
The recalled product
- Product
- 2025 LINCOLN AVIATOR
- Brand
- LINCOLN
- Manufacturer
- Ford Motor Company
- Category
- Vehicle — Trailer hitch system
- Hazard
- loose-hitch-bolts
- loss-of-control
- trailer-detachment
- Affected units
- 1,412
Is your product affected?
Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.
Model numbers (2)
- AVIATOR
- EXPLORER
Distribution
Distributed nationwide across the United States.
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