Ford Recalls 2026 Explorers for Windshield Bonding Defect
Ford is recalling 2026 Explorer vehicles because the windshield may not be properly bonded, posing an injury risk in a crash.
What this means for you
Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).
The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.
Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural vehicle defect (windshield bonding) where detachment in a crash increases the risk of injury, meeting the criteria for a Severe rating.
Plain-English summary
Ford Motor Company is recalling certain 2026 Ford Explorer vehicles. During the manufacturing process, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle. This defect allows the windshield to detach in a crash, causing the vehicles to fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 212, "Windshield Mounting."
In the event of a crash, windshield detachment can increase the risk of injury. The recall affects 2026 model year Ford Explorer vehicles.
Dealers will remove and replace the windshield free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on 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.
The recalled product
- Product
- FORD EXPLORER
- Brand
- FORD
- Manufacturer
- Ford Motor Company
- Category
- Vehicle — SUV
- Affected units
- 8
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 (1)
- EXPLORER
Distribution
Distributed nationwide across the United States.
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