The Recall Desk
Our severity:HighNHTSA·26V581000·Announced 2026-09-09

Ford Recalls 2026 Explorers Due to Passenger Air Bag Deployment Defect

Ford is recalling 2026 Explorer vehicles because the passenger air bag may not deploy properly in a crash, increasing injury risk.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 3/5 (High).

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: The recall involves a safety-critical component (air bag) that may fail to deploy, creating a risk of harm in a crash, but no injuries or fatalities have been reported.

Plain-English summary

Ford Motor Company is recalling certain 2026 Ford Explorer vehicles. The recall addresses a defect where the active vent on the passenger side may not open as intended, which can prevent the passenger air bag from deploying properly during a crash.

An air bag that fails to deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash. No specific injuries or fatalities have been reported in the source text.

Dealers will replace the passenger air bag module free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on September 25, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S65. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 14, 2026.

The recalled product

Product
FORD EXPLORER
Brand
FORD
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Category
Vehicle — Air Bag
Hazard
Affected units
7

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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