2020–2026 Ford and Lincoln: seat belts recall
A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
What was reported
Source: manufacturer filing, 49 CFR Part 573Reported to NHTSA Mar 17, 2026 by Ford Motor Company, owners notified Mar 30, 2026.
What that means, in plain English
Source: WhichTrim's reading of the filing above — not NHTSA's wordingImproperly secured seat belt anchor bolts can cause the belt to fail to restrain an occupant in a crash, directly reducing occupant protection in a collision.
Written for us by a language model from the manufacturer's filed text, which is quoted in full above. Where the two differ, the filing is the record and this is only our summary of it.
Which vehicles are covered
Source: NHTSA campaign 26V159000Vehicles built May 9, 2019 to Feb 12, 2026 — a VIN outside that window is not part of this campaign even if the year, make and model match.
| Model year | Class | Safety Signal | Recalls on file |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Ford Explorer | Large SUV | F | 35 |
| 2021 Ford Explorer | Large SUV | F | 27 |
| 2022 Ford Explorer | Large SUV | F | 25 |
| 2023 Ford Explorer | Large SUV | F | 15 |
| 2024 Ford Explorer | Large SUV | F | 10 |
| 2025 Ford Explorer | Large SUV | F | 22 |
| 2026 Ford Explorer | Large SUV | F | 15 |
| 2020 Lincoln Aviator | Large SUV | F | 30 |
| 2021 Lincoln Aviator | Large SUV | F | 28 |
| 2022 Lincoln Aviator | Large SUV | F | 22 |
| 2023 Lincoln Aviator | Large SUV | F | 16 |
| 2024 Lincoln Aviator | Large SUV | D | 8 |
| 2025 Lincoln Aviator | Large SUV | F | 15 |
| 2026 Lincoln Aviator | Large SUV | C | 6 |
Those are the model years inside WhichTrim's range, 2016 onward. The campaign may cover others outside it, and the only thing that settles whether one specific vehicle is included is its VIN.
How much of it has been fixed
Source: manufacturer quarterly report, 49 CFR 573.7of the campaign
3 quarters into the six-quarter reporting window, and still climbing.
This is the manufacturer's own cumulative count of vehicles it has inspected and repaired, divided by the vehicles the campaign covers. It files that count with NHTSA every quarter for six consecutive quarters, starting from the quarter in which owners were told a remedy was ready, and then the obligation ends — so a figure on an older campaign is where the count stopped, not where it stands today.
It rarely reaches 100%, and not because the work was not done. The same report asks manufacturers to count vehicles they could not reach at all — exported, stolen, scrapped, or simply never located — and those stay in the denominator. A low number means a lot of these vehicles are still out there unrepaired; it does not tell you which ones.
The federal paperwork
Source: nhtsa.govFiled documents
Check one specific vehicle
A recall applies to a build range, so year, make and model cannot settle it. Type the VIN and the WhichTrim recall report checks this campaign’s build window and engine against it.
Campaign 26V159000 · the manufacturer calls it 26C18
Own one, or run a fleet? Recall Watch checks each VIN against every new NHTSA campaign and emails you when one lands, this one's expansions included. Or take a free one-line alert by model year.
A recall covers a build range. Only your VIN settles it.
Check it with the WhichTrim recall report now, or have us check it every night and email you when something new is filed.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR Part 573Is 26C18 the same recall as 26V159000?
Yes. 26C18 is the number Ford Motor Company uses for this campaign in its own paperwork and in the letter it sends owners. 26V159000 is the number NHTSA files it under. One recall, two references — dealers and service departments generally quote the manufacturer's.
Does this recall repair cost anything?
No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to remedy a safety defect or a compliance failure at no charge, for vehicles up to 15 years old measured from the date of first sale. A dealer that asks you to pay for a recall repair is in the wrong.
How do I know whether my vehicle is included?
By VIN, not by model year. This campaign covers vehicles built May 9, 2019 to Feb 12, 2026. The manufacturer files a build range with NHTSA and only vehicles inside it are covered, so two identical-looking cars from the same year can differ. NHTSA's own lookup checks a VIN against the manufacturer's list.
What if the repair is not available yet?
It happens, and often. Manufacturers must notify owners when a defect is found even if the parts or the software are not ready, then notify them a second time once the remedy exists. The remedy filed for this campaign is described above.
What did the manufacturer say was wrong?
The problem, risk and fix quoted on this page are the manufacturer's own words as filed with NHTSA under 49 CFR Part 573. WhichTrim does not paraphrase them.
Who started this recall?
NHTSA's record credits the manufacturer. A recall can begin with the manufacturer's own testing, with a defect investigation, or with a compliance test against a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard.