Ford’s Latest Recall: A Driver’s Seat That Reclines When No One’s Behind the Wheel

Ford has added another peculiar recall to its already staggering 2026 tally. The automaker is pulling back nearly 80,000 SUVs because the driver’s seat can unexpectedly recline, but only when the vehicle is empty. The issue affects 64,409 Ford Explorers and 15,170 Lincoln Aviators from the 2026 and 2027 model years, built between November 2025 and late June 2026.

With this campaign. S. 5 million vehicles, more than half of all recalls across the entire industry.

The problem isn’t about seats moving while you’re driving. Instead, it happens after the memory seat function is triggered during remote unlock, remote start, or when someone approaches with the key fob. The recline motor misreads the seat’s position and keeps moving rearward, potentially pinning second-row passengers.

Normally, the seat has an obstacle-detection feature that should stop it, but that safeguard may not work as designed, creating an entrapment risk. Ford has received 133 reports of seats fully reclining without driver input, though no crashes or injuries have been reported.

Engineers traced the fault to a new supplier for the seat recline motor introduced in late 2025. Only Explorers and Aviators with that specific motor and control software are affected. Ford has not yet finalized a fix; owners can expect either a software update or replacement parts once the remedy is ready.

Notifications haven’t been scheduled, but Boca Auto Care will be watching for updates to help local drivers get their vehicles corrected quickly and safely.