Recall 26V470 covers 79,579 2026-2027 Lincoln Aviator and Explorer vehicles for unintended driver-seat recline. Repair will be free at any franchised Lincoln dealer once available.
Lincoln is recalling 79,579 2026-2027 Aviator and Explorer vehicles because an empty driver's seat can recline on its own during remote unlock or remote start. Unexpected seatback movement can trap a second-row occupant and increase injury risk; the dealer repair will be free once Lincoln makes it available.
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What's wrong?
The power driver's seat in the 2026-2027 Lincoln Aviator and Explorer uses a recline motor and memory recall controls. Those controls return the seatback to a saved driving position after a driver unlocks, remote-starts, or approaches the vehicle with a programmed key fob. The motor's normal job is simple: move the seatback only to the position the system thinks was stored.
On affected vehicles, the recline motor incorrectly reads the driver's seat position during memory recall. That bad position reading lets an unoccupied driver's seat recline on its own while the vehicle is parked. If the seatback keeps moving rearward, it can contact the second-row seat and create an entrapment or injury risk for second-row occupants, as described in NHTSA campaign 26V470.
There is no warning sign before failure. The seat movement starts without driver input, so treat unexpected reclining during unlock, remote start, or key-fob approach as the condition this recall addresses.
Who's affected?
Covers Aviator and Explorer SUVs from the 2026 and 2027 model years, all involving the same seat assembly.
| 2026 Lincoln Aviator | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| 2027 Lincoln Aviator | seat assembly |
| 2026 Ford Explorer | seat assembly |
| 2027 Ford Explorer | seat assembly |
| Units affected | 79,579 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific SUV is included.
What's the safety risk?
Unexpected driver's seat back movement can trap a second-row occupant and increase injury risk. There is no listed warning sign before this happens, so keep passengers clear of the driver seat back during seat movement and ask the dealer about recall status. Repair will be free at any franchised Lincoln dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2026-2027 Aviator or Explorer is included in this Lincoln recall.
- Watch for Lincoln's owner notice once the seat-back remedy is ready.
- Call Lincoln customer service at 1-866-436-7332 with questions, and reference recall number 26V470 and Lincoln recall 26S53.
- Keep second-row passengers clear of the driver's seat area during remote unlock or remote start until the repair is complete.
- Contact a franchised Lincoln dealer after the remedy opens to schedule the free seat-back repair.
What happens at the repair
The current filing says the remedy is still under development, so there is no final dealer repair to schedule yet. Once it opens, the dealer repair will be free. A Lincoln technician will follow the final repair instructions, which list a replacement, a software update, or both as the repair path. The manufacturer's general reimbursement plan is on file. If you already paid for a related driver's seat repair before the recall notice, ask the service desk how to submit documentation under that standard plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| July 21, 2026 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 26V470?
Recall 26V470 covers 79,579 2026-2027 Lincoln Aviator and Explorer vehicles with a driver's seat that can recline unintentionally when the seat is unoccupied, including during remote unlock or remote start. Seat-back movement can trap a second-row occupant and increase injury risk.
What should I do if my 2026-2027 Lincoln Aviator or Explorer is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 26V470. If it is, contact a franchised Lincoln dealer and reference recall number 26V470 and Lincoln recall number 26S53. The remedy is under development, so ask the dealer what to do while you wait.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost once the remedy is available. Lincoln has not provided the final repair yet, but the recall remedy will be free at a franchised dealer.
Is it safe to use the second row before the repair is ready?
Use caution around the driver's seat and second row until the remedy is complete. The recall says an unoccupied driver's seat can recline unexpectedly and trap a second-row occupant, increasing injury risk. Ask your Lincoln dealer for current guidance tied to recall 26V470.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/26V470000 |
|---|---|
| Lincoln customer service | 1-866-436-7332 |
| NHTSA recall # | 26V470 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 26V470000 |
Source documents
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on August 3, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →