Structure: body: door (Ford)
Vehicle recall 15V-171. NHTSA received Ford Motor Company’s report on Mar 24, 2015.
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The short answer
NHTSA received Ford Motor Company’s report on Mar 24, 2015. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 20, 2026.
Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.
What’s wrong with it?
If the interior door handle return spring is unseated, the door may unlatch in the event of a side impact crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Explorer vehicles.
In the affected vehicles, the interior door handle return spring may unseat, resulting in interior door handle that does not return to the fully stowed position after actuation.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Structure: body: door.
What should you do?
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four of the interior door handles and either repair or replace them, free of charge. The recall began on July 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 15S11.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
- Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 194,484 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- Ford Explorerand 2011, 2012 and 2013, before the model years listed here
Who is recalling it?
- Made by Ford Motor Company.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
What the record doesn’t say
- NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
- Whether one vehicle or seat has been fixed: only its maker, or NHTSA’s lookup with a VIN, can say.
- This recall names only model years before 2015, which have no pages here. Your VIN, at NHTSA, says which recalls are open on a vehicle.
- How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010).
Released Oct 20, 2026 and checked Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 20, 2026.