Hearth Record

2026 Ford Explorer

Model year 2026: every recall NHTSA’s file names for it, the complaints owners made to NHTSA, and its crash ratings.

NHTSA’s recall lookup, on nhtsa.gov

Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. NHTSA’s recall lookup is on nhtsa.gov.

The short answer

From NHTSA’s files, copied Oct 31, 2026.

A recall covers the vehicles it names, by build date where NHTSA gives one. Your VIN says which are open on yours.

Is your vehicle in one of these recalls?

No public file says which recalls are still open on one vehicle. NHTSA’s lookup does, from its VIN.

17 letters and numbers, at the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side. VINs never use I, O or Q.

Source:

The VIN goes to NHTSA, never to Hearth Record.

What recalls name it?

14 recalls for the 2026 Ford Explorer in NHTSA’s file, newest first. Each covers the vehicles it names; your VIN says if yours is one.

None carries NHTSA’s advice not to drive it or to park outside.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 30, 2026. Updated daily.

Sep 9, 2026. Air bags: frontal

NHTSA counts 7 potentially involved, across everything this recall names. The ones named here were built from Aug 2, 2026 to Aug 2, 2026.

  • NHTSA campaign 26V-581

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Aug 25, 2026. Engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical

NHTSA counts 10,001 potentially involved, across everything this recall names. The ones named here were built from Feb 20, 2026 to Apr 18, 2026.

  • NHTSA campaign 26V-548

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Aug 13, 2026. Engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical

NHTSA counts 6 potentially involved, across everything this recall names. The ones named here were built from Feb 10, 2026 to Feb 17, 2026.

  • NHTSA campaign 26V-532

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Jul 21, 2026. Seats: front assembly: power adjust

NHTSA counts 76,748 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 26V-470

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Jul 14, 2026. Seats: mid/rear assembly

NHTSA counts 387,911 potentially involved, across everything this recall names. The ones named here were built to Jun 24, 2026.

  • NHTSA campaign 26V-451

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

May 27, 2026. Engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical

NHTSA counts 1,536 potentially involved, across everything this recall names. The ones named here were built to May 1, 2026.

  • NHTSA campaign 26V-343

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Mar 31, 2026. Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: fan/motor

NHTSA counts 55 potentially involved, across everything this recall names. The ones named here were built from Oct 19, 2025 to Jan 12, 2026.

  • NHTSA campaign 26V-202

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Mar 31, 2026. Engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical

NHTSA counts 278 potentially involved, across everything this recall names. The ones named here were built from Feb 17, 2026 to Feb 26, 2026.

  • NHTSA campaign 26V-205

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Mar 17, 2026. Seat belts

NHTSA counts 561 potentially involved, across everything this recall names. The ones named here were built to Jan 21, 2026.

  • NHTSA campaign 26V-159

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Mar 3, 2026. Exterior lighting: headlights

NHTSA counts 35,772 potentially involved, across everything this recall names. The ones named here were built to Nov 23, 2025.

  • NHTSA campaign 26V-121

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Jan 21, 2026. Visibility: windshield

NHTSA counts 8 potentially involved, across everything this recall names. The ones named here were built from Oct 19, 2025 to Oct 20, 2025.

  • NHTSA campaign 26V-024

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Dec 1, 2025. Engine

NHTSA counts 6 potentially involved, across everything this recall names. The ones named here were built from Nov 3, 2025 to Nov 12, 2025.

  • NHTSA campaign 25V-828

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Oct 24, 2025. Visibility: windshield

NHTSA counts 56,841 potentially involved, across everything this recall names. The ones named here were built to Sep 5, 2025.

  • NHTSA campaign 25V-730

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Oct 10, 2025. Trailer hitches

NHTSA counts 1,412 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 25V-687

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

What have owners told NHTSA?

44 complaints to NHTSA, received from Mar 31, 2026 to Oct 29, 2026.

  • 3 complaints told of a crash, and none of a fire.
  • Together they report 3 people injured and no deaths.
  • Complaints are owners’ own reports, not findings: NHTSA reads them to decide what to look into. Only their counts are kept here; no complaint’s words or owner are read.
Source:

NHTSA, Owner complaints flat files. Released Oct 31, 2026. Updated daily.

How did it do in crash tests?

NHTSA rated 4 versions of the 2026 Ford Explorer: 5 stars overall, every version.

NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings, in whole stars. NHTSA’s safety concerns are shown beneath the stars they qualify, as NHTSA asks.

Source:

NHTSA, 5-Star Safety Ratings. Released Aug 7, 2026. Updated monthly.

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2026 Ford Explorer, by the version NHTSA rated
VersionOverallFrontal crashSide crashRollover
Explorer Gas, SUV, 4WD 5 stars 5 starsDriver 5, passenger 5 5 starsSide pole 5 4 starsA 15.1% chance of rolling over; no tip
Explorer Gas, SUV, RWD 5 stars 5 starsDriver 5, passenger 5 5 starsSide pole 5 4 starsA 14.7% chance of rolling over; no tip
Explorer HEV, SUV, 4WD 5 stars 5 starsDriver 5, passenger 5 5 starsSide pole 5 4 starsA 15.1% chance of rolling over; no tip
Explorer HEV, SUV, RWD 5 stars 5 starsDriver 5, passenger 5 5 starsSide pole 5 4 starsA 14.7% chance of rolling over; no tip

NHTSA lists no safety concern for any version rated here.

NHTSA’s notes on these ratings

  • During the side pole impact test, the windshield separated from the roof, A-pillar, and lower edge

What the record doesn’t say

  • Which recalls are still open on one vehicle: only NHTSA’s lookup, with its VIN, says that.
  • Ratings are for the versions NHTSA tested. Other cabs, engines and drives can rate differently.
  • How serious each complaint was, or whether it was confirmed: complaints aren’t findings.
Source:

Hearth Record wrote these lines.

Sources

  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010).

    Released Oct 30, 2026 and checked Oct 30, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).

  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Owner complaints flat files.

    Released Oct 31, 2026 and checked Oct 31, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).

  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 5-Star Safety Ratings.

    Released Aug 7, 2026 and checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated monthly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).

Source:

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 31, 2026.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated monthly.

From the homeNone yet. Replies and paid listings aren’t open, and when they open they will sit here, below the record.

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Every fact names its source.

Who published it, when, and how often it changes sit beside each fact, with a link to the agency’s own file.

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