Driver's seat on brand-new Explorers may lean back when the vehicle is unlocked remotely, trapping second-row passengers
2026 Ford Explorer Tremor Photo by FordArticle content
Ford is recalling close to 80,000 vehicles in the U.S. over driver’s seats that may recline on their own when the vehicle is unlocked or started remotely. The safety campaign specifically affects 64,409 Ford Explorers and 15,170 Lincoln Aviators from model years 2026 and 2027, says the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); Transport Canada has not yet published a counterpart recall, so it’s unclear how many, if any, of these SUVs are affected on this side of the border.
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On affected vehicles, the second-row passengers may get trapped (or their knees bruised) when the empty driver’s seat unexpectedly begins to lean back without warning, something it may do when the vehicle is in Park and the car is either unlocked or started remotely, or the driver walks up to the vehicle while they have the key fob with them. The automaker’s investigation found the seat back typically folds all the way down, and doesn’t reverse direction when it encounters an obstacle, but instead just stalls in place.
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Ford says the problem can be traced to a motor in the power seats that came from a specific parts supplier, and the NHTSA explains that the involuntary movement is being “initiated by the seat’s memory recall function, which returns the seat to positions previously programmed by vehicle drivers.” Some 133 reports of this problem have been collected by the automaker in the U.S.
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There is not yet a fix for the issue, with Ford still working on a remedy, apparently; in the meantime, drivers are cautioned to be careful about passengers or cargo placed in the driver’s side second-row seat.
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Nicholas has been part of the Driving.ca team since 2018, and writes specifically about classic cars – like his first and currently only car, his 1971 Plymouth Valiant Scamp – whenever possible, though he also enjoys exploring vehicular history, automotive design, and car culture. His specific areas of focus include American cars of the 1930s, ’60s, and ’70s.
SummaryDriving.ca News and Features editor; and a Driving.ca contributor since 2018 Professional writer and editor for over 10 years, seeing publication in some of the most widely read outlets in Canada and the U.S. Specialties include classic-car profiles, automotive history, and stories exploring obscure Canadian car culture
EducationNicholas graduated from York University with a Bachelor’s in Professional Writing, and a minor in Philosophy. He also holds a Canadian Private Pilot’s Licence (PPL); and has been training to be a concours judge.
ExperienceNicholas started out writing news for Sympatico Autos (later renamed Autofocus) before eventually becoming that website’s chief editor. In 2018, he joined Driving.ca, and was not long after made the News and Features Editor. Nicholas has also contributed to the Toronto Star’s Wheels section; to Hagerty’s editorial efforts; and to an assortment of other publications. Nicholas has owned and maintained a 1971 Plymouth Valiant Scamp since 2012; and previously tinkered on a 1929 Ford Model A. He is a regular volunteer with the Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance in Owen Sound, Ontario; and a frequent participant in Classic Car Adventures’ Maple Mille event in southern Ontario.
Major works by the authorNicholas loves exploring overlooked corners of Canadian car culture. For Sympatico Autos, he put together a deep-dive look at General Motors’ disastrous introduction of its European Firenza to the Canadian market; drafted an authoritative history of the built-in-Canada MCV CH4 supercar; and arranged the first wind-tunnel test of a 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona “aero warrior” available online. For Driving.ca, he’s profiled Chris Hadfield’s passion for first-generation Ford Thunderbirds; proven that pre-war cars, excepting the Chrysler Airflow, were more aerodynamic backwards than forwards; and unearthed the story of the Ferguson Super Sport, a one-off roadster built in Toronto in the 1960s.
| # | Наименование новости | Тональность | Информативность | Дата публикации |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ford recalling nearly 388K vehicles due to faulty seats | 0 | 10.41 | 22-07-2026 |
| 2 | Ford recalling nearly 388K vehicles due to faulty seats | 0 | 10.41 | 24-07-2026 |
| 3 | Ford recalling nearly 388K vehicles due to faulty seats | 0 | 10.41 | 22-07-2026 |
| 4 | Ford recalls 387,000 vehicles; Here's why | 0 | 12.09 | 20-07-2026 |
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| 7 | Ford Recalls Another 777,000 Trucks And SUVs | 0 | 5 | 01-07-2026 |
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| 9 | Ford відкликає майже 420 000 авто у США через проблеми з ременями безпеки | 0 | 7 | 16-06-2026 |
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