GROUNDWORK — 26V159000: Seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer seating positions may be improperly secured FORD EXPLORER / LINCOLN AVIATOR: check the listed vehicles, the reported issue and the manufacturer remedy for 26V159000. Keep the official status and service answers in one private record. Campaign: 26V159000 Official record checked: 2026-10-19T20:36:57.420Z Official campaign: https://api.nhtsa.gov/recalls/campaignNumber?campaignNumber=26V159000 Official VIN lookup: https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls LISTED VEHICLES (VIN confirmation required) 2020 FORD EXPLORER 2020 LINCOLN AVIATOR 2021 FORD EXPLORER 2021 LINCOLN AVIATOR 2022 LINCOLN AVIATOR 2022 FORD EXPLORER 2023 LINCOLN AVIATOR 2023 FORD EXPLORER 2024 LINCOLN AVIATOR 2024 FORD EXPLORER 2025 FORD EXPLORER 2026 FORD EXPLORER 2025 LINCOLN AVIATOR 2026 LINCOLN AVIATOR OFFICIAL REPORTED ISSUE Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer seating positions may be improperly secured. OFFICIAL REPORTED CONSEQUENCE A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. OFFICIAL REPORTED REMEDY Dealers will inspect the second-row outer seat belt lower anchor bolts and replace or repair them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 30, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C18. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 19, 2026. OWNER PREPARATION Use vehicle documents and existing service records. Leave airbag, belt and seat disassembly or deployment testing to the service provider. REMEDY TIMING IN THE DATED SOURCE Confirm current remedy arrangements The source does not explicitly establish current remedy availability. Ask the manufacturer about the applicable remedy, required parts or software, appointment arrangements and any interim instructions. Current availability for your VIN: unconfirmed. YOUR SERVICE QUESTIONS 1. Does the manufacturer confirm that campaign 26V159000 applies to this VIN, including the report’s equipment and production restrictions? A matching model and year is only a starting point. The official lookup or manufacturer must establish the individual vehicle’s status. Discussion status / answer: __________ 2. What remedy, required parts or software, and appointment arrangements are currently available for this VIN, and which interim instructions apply? The source does not explicitly establish current remedy availability. Ask the manufacturer about the applicable remedy, required parts or software, appointment arrangements and any interim instructions. Discussion status / answer: __________ 3. Which seating position or restraint component is included, and does the manufacturer give any interim occupancy instruction for this VIN? Compare the answer with the reported component: SEAT BELTS. Discussion status / answer: __________ 4. If an inspection determines which work is needed, what was inspected, what was found, and which corrective work followed? Ask for the inspection result as well as the final action. A parts list alone may not describe an inspection-based remedy. Discussion status / answer: __________ 5. Which items in the reported replacement remedy for 26V159000 were replaced, and are they identified on the work order? Keep the replaced items and the campaign number together so that a later visit can distinguish recall work from other repairs. Discussion status / answer: __________ 6. What dated document records the remedy performed under 26V159000, and what should I do if the reported concern remains? Keep campaign completion and unresolved symptoms as separate questions. A saved worksheet or booked appointment does not establish a repair. Discussion status / answer: __________ OFFICIAL LOOKUP DECISIONS Not checked or unavailable: eligibility remains unconfirmed; use the official lookup or manufacturer. Campaign listed as open: confirm current instructions, availability and remedy arrangements. Campaign not listed as open: reconcile repair history and lookup coverage with the manufacturer if needed. A zero-open result does not diagnose symptoms. Work order records completed recall work: keep the exact campaign and dated remedy record; report unresolved symptoms separately. YOUR RECORD Check date: __________ Official lookup result: __________ Service arrangement: __________ Existing observation: __________ Questions and work-order notes (no VIN or plate needed): __________ LOOKUP LIMITS A model/year match does not establish VIN eligibility. The official lookup may omit completed recalls, some recent campaigns or recalls outside its coverage. The listed defect does not prove the cause of a symptom on your vehicle. This guide supports owner preparation and does not provide a repair procedure.