Ford Motor Co. is recalling almost 80,000 SUVs for an issue where an unoccupied driver's seat may unexpectedly recline and trap a passenger.

The Dearborn, Michigan, automaker has issued the recall on certain 2026-27 Explorers and Lincoln Aviators. A remedy is under development, and it's unclear when a fix will be made available. A trapped second-row passenger can increase the risk of injury.

The sudden reclining of the driver's seat can occur while someone is remotely unlocking doors, remotely starting the vehicle, approaching the vehicle in possession of a key fob or after recalling one of the saved button-activated seat memory positions, according to the recall report. Ford has identified that the source of the problem is the seat's memory recall function after a change in supplier in November 2025.

The company is aware of at least 133 reports from various sources related to this condition, though there haven't been any reported accidents or injuries related to the problem.

The recall is Ford's 61st of the year, more than double any other automaker, after the company issued an annual record of 153 last year. The Dearborn automaker has made process and structural changes seeking to address problems with its new vehicles, and JD Power recently ranked it the top mass-market brand for initial quality.

But Ford remains under an independent federal monitor to oversee its recall processes, data analytics and compliance, and executives said they expect past mistakes will continue to impact warranty costs moving forward.

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