- Windshields in some 2026 Explorers may not be sealed properly.
- Faulty urethane could cause the windshields to detach.
- Ford is also recalling examples of its F-53 and F-59 truck chassis.
Ford is starting 2026 pretty much where it left off in 2025, dealing with another round of recalls. Just last week, the company urged nearly half a million owners across multiple models to stop using their engine block heaters in the middle of winter. Now it’s adding two more recalls in the US, each tied to separate safety concerns. The one bit of relatively good news for Ford is that neither recall affects a large number of vehicles.
Read: Ford Warns Nearly Half A Million Drivers To Stop Using Engine Block Heaters Mid-Winter
The first of the two recalls targets the refreshed 2026 Explorer. According to Ford, the urethane bonding the SUV’s windshield to its frame might not have been applied properly. That puts the vehicle in violation of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and could pose a serious risk if left unaddressed.
Windshields and Safety Gaps
Ford says that, in the event of a crash, the windshield could detach due to the faulty urethane application, increasing the risk of injury to those inside. It also notes that affected vehicles may produce more wind noise than normal and could experience water leaks as a result of the poor seal.
This recall involves just eight examples of the 2026 Ford Explorer, all built in a narrow window between October 19 and October 20, 2025.
Owners are being alerted to the recall before January 30 and instructed to take their Explorer to a Ford or Lincoln dealership. These dealers have then been told to install a new windshield, ensuring the urethane has been applied correctly. Fortunately, Ford hasn’t received any reports of accidents or injuries related to the issue.
Brake Light Trouble
The second recall involves the 2025 Ford F-59 Commercial Stripped Chassis, a model commonly used as the base for delivery vans and food trucks. Also included is the 2025 F-53, which underpins many motorhomes.
In both cases, it’s possible that the brake lights won’t illuminate when the brake pedal is pushed, or could illuminate even if the brake pedal isn’t touched. Ford traced the problem to improperly revised installation instructions, which may have caused the stop lamp switches to be fitted incorrectly during assembly.
This recall affects 146 units of the F-59 produced between September 29 and October 13, 2025, along with 85 F-53 units built between September 29 and October 10. Dealers have been instructed to replace the stop lamp switch and confirm its proper function before returning the vehicles to customers.
