• Ford issued a recall for 79,579 Ford Explorers and Lincoln Aviators that may feature a driver's seat with a mind of its own.
• Documents filed with NHTSA say unattended driver's seats could automatically recline when the car is unlocked, remotely started, or within range of the key fob.
• Ford is still working on a solution. For now, keep your back seats clear of any people or valuables when unlocking your Explorer or Aviator.

Ford issued a recall for 64,409 Ford Explorers and 15,170 Lincoln Aviators that may have a malfunctioning driver's seat capable of trapping second-row passengers when unlocking the vehicle. Documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) say the action only happens when the driver's seat is unoccupied and the vehicle is parked.

There haven't been reports of injury yet, likely because the malfunction only occurs when the car is remotely unlocked, started, or when a driver approaches the vehicle while carrying their key fob. Drivers have nothing to fear in terms of surprise changes in seating elevation once they're in the vehicle, but any passengers lurking in the second row of the locked car may get bruised kneecaps.

2026 Lincoln Aviator Reserve second row

The recall applies to 2026 and 2027 models of the Explorer and Aviator. NHTSA documents say the unexpected seat movement is caused by a faulty memory recall function, which is meant to automatically bring the driver's seat to their preferred position when they get in the car. Contrary to what your SUV may be telling you, it's not recommended to drive in this new horizontal "nap mode."

In its investigation, Ford found that the seat motor will stall when it meets resistance instead of bouncing back up like it's supposed to. While it may pose a threat of minor entrapment, passengers can rest assured that the reclining seat won't cut off their legs should they get stuck.

The documents report that Ford is currently working on a solution for the faulty mechanism, and owner notifications haven't been scheduled yet. For updates or more information, owners can check the NHTSA website.

Alayna Wilkening grew up reading motorsport magazines and following her grandpa around his Chevrolet dealership's showroom floor. In true Hoosier fashion, her first car was a hot pink custom cardboard "Fiero-vette" for her kindergarten Kindy 500 race. She now autocrosses a 1994 Miata with her dad, which she learned to drive the night before her first event. Alayna went to Indiana University and graduated with a degree in journalism and a minor in graphic design. As a testament to her great taste in cars, her first real one was a metallic orange 2007 Chevy HHR, which she lovingly called "The Dumptruck."