Ford closed out 2025 with 153 recall campaigns, an all-time record the Dearborn automaker would rather not break in 2026. To avoid that, it would need to stop launching campaigns, which is a tall order for a company that already leads the industry after just two months. This week, more recalls have been issued, including one affecting the Lincoln division. The model in question is the 2026 Navigator, whose driver’s seat can unexpectedly slide rearward while the vehicle is in motion.
The issue affects the driver’s seat in 2026 Navigator models.
A software update will resolve the problem.
Ford already leads the recall standings in 2026.
That’s not the kind of situation anyone wants to experience behind the wheel. Even less so when the vehicle in question is a luxury SUV with a six-figure base price: you expect more from a product in that class.
A Software Glitch, Not a Mechanical Failure
The root cause is a defect in the driver’s seat module’s obstacle detection logic. That module is supplied by Gentherm, a company based in Novi, Michigan. In theory, the system is designed to reverse the seat’s movement if it detects an obstacle in its path, a standard and rational safety feature.
In practice, however, the software can get it wrong. If it detects an object ahead of the seat, it may attempt to slide all the way to the rearmost position. For most drivers, that’s a serious problem, because it puts the pedals out of reach. Worse, the module was never programmed to cancel that automatic reversal when the driver manually operates the seat switch, or when the vehicle is traveling above 5 km/h.
Ford Issued 153 Recalls in 2025, More Than the Following Nine Brands Combined
Ford opened an internal investigation on January 15, 2026, after receiving reports through its quality monitoring system. The recall was officially confirmed in late February. In total, 1,189 units of the 2026 Navigator, built at the Kentucky plant between November 26 and December 16, 2025, are affected.
A 20-Minute Software Update
The good news is that the repair is straightforward. No parts need replacing, no major disassembly required. Dealers will update the seat module using Ford’s diagnostic system, a procedure that takes roughly 20 minutes. Ford reports that no accidents, injuries, or fires have been linked to this defect. The company also notes that the repair can be performed by a mobile Lincoln technician, sparing owners a trip to the dealership.
The current-generation Navigator, which was all-new for 2025, is no stranger to trouble: a recall over cracks in the rear lightbar allowing moisture buildup and inoperative reverse lights, another over an electronic brake booster module that could malfunction when driver assistance systems are active, and now this seat issue.
Ford continues to say it’s working on quality. CEO Jim Farley has been making that case since 2023, and the company has put in place incentive programs for employees tied to assembly quality. Good intentions, no question. But the numbers keep telling a different story.
