# Ford Motor Company: Passenger Air Bag May Deploy Improperly (26V581000)

**Recall Urgency Score:** 35/100

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Subject | Passenger Air Bag May Deploy Improperly |
| NHTSA ID | 26V581000 |
| Manufacturer campaign | 26S65 |
| Recall type | Vehicle |
| Component | AIR BAGS |
| Units potentially affected | 7 |
| Do not drive | No |
| Park outside | No |
| Defect | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer vehicles. The active vent on the passenger side may not open as intended, preventing the air bag from deploying properly. |
| Consequence | An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash. |
| Remedy | Dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S65. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 14, 2026. |

## Why this score
- Safety-critical component (air bags).
- 7 units affected.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recalls, via data.transportation.gov (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=26V581000). Last refreshed: 2026-11-04T18:12:01.520Z.
Recall data comes from NHTSA and is summarized automatically; check the official notice and VIN lookup before acting. Informational only.