Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling ~604,533 model-year 2020-2022 Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Aviator, and Lincoln Corsair sport utility vehicles. The front windshield wiper motor may fail and prevent the windshield wipers from operating properly. Dealers have been told not to demonstrate or deliver vehicles in stock. Ford initially dismissed the safety defect “since it did not pose an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety.” Ford is operating under a consent order from NHTSA because of its previous handing of recalls.
“During assembly of the front windshield wiper motor, the motor’s cover terminal may have been misaligned with the brush card terminal. This condition creates a poor connection that results in a loss of electrical continuity within the motor over time,” Ford told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the mandatory safety defect recall document made public by NHTSA this morning. The defective wiper motor was supplied by Valeo North America and made in Mexico.
Dealers will inspect and replace the front wiper motors as necessary, free of charge as required by U.S. safety regulations. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, are expected to be mailed March 9, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, not anticipated until May 2026? Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 26S14. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall are searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Information on the relevance of this safety defect to specific vehicles can best be obtained by either calling Ford’s toll-free line (1-866-436-7332) or by contacting a local Ford or Lincoln dealer who can obtain specific information regarding the vehicles from the Ford On-line Automotive Service Information System (OASIS) database.
Chronology
- On June 17, 2021, an investigation into warranty claims and customer complaints regarding inoperative or intermittent windshield wiper motors across Explorer, Escape, Corsair, and Aviator vehicle lines was opened in Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group (CCRG). The investigation team commenced a review of warranty spikes observed in the 2020–2021 Model Year vehicles. Additionally, supplier teardown analysis of field returned parts was reviewed.
- On September 28, 2021, the initial investigation was closed. Ford determined that the condition did not pose an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety. This conclusion was supported by a low projected occurrence rate, the overt nature of the condition to the customer, and Ford’s assessment of regulatory compliance.
- On November 18, 2025, the CCRG reopened its investigation after observing an increased rate of occurrence during the suspect production period during a review of data performed as part of an investigation into a separate issue.
- Between November 2025 and February 2026, Ford and its supplier collaborated to review historical tear-down records, analyze warranty claims, and conduct replication testing to gain a deeper understanding of the onset of the failure mode. This analysis established the suspect period of production driven by the root cause terminal mismatch condition.
- As of February 18, 2026, Ford has identified 1374 warranty claims related to inoperative or intermittent windshield wiper motors within the suspect population window.
- On February 24, 2026, Ford’s Field Review Committee reviewed the concern and approved a field action. Ford is not aware of any reports of accidents or injuries related to this condition.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Windshield Wiper Failures – Ford Motor Recalls 605,000 SUVs
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling ~604,533 model-year 2020-2022 Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Aviator, and Lincoln Corsair sport utility vehicles. The front windshield wiper motor may fail and prevent the windshield wipers from operating properly. Dealers have been told not to demonstrate or deliver vehicles in stock. Ford initially dismissed the safety defect “since it did not pose an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety.” Ford is operating under a consent order from NHTSA because of its previous handing of recalls.
“During assembly of the front windshield wiper motor, the motor’s cover terminal may have been misaligned with the brush card terminal. This condition creates a poor connection that results in a loss of electrical continuity within the motor over time,” Ford told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the mandatory safety defect recall document made public by NHTSA this morning. The defective wiper motor was supplied by Valeo North America and made in Mexico.
Dealers will inspect and replace the front wiper motors as necessary, free of charge as required by U.S. safety regulations. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, are expected to be mailed March 9, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, not anticipated until May 2026? Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 26S14. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall are searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Information on the relevance of this safety defect to specific vehicles can best be obtained by either calling Ford’s toll-free line (1-866-436-7332) or by contacting a local Ford or Lincoln dealer who can obtain specific information regarding the vehicles from the Ford On-line Automotive Service Information System (OASIS) database.
Chronology
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.