Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling more than 288,000 model year 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles built at the Chicago assembly plant. The roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle while it’s moving. This latest recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 21V316 or 21V-316.* It was prompted by customer reports to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).*
“Affected vehicles are equipped with roof rail covers that may loosen over time, exhibiting a visible gap, developing a rattle, or detaching from the vehicle while in motion,” Ford said in the mandatory safety defect recall filing made public by NHTSA this morning.
“For vehicles previously repaired under customer satisfaction program 20N11 using epoxy/adhesive, the repair process was repair technician-sensitive. In some instances, damaged retention clips may not have been replaced and/or the correct epoxy/adhesive location, quantity, or cure conditions were not achieved. For vehicles with plated covers, as the parts have aged, they may have experienced additional heat cycles and wear resulting in potentially loosening of retention clips.
“Vehicles with this condition may exhibit increased wind noise and/or squeaks and rattles as the roof rail cover begins to loosen. A visible gap or misalignment between the roof rail cover and the roofline may develop,” Ford said.
Dealers will inspect the roof rail covers and as necessary, repair or replace the push-pins, rail clips, or roof rail covers, free of charge as required by U.S. safety regulations. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, are not expected to be mailed until 24 August 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 26S54. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall are searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026.
Ford is not aware of any injuries related to this condition. Ford is aware of one allegation of an accident resulting from this roof rail cover detachment on a vehicle that had been previously repaired using epoxy/adhesive.
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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.
Ford Recalls ~288,000 Explorers for Flying Roof Rail Covers
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling more than 288,000 model year 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles built at the Chicago assembly plant. The roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle while it’s moving. This latest recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 21V316 or 21V-316.* It was prompted by customer reports to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).*
“Affected vehicles are equipped with roof rail covers that may loosen over time, exhibiting a visible gap, developing a rattle, or detaching from the vehicle while in motion,” Ford said in the mandatory safety defect recall filing made public by NHTSA this morning.
“For vehicles previously repaired under customer satisfaction program 20N11 using epoxy/adhesive, the repair process was repair technician-sensitive. In some instances, damaged retention clips may not have been replaced and/or the correct epoxy/adhesive location, quantity, or cure conditions were not achieved. For vehicles with plated covers, as the parts have aged, they may have experienced additional heat cycles and wear resulting in potentially loosening of retention clips.
“Vehicles with this condition may exhibit increased wind noise and/or squeaks and rattles as the roof rail cover begins to loosen. A visible gap or misalignment between the roof rail cover and the roofline may develop,” Ford said.
Dealers will inspect the roof rail covers and as necessary, repair or replace the push-pins, rail clips, or roof rail covers, free of charge as required by U.S. safety regulations. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, are not expected to be mailed until 24 August 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 26S54. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall are searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026.
Ford is not aware of any injuries related to this condition. Ford is aware of one allegation of an accident resulting from this roof rail cover detachment on a vehicle that had been previously repaired using epoxy/adhesive.
*AutoInformed on
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.