Imagine the roof rail cover of an SUV detaching at motorway speeds and hitting other vehicles like a projectile- that is something Ford fears and has thus recalled 288,314 units of the 2016-2019 Ford Explorer.
The Blue Oval brand has been making headlines for recalling thousands of cars. Just recently, it recalled around 67,000 Mustangs because the wipers could get stuck running at full speed in sub-zero conditions.
Ford also recently recalled 741,195 vehicles spanning multiple models over a defect that could allow them to roll away despite being shifted into Park if the parking brake is not engaged.
Now, the automaker is addressing a potentially dangerous issue on the Explorer that could lead to severe injuries if the roof rail covers detach.
Ford Received a Report of One Incident Relating to the Roof Rail Cover Issue
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall report states that a “detached roof rail trim cover can separate from the vehicle while in motion, creating a road hazard for other drivers and increasing the risk of a crash.”
The source of the problem stems from a previous repair, while for some models, heat cycles may have caused the issue. The report stated:
“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.”
Affected Ford Explorer owners have been asked to look for warning signs that suggest a loose roof rail cover. The report added:
“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.”
The NHTSA contacted Ford on March 23, 2026, after the Office of Defects Investigation received 46 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires alleging roof rail cover looseness and/or detachment, including vehicles that had already undergone repairs under Customer Satisfaction Program 20N11 or Safety Recall 21V316/21S22.
Between April 2026 and June 2026, Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group analyzed retention performance over time for vehicles with roof rack covers and approved a field action on July 7, 2026. While Ford is not aware of any injuries related to this condition, it is aware of one reported crash involving a roof rail cover that detached from a vehicle previously repaired using the epoxy/adhesive method.
Remedy Program For Affected Ford Explorer Owners
The NHTSA recall report has revealed a remedy program for affected owners. It reads:
“Owners will be notified by mail and instructed to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer. Dealers will inspect the roof rail covers for the presence of the additional end-item push-pin fasteners. If the push pin fasteners are present, no further action is required. If they are not, dealers will follow the technical instructions to replace any broken roof rail clips or damaged roof rail covers and secure the roof rail covers using plastic push pins. There will be no charge for this service.”
Recall Schedule:
“Notification to dealers is expected to occur on July 16, 2026. Mailing of interim owner notification letters is expected to begin August 24, 2026, and is expected to be completed by August 28, 2026. Mailing of remedy owner notification letters is expected to begin September 21, 2026, and is expected to be completed by September 25, 2026. The date VINs are planned to be searchable is July 16, 2026.”