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NHTSA recall · Reported Mar 3, 2026

Ford Escape recall 2026: The windshield wiper motor may fail and prevent the windshield wipers from…

NHTSA campaign 26V117000, reported Mar 3, 2026. Ford Motor Company is the manufacturer. Below is what the recall says, how to check your own vehicle, and how a recall can matter to a lemon law claim.

Vehicles affected604,533
Models and yearsFord Escape 2020–2022, Ford Explorer 2020–2022 and 2 more
ComponentVisibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Motor
NHTSA campaign26V117000
Manufacturer's number26S14
Quick answer. A recall by itself does not make a vehicle a lemon. It matters when the repair does not fix the problem after reasonable attempts, or when the manufacturer cannot complete the repair in a reasonable time. The rules differ by state. This is general information, not legal advice.

What is the defect?

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Aviator, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The windshield wiper motor may fail and prevent the windshield wipers from operating properly.

What is the consequence?

Windshield wipers that fail to operate properly can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

What is the manufacturer's remedy?

Dealers will inspect and replace the front wiper motors as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed April 2, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in October 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 became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 4, 2026.

Vehicles covered

  • Ford Escape, 2020–2022
  • Ford Explorer, 2020–2022
  • Lincoln Aviator, 2020–2022
  • Lincoln Corsair, 2020–2022

Is your vehicle included?

  • Find the 17-character VIN on the driver-side door jamb sticker or at the base of the windshield.
  • Enter it on NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It shows open recalls for that exact vehicle.
  • Or ask any dealer for the make. A recall repair costs you nothing.

How this recall can matter to a lemon law claim

A recall repair counts as a repair attempt when the same problem keeps coming back. Keep every repair order, with the dates the vehicle went in and came out, because days out of service can count toward your state's threshold. If the problem returns after the recall repair, that history is what a claim is built on.

See your state's lemon law rules →

Official source: NHTSA campaign 26V117000. The recall text on this page is copied from NHTSA's recall file.View on NHTSA ›