Ford is edging uncomfortably close to an unwanted milestone its 100th recall of the year with only nine more to go. That tally inched forward again today after the automaker announced a new recall affecting 23,111 sport utility vehicles.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has confirmed that certain 2025 Lincoln Aviator models have a problem with their rear side windows. Specifically, these windows may not automatically reverse as they should when coming into contact with an object. This raises the risk of pinching or injuring passengers in the back seat, especially children, if their fingers or hands happen to be in the way.
The issue appears when all the vehicle’s windows are closed remotely, either through the key fob or the LincolnWay smartphone app. In such cases, the rear side windows can exert an “upward force that is greater than expected” before detecting an obstruction and reversing direction. While the reversal function does eventually work, the force applied can exceed the limits allowed by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, potentially causing injury.
According to Ford, the issue was first identified in May, prompting an internal investigation. That process revealed the root cause: a supplier had mistakenly activated a software feature in the door module that was never intended for use in the Aviator. Because of this, the necessary calibration for safe operation was not applied, leading to the excessive upward force when closing the windows.
Fortunately, there have been no reported accidents or injuries linked to the defect so far. And because the problem is software-based rather than mechanical, the solution is relatively simple. Ford will instruct affected owners to bring their vehicles to a Lincoln dealership, where technicians will reprogram the door module with updated software and correct the configuration.
However, there is a trade-off. As part of the fix, the “global close” window feature which allows all windows to be shut remotely will be removed entirely. While this function may have been a convenient perk for some owners, Ford is prioritizing compliance with safety regulations over retaining the feature.
Owner notification letters are scheduled to be mailed out in mid-September, with instructions on scheduling the free repair. While the recall moves Ford one step closer to an unfortunate record, the company is acting quickly to resolve the safety concern before it results in any harm.