Ford Recalls 36,994 Lincoln Navigators Because the Passenger Seat Can Move on Its Own

Ford is recalling 36,994 Lincoln Navigator SUVs because the front passenger seat may move forward or rearward, or recline, without anyone touching it, according to NHTSA filings reported on November 7. The recall covers certain 2025-2027 model year Navigators.

The fix is a software update: dealers will update the seat software to turn off chauffeur mode free of charge. Chauffeur mode is the feature that lets a rear passenger adjust the front passenger seat for extra legroom — and in the affected vehicles it can apparently activate on its own.

A seat that moves unexpectedly is a genuine safety issue, not a comfort complaint. If the front passenger seat slides or reclines while the vehicle is moving, it can distract the driver and put the passenger in an unsafe position in a crash.

Owners can check whether their Navigator is included by entering the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The recall is one of several Ford has filed in recent weeks, including the Lincoln Nautilus hybrid park-module recall and the F-150 tailgate cable recall.