Ford is recalling 36,994 Lincoln Navigators from the 2025 through 2027 model years because the SUV’s Navigator chauffeur mode can move the front passenger seat with nobody touching a switch. The seat may slide forward, slide back or recline on its own. Ford reported the defect to federal regulators on October 20, 2026.
That matters most to the people the feature was built for. Chauffeur mode lets someone in the second row move the empty front seat out of the way for more legroom. In this case, however, the command can arrive when nobody asked for it, and the seat can end up pressing against the rear passenger.
The fix is a software update that switches the feature off. Here’s what the filing says, who is covered and what owners should do next.
What goes wrong with Navigator chauffeur mode
The fault sits in a computer called the Rear Audio Control Module. According to the NHTSA recall record for campaign 26V691, that module can wrongly trigger the chauffeur seat feature. As a result, the front passenger seat may move forward, move rearward or recline without any input from the people in the cabin.
The record lists the component simply as “seats.” Its subject line reads that the front passenger seat may move unexpectedly. Ford’s own campaign number for the same action is 26S77, and owners will need that number when they call.
So why would an audio module control a seat at all? On the latest Navigator, the rear-seat controls handle more than music. A Chauffeur Driven first drive of the 2025 Navigator L describes second-row controls for moving the front passenger seat for extra legroom, alongside climate and audio. In other words, the same rear unit that changes the radio also talks to the seat.
Why a moving seat is a safety problem
A seat that moves on its own is more than an annoyance. NHTSA’s record says the motion could strike second-row passengers. It also says the seat could leave the front passenger in an unsafe position. Either way, the filing states that the condition raises the risk of injury.
Canada’s version of the recall adds one more detail. Driving.ca reported that Transport Canada recall 2026-510 covers 2,292 Navigators from the same 2025 to 2027 model years. That report also says the seat may keep moving when something blocks it, which creates a crush hazard. In addition, a reclining seatback could trap a second-row passenger.
The record does not call for owners to park outside, and it carries no “do not drive” warning. Still, it makes sense to keep hands, feet and bags clear of the front passenger seat until the update is done.
The fix: chauffeur mode goes away
Lincoln dealers will update software in two places. The first is the accessory protocol interface module. The second is the Rear Audio Control Module itself. According to NHTSA, the update disables chauffeur mode, and the repair is free.
That trade-off is worth knowing before you book the visit. After the update, rear passengers lose the ability to move the front seat from the second row. For a family SUV that may barely register. For a livery operator, though, it removes a selling point. The Chauffeur Driven review listed a fleet starting price of $105,000 for the Navigator L, with incentives for livery customers.
The filing does not say whether Lincoln plans a later fix that restores the feature. For now, the remedy on record is simply to turn it off.
Who is covered and what to do
The recall covers an estimated 36,994 Navigators built for the 2025, 2026 and 2027 model years. Ford expects to mail owner letters in November 2026. Meanwhile, the affected vehicle identification numbers became searchable on NHTSA’s site on October 26, 2026.
Owners can check their SUV on the NHTSA recall lookup for 26V691. They can also call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 and give campaign number 26S77. Then a dealer can schedule the software update.
Canadian owners should follow the Transport Canada notice instead. Driving.ca’s report on the Canadian recall lists the same fix, a software update to both modules that disables chauffeur mode.
Not the first Navigator seat recall this year
This is the second seat-movement recall on the new Navigator in 2026, but the two are different problems. In March, Lincoln recalled 1,189 Navigators from the 2026 model year. That campaign, numbered 26S11, covered SUVs built between November 26 and December 16, 2025.
That earlier fault involved the driver’s seat, not the passenger seat. According to Ford Authority’s report on the March recall, the seat’s obstacle-detection software could misfire at low speed and move the seat backward while driving. Ford said then that it knew of no related crashes or injuries. The cure was also software, delivered by a dealer or over the air, and owner letters began on March 23, 2026.
By comparison, the new recall is roughly 31 times larger and reaches back to the 2025 model year. It also targets a different computer, the rear audio module, rather than the driver’s seat controller.
The Navigator it affects
The current Navigator is packed with screens. The Chauffeur Driven review noted a 48-inch curved display across the dash. Power comes from a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 carried over from earlier models, rated at 450 horsepower in that review.
All that electronics content explains why both 2026 seat recalls are software fixes rather than new hardware. For owners, the record is clear: Ford logged recall 26V691 on October 20, 2026, and the free update disables Navigator chauffeur mode on 36,994 SUVs.
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