NHTSA campaign 20V497000 · Ford campaign 20S48
Ford and Lincoln Recall 20V-497: Side Air Bag may be Loose in Seat Back
NHTSA recall 20V497000 (Ford campaign 20S48) was reported by Ford Motor Company on August 21, 2020, with 488 vehicles potentially affected (per NHTSA). NHTSA's record lists the Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator for the 2020 model year. Owners were notified on September 10, 2020, per NHTSA.
Updated daily from NHTSA's recall files
Is my vehicle included?
This page lists, by model year, the vehicles NHTSA's recall record names for campaign 20V497000 in the model years try.vin imports (1995 and later); NHTSA's own record can list more. A model year on the list doesn't mean every vehicle of that year is included, and some may already have been repaired.
To see whether a specific vehicle is included and still needs the repair, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Free VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Key facts
- NHTSA campaign
- 20V497000 (also written 20V-497 or 20V497)
- Filed by
- Ford Motor Company
- Ford campaign number
- 20S48
- Report received
- Potentially affected
- 488 vehicles (per NHTSA)
- Component
- Air Bags — Critical Fasteners
- Owners notified
Repair completion: 95.49% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated October 21, 2026)
NHTSA cautions against comparing completion rates across recalls or manufacturers. How try.vin reads them.
Vehicles listed for this recall
NHTSA's recall record lists these vehicles for recall 20V497000. try.vin imports model years 1995 and later, so NHTSA's own list can be longer. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to it. Build dates are NHTSA's range for a model year (per NHTSA); a vehicle built in that range is not necessarily included.
Ford
Ford Explorer
Lincoln
Lincoln Aviator
NHTSA's recall notice
As NHTSA's recall record states it for campaign 20V497000.
Defect description
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Explorer and 2020 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The side air bag and/or seat back module attachments may not have been properly tightened in the front seat backs.
Safety consequence
If the side air bag or seat back fasteners were not properly tightened, the side air bag deployment could be affected, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Manufacturer remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove front seat back panels from one or both front seats (VIN-specific) and verify that the fasteners have been properly tightened, free of charge. The recall began September 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S48.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Sources
Official NHTSA notice for recall 20V497000
Campaign details come from NHTSA's recall files, which try.vin imports once a day. The plain-language subject and the completion rate come from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Recalls Data dataset. How try.vin reads recall data.