safety
Recall alert: 288K Ford Explorers recalled; roof rail cover can come off
Summary by The Atlanta Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk , WSB-TV (ABC) - News
· July 20, 2026
· 1 min read
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced the recall of 288,314 Ford Explorers because the roof rail cover can become loose and fly off the vehicle. Read more trending news The agency said that the recall affects Explorers from the 2016 to 2019 model years. Dealers will inspect...
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The Atlanta Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk, WSB-TV (ABC) - News Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 20, 2026 Indexed here Jul 20, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
Every story comes with a passport. How we work · Corrections log
Key takeaway Read more trending news The agency said that the recall affects Explorers from the 2016 to 2019 model years.
Why this matters in The Atlanta
For Atlanta drivers who own a 2016 to 2019 Ford Explorer, this recall is particularly relevant given the city's busy highways and interstates. With thousands of vehicles potentially affected in the metro area, the risk of loose roof rail covers flying off and causing accidents or damage to other cars is a concern. Local Ford dealerships will play a crucial role in inspecting and repairing the affected vehicles, and owners should be on the lookout for notification letters from the manufacturer. The fact that owners will not be notified until after August 24, and repairs may not be available until September, means that Atlanta drivers should take extra precautions when driving their Explorers in the meantime. By checking the NHTSA website for their vehicle's identification number, owners can determine if their car is part of the recall and plan accordingly.
About this story
Original reporting by WSB-TV (ABC) - News . The Atlanta surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WSB-TV (ABC) - News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: July 20, 2026 ·
Source: WSB-TV (ABC) - News ·
Reading time: 1 min
Get more The Atlanta stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering safety and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced the recall of 288,314 Ford Explorers because the roof rail cover can become loose and fly off the vehicle. Read more trending news The agency said that the recall affects Explorers from the 2016 to 2019 model years. Dealers will inspect...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 20, 2026 by WSB-TV (ABC) - News and curated for The Atlanta readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk at WSB-TV (ABC) - News. To learn more about how The Atlanta selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The Atlanta, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More safety →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter