Ford and Hyundai Recall News: Roof Trim and Seat Buckles Explained Simply

What’s Going On? (The Quick Version)

Imagine you’re driving and a piece of your car’s roof suddenly flies off. Scary, right? That’s been happening with some Ford Explorer SUVs. Ford is now recalling (asking owners to bring their cars back for fixing) 288,314 Explorers because the roof rail covers — the long strips on the roof edges — can come loose and fly off while driving. This is dangerous to other drivers, and one accident has already been reported.

Also, in separate news, Hyundai is recalling 47,749 Kona crossover cars because a rear seat buckle might not hold someone safely in a crash.

The Key Facts at a Glance

• Ford is recalling 288,314 Explorers over roof rail covers.
• The covers can come loose and fly off the vehicle.
• 47,749 Hyundai Konas may have a bad rear seat buckle.

Ford Explorer Roof Rail Cover Recall

Ford is recalling 288,314 Explorers that can lose their roof rail covers while driving. This poses a danger to other road users and one accident has already been reported.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (a U.S. government safety group, or NHTSA for short), some 2016–2019 Explorers have roof rail covers that can loosen over time. If this happens, owners may notice:

• A visible gap between parts on the roof
• A rattling sound while driving

Important Point: Roof rail covers flying off can hurt people in other cars, and at least one crash has already happened because of this problem.

How Ford Tried to Fix It Before

This trim problem isn’t new for Ford. The company first ran a “customer satisfaction” campaign in 2020 (a fancy way of saying they offered free fixes without calling it a full safety recall). They used an extended warranty (extra free repair time) and glued the covers with a two-part epoxy (a strong glue). This was for covers that were painted or had a satin/chrome shiny look.

In 2021, Ford did a real recall for vehicles with painted covers. Dealers checked them, replaced broken ones, and used four plastic push-pins (like tiny plastic nails) instead of glue. The shiny “bright” ones were skipped because Ford said fewer of them had problems.

What Happened in 2026?

In March 2026, the NHTSA’s defect investigators emailed Ford about 46 reports of loose or detached roof covers — even on cars already “fixed” before.

Ford investigated and found:

• Cars with unrepaired shiny covers and ones fixed with glue still had loose covers.
• Cars fixed with push-pins in 2021 were working fine.

The exact reason is still a mystery, but experts think:

• Heat (from sun/weather) and normal wear can loosen the clips.
• Glue fixes depended on the technician (repair person). They may have:
  • Forgotten to replace broken clips
  • Used wrong amount or spot of glue
  • Not let the glue dry properly

What Should Explorer Owners Do?

A final fix isn’t ready yet, but here’s the plan:

1. August: Owners get a first notice letter.
2. September (likely): Owners get a second notice when the repair is ready.
3. Dealer visit: They will inspect the roof covers and repair or replace push-pins, clips, or covers as needed — all free.

Important Point: If you have a 2016–2019 Explorer and hear rattling or see a gap on the roof, contact your dealer even before the notice arrives.

Hyundai Kona Seat Buckle Recall

In other news, Hyundai is recalling 47,749 crossovers: the 2025 Kona Electric and 2026 Kona.
The problem: the rear center seat buckle (the part you click the seatbelt into) may fail to hold a person safely in a crash.

Why Is This Happening?

• Joyson (the company that made the buckle) told Hyundai about a failed safety test in February.
• They found Joyson kept using a stamping die (a tool that shapes metal) past its safe limit, causing wear.

No incidents happened in the U.S., but Hyundai is recalling just to be safe.

What Should Kona Owners Do?

1. September: Notices will be sent.
2. Dealer visit: Buckles will be replaced free.
3. For now: Don’t use the rear center seat until it’s fixed.

Important Point: Hyundai says avoid the rear middle seat in affected Konas until the buckle is replaced.

Summary

• Ford is recalling 288,314 Explorer SUVs (2016–2019) because roof rail covers can fly off; one crash reported.
• Past glue fixes didn’t work well; push-pin fixes did. New repairs start around September.
• Hyundai is recalling 47,749 Kona cars (2025 electric, 2026) because the rear center seat buckle may fail in a crash.
• Kona owners should not use the rear middle seat and will get free replacements in September.

FAQ

Q1: What is a roof rail cover?
A: It’s the long decorative strip on the sides of a car’s roof. It can come loose and fly off if not attached well.

Q2: Is my Ford Explorer included?
A: If it’s a 2016–2019 Explorer, it may be. Ford will send a notice if yours is on the list.

Q3: Can I still drive my Hyundai Kona?
A: Yes, but don’t let anyone sit in the rear center seat until the buckle is replaced.

Q4: Will the repairs cost me anything?
A: No, both Ford and Hyundai will fix the problems for free at a dealer.

Q5: Why did the glue fix fail on Explorers?
A: The glue job depended on the repair person doing it perfectly, and heat/wear made covers loosen anyway. Push-pins worked better.