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orywireFord is recalling certain 2018–2022 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs because front seat-belt retractor pretensioners can deploy inadvertently and lock the belt. Owners should check their VIN and watch for mailed notices about a free dealer inspection or repair.
Ford is recalling nearly 420,000 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs because a front seat-belt part can lock and keep the belt from moving normally. Owners of 2018–2022 models should check the 17-character VIN and contact Ford or a dealer if a front belt is already stuck or an air bag warning light appears.
The recall covers certain 2018–2022 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs, not necessarily every vehicle from those model years. Ford told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that the affected vehicles were not built in VIN order, so a VIN check is the safest way to confirm whether a specific SUV is included.
The problem involves the driver and front passenger seat-belt retractor pretensioners. Ford’s report to NHTSA says the pretensioners may deploy inadvertently, locking the belt in a position where it cannot retract or extend.
A locked belt may fail to restrain an occupant as intended in a crash, and rapid belt retraction can also cause injury in some cases. Ford told NHTSA the primary seat-belt locking functions continue to work before the inadvertent deployment occurs.
The company traced the issue to propellant in the retractor pretensioner that may degrade in high-heat environments. Degrading byproducts can oxidize internal parts over time and lead to unintended pretensioner deployment. The report says an air bag malfunction light may illuminate before the seat-belt retractor pretensioner deploys.
Owners will be instructed to take affected SUVs to a Ford or Lincoln dealer. Dealers will inspect both front seat-belt retractors and replace retractors that fall within the suspect production date range.
Ford says there will be no charge for the service. Replacement pretensioners use a propellant and stabilizer combination with enhanced chemical stability.
The NHTSA report did not mark “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside” as consumer advisories for this recall. A belt that is jammed, will not extend or will not retract should still be treated as a safety issue, and owners should arrange service promptly.
Dealer notifications were expected to run from May 29 through June 5. Interim owner letters notifying drivers of the safety risk are expected to be mailed June 8 through June 12.
A second round of owner letters, with remedy instructions, is expected to be mailed Aug. 31 through Sept. 4. Ford listed May 29 as the planned date when affected VINs would be searchable.
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The schedule means some owners may see the recall in a VIN lookup before receiving a letter. Owners who recently bought a used Expedition or Navigator should check directly because recall coverage follows the vehicle.
Owners do not need to guess from the model year alone. Check the VIN through NHTSA’s recall lookup tool, call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or ask a Ford or Lincoln dealer to check the vehicle in Ford’s OASIS service database.
The VIN is the 17-character code visible at the lower left of the windshield and on registration or insurance documents. If the lookup shows an open recall, follow the notice instructions and schedule the free inspection when the dealer can perform it.
Do not wait for the later remedy letter if a front seat belt is already locked, will not retract, will not extend or the air bag warning light is on. Contact a dealer and describe the symptom.
The new campaign replaces and expands earlier Ford safety recalls 24S06 and 25S31, listed by NHTSA as 24V099 and 25V197. Those earlier recalls also involved front seat-belt retractor pretensioners on Expedition and Navigator vehicles.
Because the new recall supersedes earlier campaigns and covers a broader population, owners who had a prior inspection or repair should check their VIN again. Ford’s latest notice schedule is the one to follow for campaign 26S34.
This article should be updated when NHTSA posts new owner letters, when Ford announces remedy availability or if the agency changes the recall instructions.
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