2019 Ford Expedition
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
Vehicles › Ford › Expedition › 2019
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
These records cover every 2019 Ford Expedition. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
11 recalls name the 2019 Ford Expedition. Newest first.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.
Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, and inspect and replace any damaged transmission components as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 10, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in April 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S48. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 26, 2026.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2024 Expedition vehicles. The chrome plating on the center console may bubble and peel, resulting in sharp edges.
Vehicle occupants may contact the center console's sharp edges, increasing the risk of injury.
Dealers will inspect and replace the center consoles as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 16, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S38. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 10, 2026.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend.
Seat belts that do not retract or extend can fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt retractors as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 8, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in August 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S34. This recall replaces and expands previous NHTSA recalls 24V099 and 25V197. Vehicles previously inspected or repaired under the prior recalls will need the new repair completed.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Expedition vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 20V263. The "Transmission Not In Park" warning message and associated chime duration are shorter than intended.
If the driver exits the vehicle without the transmission being shifted into park, unintended vehicle movement may result, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Dealers will update the instrument cluster panel software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 30, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C71. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning January 15, 2026.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend.
Seat belts that do not retract or extend can fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Dealers will replace the seat belt retractors as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S31. Some vehicles in this recall that were previously inspected under recall 24V-099 and did not have parts replaced will need to have this new recall remedy completed.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208…
Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently deploy and lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend.
Seat belts that do not retract or extend may fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Dealers will replace the seat belt retractors, as necessary. Additionally, dealers will install an HVAC drain tube elbow if it is missing. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 8, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S06.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with third-row seating; and 2019-2023 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 SuperCab vehicles. The owner's manual does not include instructions for adjusting or removing certain head restraints. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the…
Without instructions, the head restraints may be improperly adjusted, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Ford will mail the Owner's Manual addendums that describe how to adjust and remove the head restraints for the center seating positions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C20.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Expedition and 2019-2020 Mustang vehicles. The "Transmission Not In Park" warning message and associated chime duration are shorter than intended.
If the driver exits the vehicle without the transmission being shifted into park, unintended vehicle movement may result, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall began May 26, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S21.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The rear suspension toe link fasteners may not have been properly tightened to the frame, possibly allowing separation from the frame.
A disconnected toe link can cause a sudden change to vehicle handling, increasing the risk of a crash.
Ford has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the rear toe link fasteners, check and adjust the rear toe alignment, and inspect the rear tires for abnormal tire wear, replacing them if necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began November 14, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S36.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also included are certain 2020 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator…
A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19C07.
While driving down the road on August 16, 2026, our front seat belt exploded and the tightened down on my daughter. There was a poof of smoke, smell of an explosive, and my daughter complained of pressure on her abdomen and shoulder. It was frightening! Equally as frightening has been the experience dealing with Ford. We have been without our FAMILY vehicle for 73 days! Multiple calls to Ford with no follow through. At first a local dealership gave us a loaner, but in time they have now added ridiculous mileage limit restrictions and the inability for us to leave the state. (We are near neighboring states where family lives.) Last communication was parts would be shipped end of September. It’s now the end of October and no update has been communicated. Considering this recall has been ongoing since February 2024 I’m having little hope this will be taken care of soon. In the meantime those of us with actual explosions and inoperable seatbelts are being given the same treatment & accommodations of those that are driving with working (ticking time bomb) seatbelts. When I first took it in the dealership claimed they had never heard of one actually exploding. I now know they have a second one sitting inoperable as well. Ford owners need help putting the pressure on Ford! Our calls, our inconvenience, our safety is NOT being handled.
UNKNOWN We have a 2019 Ford Expedition that received a recall for the front passenger seatbelt. Recall number is 26S34/26V344. We received a letter informing us of this May 2026. We were told that parts would be available by September 30,2026. The dealership here confirmed that but said they couldn't fix it until I received a second letter saying I can get it fixed and take it to the dealership. It is now October 27, 2026. No letter. We cannot have all our family ride in the vehicle at one time because the seatbelt is inoperable frozen in place. This means it's unsafe. We need our car to be fully functional and safe. Ford needs to get the parts available. A repair shop told us they can get the part today. I believe Ford is delaying the letter for the fix because of cost to them. Please intervene for all of us who share this problem
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V344000 (SEAT BELTS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue.
At neighborhood speeds the transmission shifts roughly around 4th gear, making clunking noises and lurching the vehicle. This happens on a daily basis. At interstate speeds, the transmission has popped out of gear when attempting to pass another vehicle, leaving the vehicle decelerating dangerously in a situation where acceleration is needed. This has happened twice in the last year and requires navigating out of traffic to allow the transmission to figure out what is going on and re-engage the proper gear. I have been lucky not to have been in a serious accident. It has not been inspected by a dealer but, when mentioned to a dealer, was told that is just what you get with that 10-speed transmission. In both instances there was some type of warning displayed on the console but I was too busy trying to survive to notice what the message said.
Since early in purchasing our 2019 Ford Expedition, we were getting powertrain warnings (pictures attached from August 2019). We took the vehicle in to have it diagnosed but the dealer said there were no codes and nothing they could do to troubleshoot. Fast forward to after the warranty expires the car starts behaving erratically when it's changing gears, especially when downshifting. On more than one occasion when towing our boat, I would press on the gas to pass a semi truck and there would be a loud CLUNK that you could feel and then the motor would simply rev indefinitely as if the transmission had switched to neutral. It's very dangerous losing power on a freeway with traffic including semi trucks and towing a boat. It got to the point where it would be very jerky just driving, particularly (it seemed to me) when the car had been sitting. This has happened several times. I did some research and found there were 4 TSB's for this issue and is an issue for all of the Ford 10 speed transmissions for Expedition, F150 and even the Mustang. I reached out to the dealer with these TSB's and they diagnosed that our car did have this troubled transmission and we did have the faulty parts. The dealer has charged us $7,575.35 to 'Repair" this. I think this warrants a recall due to the faulty parts in the transmission. It's very dangerous losing power and torque in a vehicle particularly when towing. Please review the attached pictures (notice the milage from our initial indications there was trouble with the powertrain). This got progressively worse just prior to us taking the car to the dealer. I would say it was at it's worst from December 2024 through our repair at the delaer in June 2026, but there were other random occurences prior to that and of course the very begining as seen in the attached photos.
My 2019 Ford Expedition is subject to Ford Safety Recall 26S34 (NHTSA Recall 26V344), involving inadvertent deployment of seat-belt retractor pretensioners. The driver's-side seat-belt pretensioner has deployed, causing the seat belt to retract and lock in a position where it physically cannot extend far enough to fit around the driver. As a result, the driver's seat belt is completely unusable, and the vehicle cannot be safely operated. Ford previously issued an advance recall notice indicating that a remedy was anticipated by September 30, 2026. As of October 24, 2026, I have not been provided with an available remedy. I have contacted Ford Customer Service multiple times and spoken with representatives regarding this issue. Ford has informed me that because the recall remains classified as an Advance Notice, its current policy does not authorize rental vehicle assistance. The dealership has also indicated that it cannot provide a rental without authorization from Ford. I have explained repeatedly that this is not simply a vehicle awaiting a recall repair. The recalled safety component has already failed, leaving the driver's seat belt unusable. Despite these circumstances, Ford has not provided an authorized no-cost repair plan or alternative transportation assistance. I am requesting that NHTSA review this actual failure of a recalled safety component and Ford's response, as the vehicle cannot be safely driven in its current condition.
While driving my 2019 Ford Expedition uphill with my wife and children in the vehicle, the transmission unexpectedly dropped into a lower gear and the vehicle's normal drivability was disrupted. The event occurred suddenly and created a dangerous situation because the vehicle did not shift or respond the way I expected while actively traveling on the roadway. I had received no indication that such a sudden transmission malfunction was about to occur. I am concerned about the potential for a crash if this occurs during acceleration, while climbing a hill, or in surrounding traffic. I subsequently learned that Ford has issued technical service bulletins concerning harsh or delayed transmission shifting in 2018-2021 Expeditions equipped with the 10R80 transmission.
While driving my 2019 Ford Expedition on the interstate at approximately 75 mph, the driver side seatbelt suddenly and unexpectedly locked up and forcefully retracted without warning. At the same time, there was a loud popping sound resembling a small explosion, followed by a visible puff of smoke and a noticeable odor. There was no collision or impact that would have caused the seatbelt system to activate. The seatbelt tightened forcefully against my body cause me pain and injury. The seatbelt remained locked and could no longer be moved or adjusted. This incident created a serious safety hazard because it occurred unexpectedly while I was traveling at a highway speed. The vehicle and affected seatbelt are available for inspection. The cause of the malfunction has not yet been confirmed.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact received a notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V344000 (Seat Belts); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while his daughter was sitting in the front passenger-side seat, the front passenger-side seat belt suddenly retracted with force, the seat belt retractor locked, and there was white smoke. The contact's daughter sustained severe mental distress. The local dealer was contacted and referred to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 155,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the driver's and passenger's side seat belts failed to unlatch. The vehicle was taken to two different dealers, where the contact was informed that the parts were unavailable. The contact received a recall notification, NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V344000 (Seat Belts); however, the parts to complete the recall repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the remedy was unavailable. The failure mileage was approximately 120,500.
Driving to pick up my son from school (in a school zone under 20 mph) while my daughter was in the back seat, we hear a loud noise sounded like a gun shot, I immediately pull over somewhere safe got out and checked the outside of my car, didnt notice anything so i opened the passenger side front door to find the plastic covering piece near the seat belt had broke off, finding the airbag had exploded, the seat belt is no longer usable, This is my only vehicle as a family of 4 with two children. I also reached out to several local dealerships neither are able to help with a loaner for the time being. in fact I was instructed by ford headquarters to keep driving the vehicle even though it does not have operating seatbelt and throwing codes on my dash.
While sitting in my car, in my driveway, I heard a loud BOOM, smoke, and a horrible “burning firework” smell. I jumped out of my car crying thinking my car was about to explode- later discovered my seatbelt to be extremely tight and locked. It is a recall that has no fix. It is unsafe to drive and I have been told not to drive it by dealerships which I haven’t, but the ford dealership will not take it in service bc they said they can not repair it when there is no remedy. It is against the law to not wear a seatbelt in the state of [XXX] and puts the driver at large safety risk. Every light on my dash is now lit like a Christmas tree, check engine, seatbelt, and airbag. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
A loud “explosion” or “pop” was heard on the driver side area of vehicle. The seatbelt will extend or move. There is an active recall (Ford Recall # 26S34) and Ford will not fix the issue or make it right.
Vehicle Component: Hydraulic Brakes / Flexible Rubber Brake Hose (Front Passenger Side, Fromt Driver side ) Description of Incident: The front passenger-side braking system experienced a severe, unannounced mechanical failure that caused the brake pads to locked up tightly against the rotor while driving at highway speeds. This caused extreme mechanical friction, severe vehicle pulling, a burning odor, and dangerous levels of localized heat to radiate from the front right wheel assembly, creating an imminent fire and crash risk. Upon professional mechanical teardown and inspection, the brake caliper pistons and slider guide pins were verified to be functioning correctly. The root cause was diagnosed as an internal structural collapse of the factory-installed original equipment (Motorcraft) flexible rubber brake hose. The inner liner of the rubber hose degraded and ruptured internally, creating a restriction that acted as a one-way check valve. When the brake pedal was applied, hydraulic fluid forced its way down to clamp the caliper, but the collapsed inner lining blocked the fluid from returning to the master cylinder upon pedal release. This held destructive high pressure captive inside the caliper housing, causing the vehicle to continuously drag its front passenger driver brake pads. This internal hose collapse issue is widely documented across this vehicle platform generation and presents a severe public safety hazard due to unexpected braking resistance, rapid brake fade, and potential wheel-end thermal fires.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V344000 (SEAT BELTS); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the driver’s side seat belt pretensioner inadvertently deployed. The supplemental restraint system warning light remained illuminated. A dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired because the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer failed to repair the vehicle in a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 111,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that the engine originally failed in 2021. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred in August 2026. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, there was a loud rattling sound coming from the vehicle. The contact believed that the engine was falling out of the vehicle. The rattling sound occasionally occurred while driving the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with gasket seal bolts failure inside the engine. The recent failure mileage was approximately 66,871.
the passenger seat belt tensoner deployed while at the dealership. Ford says there are no parts to fix the issue and the seat belt in inoperable. The recall keeps getting pushed back
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V368000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the center console had peeled and caused sharp edges. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available.
The cup holder console has fallen in on my 2019 Ford Expedition along with thousands of others who have the same cup holders. The chrome peeling has peeled around it and is very sharp. So now if you use the cupholder even though it has no bottom, a wide top can hold itself up, but you get cut on the chrome just to get your cup out of the cupholder because the bottoms have fallen out leaving wires, circuit boards, and what looks like other important equipment exposed. As example, now that there are 2 sizeable holes, I had to stop my kids from reaching into the holes because it has lots of wires, circuit boards, and other stuff that I'm afraid my kids could get hurt. I also don't want other parts to get destroyed especially if anything spills directly on them. In a Ford forum, someone said the rotary gear shifter wiring is there too. Sames Ford Bastrop told me the only way to fix it is replacing the entire console which is estimate $2,500 just for the part. I looked up online to see if there were any DIY videos and thousands of people are reporting the same problem with Ford cup consoles in trucks and suv's experiencing the same faulty equipment.
While accelerating from a stop after a traffic light, the transmission briefly shifted into neutral on its own, causing a momentary loss of motive power. The vehicle recovered on its own without stopping. This has happened once so far. The transmission also slips rarely at other times. The dealer has not inspected the vehicle yet. This vehicle has an open NHTSA recall, campaign 26V402 (Ford 26S48), for the transmission potentially engaging Park while the vehicle is moving.
The car has started uneven acceleration and lurching when driving. A local Ford dealer service department has recognized this as a known problem requiring the replacement of the transmission CD drum. Uneven driving creates a risk when driving.
The Chrome of the center console is peeling off and my [XXX] daughter reached to grab her drink and slit her finger. She started to bleed and cry and saying she hates this car. She was cleaned and bandaged to prevent inventions. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Our 2019 Ford Expedition Max Platinum (VIN [XXX]) is covered by NHTSA recall [XXX] / Ford recall 26S48 for the transmission park system defect. Transmission problems began not long after purchase, within the warranty period. The transmission shifted hard and banged loudly during acceleration. We reported this to the dealer on multiple occasions. The dealer's repeated response was PCM reprogramming, which never corrected the condition, and the dealer repeatedly stated they could not replicate the problem. The transmission was never repaired under warranty. In XXX, an independent shop, [XXX], diagnosed a stored TCM code P07E6, "Stuck in Park." The vehicle now attempts to shift into Park on its own and jumps out of gear while driving. It is barely drivable. The dealer quoted approximately $9,867 to replace the transmission and did not acknowledge the open recall on the VIN, despite the recall appearing in both NHTSA's and Ford's own VIN lookups. I contacted the Ford Customer Relationship Center referencing recall 26S48. The representative stated nothing could be done because this is an advance-notice recall, refused to open a case number, refused escalation to a regional manager, and ended the call. Ford separately instructed the dealership not to open a ticket. The permanent remedy is not expected until Q2 2027. The vehicle is unsafe to drive now. Ford has offered no interim remedy, no inspection, no loaner, and no case number. I am proceeding with an out-of-pocket transmission replacement because the vehicle cannot safely remain in service for another year. I am filing because the interim remedy is inadequate for owners whose vehicles have already failed, because warranty complaints were dismissed as unable to replicate, and because Ford declined to document my report. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
On September 24, 2026 around 4:10PM, the driver's front seatbelt retractor/pretensioner on my 2019 Ford Expedition unexpectedly malfunctioned and deployed while I was driving on the interstate approximately 70 mph. There was no collision or crash. The seatbelt made an extremely loud popping sound and immediately tightened and locked so tightly around me that it made a rash/burn on my neck. The vehicle has an open seatbelt pretensioner recall, and the airbag warning light had illuminated prior to this incident. I called the local Ford dealer when the light came on, they told me it was not related to the seatbelt recall. I contacted a Ford dealer after the incident and reported what happened, but the vehicle and component have not yet been inspected or confirmed by the dealer, manufacturer, police (told me they would not dispatch and I needed to take it to the dealership), insurance company, or an independent service center. I also contacted Ford Corporate Customer Service and they told me I did not need to operate the car, but there is not a fix until September 30. The local dealer told me that I could bring the car to them and pay out of pocket to get it fixed, if it was the same fix the recall suggests then I would be reimbursed, my worry is, what if they fix it but then the recall suggests a different way to fix it? The vehicle and component remain available for inspection upon request. I am concerned that the unexpected deployment of the driver's pretensioner created a serious safety hazard and that another affected seatbelt in the vehicle could malfunction and cause injury to another occupant.
My vehicles warning lamp came on 9/10/2026 and I'm honestly nervous to drive with that recall because it affects my driver seatbelt and airbags. At first, it was just a known recall but when it personally affected my vehicle being that my warning lamp came on, I called a ford dealership near me and they all stated that I had to wait because the inspection can't be completed yet until they get the parts from ford which won't be for a couple weeks to a month. I am wondering if I can get a loaner vehicle until this is fixed because this is a very serious issue if I were to get in a car accident and not be protected. That is a huge lawsuit waiting to happen. I just don't feel safe driving it with that issue because those are my main sources of protection when a car accident occurs.
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
On November 22, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE) PE23021 to investigate complaints of front seat belt retractor pretensioner inadvertent deployment in model year (MY) 2019 Ford Expedition vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company. Some complaints alleged hearing a loud, explosion-like sound immediately followed by the seat belt tightening around the occupant’s torso area. The complaints did not state that a crash occurred that may have resulted in the deployment of the pretensioner system, suggesting that this deployment was inadvertent or otherwise unwarranted. On February 9, 2024, Ford issued safety recall 24V-099, recalling certain MY 2018-2020 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with driver and front passenger seat belt retractor pretensioners built between October 1, 2018, and June 30, 2019. Ford described the defect as a seat belt retractor pretensioner assembly that may develop corroded squib pins, resulting in high resistance or an open circuit, which could result in an inadvertent deployment of a pretensioner and an increased risk of injury due to the loss of the pretensioner’s protection and a seat belt that remains in the locked position. This recall includes 77,574 vehicles. On November 15, 2024, ODI opened this Recall Query (RQ24015) after receiving 3 complaints involving vehicles not included in recall 23V-099 but that alleged a similar failure. As a result of this investigation, Ford issued safety recall 25V-197 on March 28, 2025, to expand the scope of 24V-099 to include MY 2018-2020 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with driver and front passenger seat belt retractor pretensioners built between October 1, 2018, and July 31, 2020. This recall includes 105,322 vehicles, some of which are also included in 24V-099. Additionally, on May 23, 2025, Ford issued 25V-197 Amendment #1, which further expands the recall population’s scope for vehicles with build dates of September 2018. This amendment added 7,627 additional vehicles to the 25V-197 population. In response to ODI’s inquiries in RQ24015, Ford indicated that it cannot conclusively determine the root cause of the relevant failure. Ford was able to determine that certain pretensioners may develop corroded squib pins potentially resulting in inadvertent deployment, but it was unable to specify the cause of corrosion. Without a specific root cause, Ford assessed field performance of pretensioners to determine the scope of the recalls. ODI is aware of three vehicles that experienced pretensioner inadvertent deployment that are not included in either 25V-197 or 24V-099. Two of these vehicles are MY 2018 Lincoln Navigator vehicles built prior to October 1, 2018, and both experienced failures after more than six years of use/exposure while the recalled vehicles experienced higher rate of failures with less exposure. The remaining incident involves a MY 2021 Ford Expedition that was built after July 31, 2020. ODI is not aware of any other relevant failures in vehicles built after July 31, 2020. As such, ODI has not currently identified a safety defect trend for this issue in vehicles outside of the recalled populations. ODI will continue to monitor allegations of pretensioner inadvertent deployment in subject vehicles that are not included in 25V-197. In view of the safety recall action being taken by Ford, ODI is closing this Recall Query (RQ24015). The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
On November 22, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-021 to investigate instances of seat belt pretensioner inadvertent deployment in model year (MY) 2019 Ford Expedition vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company. Some complaints allege hearing a loud, explosion-like sound immediately followed by the seatbelt tightening around the occupant’s torso area. The complaints do not allege a crash occurred that may have resulted in the deployment of the pretensioner system. The investigation revealed certain seatbelt pretensioners may develop corroded squib pins where the bridge wire (heating element of pyro-technic device) is welded. Extended corrosion and a partial separation of the weld may cause a high resistance or an open circuit condition to occur, potentially resulting in pretensioner inadvertent deployment. Inadvertent pretensioner deployment will result in the seatbelt being locked in position, no longer able to extend or retract as designed, which may result in injury in the event of a crash. 11 minor injuries were reported due this failure. Most injuries were bruising to the torso area caused by the rapid tightening of the seatbelt during an inadvertent deployment. On February 9, 2024, Ford filed recall 24V099 for certain MY 2018-2020 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles with production dates between October 1, 2018, and June 30, 2019. The recall remedy provides the replacement of both front seatbelt retractors if found to have a production date code within the suspect production date range. In view of the recall action being taken by Ford, ODI is closing this Preliminary Evaluation. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.