Ford Recalls 420,000 US Vehicles Due to Seat-Belt Issue, Says NHTSA

• The recall impacts 419,967 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs from model years 2018-2022
• Seat belt pretensioners in driver and front passenger seats may inadvertently lock, preventing proper retraction or extension and failing to restrain occupants as intended
• Dealers will inspect and replace defective seat belt retractors at no cost to owners as part of the remedy

Ford Recalls 420,000 Vehicles Over Seat-Belt Safety Defect

Key Details:

Ford Motor is recalling 419,967 vehicles in the United States due to faulty seat-belt pretensioners that may inadvertently lock, preventing proper retraction or extension. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the recall on June 3.

Affected Vehicles:

The recall covers certain 2018-2022 model year Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs. The defect impacts seat belts in the driver and/or front passenger positions.

Safety Issue:

The seat-belt pretensioner malfunction prevents belts from functioning correctly, which means they cannot properly restrain occupants as intended during a crash. This significantly increases the risk of injury in the event of an accident.

Remedy:

Authorized Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the affected seat belt retractors and replace them if necessary at no cost to vehicle owners.

Market Implications:

This recall adds to Ford's ongoing quality control challenges and associated costs. With nearly 420,000 vehicles affected, the company faces potential warranty expenses and reputational impact in the competitive full-size SUV segment. The Expedition and Navigator are high-margin vehicles important to Ford's profitability, making this recall particularly significant. Vehicle owners should contact their dealers to schedule inspections, and the issue may temporarily affect consumer confidence in these popular SUV models until remediation is complete.

The recall underscores continued scrutiny from NHTSA on automotive safety defects and the importance of seat-belt system reliability across the industry.