DETROIT — Ford Motor Co. is recalling nearly 420,000 vehicles due to a seat belt defect that may cause injury during a crash. The recall affects certain Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator models from the 2018 through 2022 model years.
The issue involves front seat belts that may lock unexpectedly, preventing them from retracting or extending properly. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a seat belt that fails to move as designed could increase the risk of injury in a collision. In some cases, rapid retraction of the seat belt may also lead to injury.
This recall replaces and expands on two earlier NHTSA recalls related to the same seat belt mechanism. Ford has received two warranty claims and two field reports connected to the defect. The company is also aware of one injury attributed to the issue.
The affected vehicles were manufactured between 2017 and 2022, corresponding to the 2018–2022 model years. The original recalls addressed similar concerns with the seat belt retractor mechanism in subsets of these model years, and the current action consolidates and broadens the scope to include additional vehicles identified through continued monitoring.
Vehicle owners will be notified by mail about the recall. Once they receive the notice, they can take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealership, where technicians will inspect both front seat belt retractors and replace any affected components at no cost.
Owners seeking additional information may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. They may also reach out to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or visit the agency’s website for details about the recall and safety concerns.