← New search

2019 Ford Expedition

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Expedition years

Owner complaints for the 2019 Ford Expedition are substantially higher than the model-year median of 155.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

186 reports with mileage · 308 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 217 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 107 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 95 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports3 fire reports33 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

44 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 2025
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

1. My Transmission failed and the car came to a complete stop in the middle of the highway, ford could not assist in replacing the Transmission and I have heard so many complaints about the 10 speed transmissions failing just after reaching 100,000 mileage. Mine failed under 108,000 mileage and this has been going on for years a…

Read full complaint

1. My Transmission failed and the car came to a complete stop in the middle of the highway, ford could not assist in replacing the Transmission and I have heard so many complaints about the 10 speed transmissions failing just after reaching 100,000 mileage. Mine failed under 108,000 mileage and this has been going on for years and consumers end up spending thousands of dollars on a $70,000 vehicle. This issue needs to be addressed. I paid over $8,000 to replace the transmission. 2. Ford Expeditions and F150 have a trim piece on the center console that's covered by an aluminum wrap which pops off and it's very sharp, so many ford owners have been cut by that piece and ford only replaces the whole center console if the vehicle is under warranty as there's no other solution to replace only the trim but you get to replace the whole center console which's Expensive. 3. For 3.5L engines have continued to have cam phaser failure for the past few years but Ford doesn't seem to address this issue which cost customers millions of dollars every year, we the customers do know that Ford benefits from selling parts and Ford 100% knows how expensive it's to replace a cam phaser which cam cost anywhere from $4,000 in parts and labor. We hope that NHTSA can step up and have ford address these issues.

NHTSA ODI #11637088

Mileage unknown · Dec 17, 2024
Unknown Or Other

When I am stopped at a light or in traffic and the start/stop technology triggers the car to shut off while waiting, when I take my foot off the brake the engine does not turn back up. My other electrics are still on. A messaged pops up and says auto/startstop shift to P, then restart engine. This has happened multiple times. I …

Read full complaint

When I am stopped at a light or in traffic and the start/stop technology triggers the car to shut off while waiting, when I take my foot off the brake the engine does not turn back up. My other electrics are still on. A messaged pops up and says auto/startstop shift to P, then restart engine. This has happened multiple times. I have taken it to the dealer 3 times now. They say no error codes come up. They can’t replicate it. The last time the car rolled back and almost hit another car. It causes my car to obstruct traffic. And people start honking.

NHTSA ODI #11631150

Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2024
StructureUnknown Or Other

The driver and passanger rear doors have issues with the doul latches. They do not always security shut and the doors swing open while driving. When the temperatures drop, the latches do not work, therefore, the doors do not securely shut. I tool the vehicle to a Ford repair dealership and they informed me that this is an issue …

Read full complaint

The driver and passanger rear doors have issues with the doul latches. They do not always security shut and the doors swing open while driving. When the temperatures drop, the latches do not work, therefore, the doors do not securely shut. I tool the vehicle to a Ford repair dealership and they informed me that this is an issue with millions of ford's. They suggested I contact you because there isn't a current recall on this vehicle. This issue has happened multiple times now.

NHTSA ODI #11622828

Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 2024
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

My Ford Expedition Max started to make a rattling noise after I start the vehicle, if the car was running for a while I could turn it off and on again and wouldnt hear the noise, but if the engine was cold it would make a rattling noise when started. Then if I do not let the SUV warm up long enough and start driving it would hav…

Read full complaint

My Ford Expedition Max started to make a rattling noise after I start the vehicle, if the car was running for a while I could turn it off and on again and wouldnt hear the noise, but if the engine was cold it would make a rattling noise when started. Then if I do not let the SUV warm up long enough and start driving it would have a point where it would do a random hard slow down before it would kick into gear and then it would feel like it was running fine. This started a few weeks ago the I was driving on the highway and while i was doing about 55MPH the suv made a loud noise that made the vehicle change speed dramatically it cause me to be whiplashed forward before the engine seemed to catch back up to its orevious actions, it did not actually cause an accident at that point (but it very well could have if the road was busy as it was a dramatic chnage in speed as well as the noise it made). I pulled over to inspect but there was nothing in the road and nothing that was being done that seemed to cause the traumatic issue. The next day when I brought the car to the mechanic and explained the issue he was able to diagnose an issue with the timing chain. Upopn some resaerch there many complaints and issues with my that make/models particular engine and parts that have had issues but the dealer would not assist saying there is no formal recall and at 69K miles I am over the warrenty. My car doesnot have any codes or warning lights and has all regularly scheduled maintenance and repairs done regularly but the car is clearly not driving correctly, This issue is causing the SUV to dramatically change speed while driving which is likely to cause an accident and severe injury.

NHTSA ODI #11612311

Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 2024
Electrical SystemService BrakesUnknown Or Other

Approximately One week ago, I was on the freeway when at 70 miles an hour warning light came in with brake system. Failure came up, and I lost all power to the vehicle and shut down and I tried restarting it on neutral. I was in traffic, which made it more difficult to go onto the side of the road went to I was in the center div…

Read full complaint

Approximately One week ago, I was on the freeway when at 70 miles an hour warning light came in with brake system. Failure came up, and I lost all power to the vehicle and shut down and I tried restarting it on neutral. I was in traffic, which made it more difficult to go onto the side of the road went to I was in the center divider. There was no power of any kind to left side of vehicle windows, door locks, etc. the vehicle was towed to the dealership in San Diego where they told me they couldn’t look at the vehicle For over a month, but their service tech and the repair person from the dealership was unable to attach a computer to the vehicle scanner was not showing anything wrong. I then had the vehicle towed again to my home where the dealer had told me it was a battery however I purchased a new battery from the dealer , and it made no difference approximately three days later I started the vehicle to roll up the window that was down and everything seem to work however, I put it in and proceeded forward. The same situation occurred once again with the statement system system failure, but this time parking assist downhill Was also showing on the dashboard warning indicator. I have replaced the motor transmission and turbo on this back in January 2024. Vehicle is still under warranty however this seems to be a problem if the vehicle is cutting out with very minimal warning and shutting down on the freeway, this can cause an accident with myself and anybody near me , because the vehicle and the braking system shut down. I don’t know if this is a recall, but it’s something that should be looked at in a timely matter. Please contact me with further details. God bless.

NHTSA ODI #11609282

113,598 miles · Jul 24, 2024
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

Since we bought our car, it has had a rattle upon startup. This was originally a recall, which we got repaired, but this repair did not make the rattle go away. I then had a transmission problem and had to have the transmission overhauled due to it having violent, jerky, unpredictable shifting between gears. When I mentioned the…

Read full complaint

Since we bought our car, it has had a rattle upon startup. This was originally a recall, which we got repaired, but this repair did not make the rattle go away. I then had a transmission problem and had to have the transmission overhauled due to it having violent, jerky, unpredictable shifting between gears. When I mentioned the rattle again while they were fixing the transmission, they said that it’s a known problem with Ford cam phasers around our model year. They informed me that the fix offered in the recall was an electronic fix, but the actual parts need to be replaced and the recall didn’t cover that. The parts replacement was almost $4000, and from my research, not replacing these parts can cause the engine to stop functioning properly over time. In the past two weeks, I have been getting safety notices from my car that there are timing issues that need to be serviced. Contacting Ford did not help as there is no active recall for this problem. From my research, there is an active lawsuit open against Ford for this cam phaser problem with my year model car. Overall, cam phasers play a critical role in enhancing the efficiency, performance, and reliability of 10-speed engines by enabling precise control over the engine’s valve timing. However, after just replacing my transmission we cannot afford to pay another $4000 for this error. Ford said they cannot help unless there is a recall on the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI #11604266

Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2024
StructureUnknown Or Other

I am writing to urgently request the initiation of a safety investigation concerning a serious and potentially widespread defect in Ford vehicles, specifically related to the center console’s metal chrome trim on limited models. I own a Ford Expedition, purchased in October 2019, and have encountered a severe issue where the chr…

Read full complaint

I am writing to urgently request the initiation of a safety investigation concerning a serious and potentially widespread defect in Ford vehicles, specifically related to the center console’s metal chrome trim on limited models. I own a Ford Expedition, purchased in October 2019, and have encountered a severe issue where the chrome plating on the center console has begun peeling away, forming sharp, dangerous shards that have already caused significant injury to myself and my children. Despite numerous attempts to resolve this issue through Ford’s customer service since first discovering the defect in 2020, the response has been dismissive, labeling the condition as "normal wear and tear." This is despite the fact that the sharp edges of the peeling chrome required medical attention on multiple occasions. The severity of this defect goes far beyond cosmetic degradation and enters the realm of serious safety hazard. Furthermore, this issue does not appear to be isolated. An examination of online consumer forums and resale platforms such as eBay reveals similar complaints from other Ford owners who note identical peeling issues in the same model and in analogous locations on the console. Historical precedence shows that similar defects in past models, like the Ford Explorer, have led to recalls. It is alarming that Ford has not only failed to recognize the defect as a legitimate safety concern but has also continued to sidestep responsibility even after the original factory warranty expired. This lack of accountability for a defect that directly impacts the physical safety of passengers and drivers is unacceptable. Given the potential risk to consumers and the apparent recurrence of this issue across multiple vehicles, I implore the NHTSA to initiate a thorough investigation into this matter. It is imperative that a recall be considered to prevent further injuries and ensure that Ford addresses this serious safety flaw promptly and effectively.

NHTSA ODI #11593690

Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 2024
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

We bought a 2019 Ford expedition max xlt. On a trip we kept having problems with it jumping out of gear and it felt like the transmission was going to fall out. We looked it up and found several complaints on this same problem with the 2019 models although I can't find any recalls that would have fixed the problem.

NHTSA ODI #11592135

Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 2024
Unknown Or Other

There is an open recall with no remedy since February 2, 2024. The remedy should already be available, so I'm filing a complaint of remedy not available in timely manner.

NHTSA ODI #11583294

Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 2024
Unknown Or Other

The center console cup holder collapsed. It was a driving distraction and could have resulted in injury. We now have a have an open hole in the center of our car.

NHTSA ODI #11580323

Official recalls

11

26V402000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Jun 24, 2026

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

26V368000 · Structure:interior Panels:center Console

Jun 9, 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Vehicle occupants may contact the center console's sharp edges, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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.

26V344000 · Seat Belts:pretensioner

May 27, 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Seat belts that do not retract or extend can fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy: 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.

25V886000 · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel

Dec 18, 2025

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

25V197000 · Seat Belts:pretensioner

May 23, 2025

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Seat belts that do not retract or extend can fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy: 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.

24V852000 · Equipment:other:labels

Nov 8, 2024

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, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

24V099000 · Seat Belts:pretensioner

Feb 9, 2024

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Seat belts that do not retract or extend may fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy: 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.

23V420000 · Equipment:other:owners/service/other Manual

Jun 9, 2023

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 requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 202, "Head Restraints."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Without instructions, the head restraints may be improperly adjusted, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

20V263000 · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel; Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

May 8, 2020

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

19V773000 · Suspension:rear

Oct 28, 2019

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A disconnected toe link can cause a sudden change to vehicle handling, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

19V633000 · Seats:front Assembly:recliner; Seats:mid/rear Assembly

Aug 28, 2019

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 vehicles equipped with rear outboard seats and manual seat back recliner mechanisms. The recliner mechanisms may be missing the third pawl required for seat back strength, resulting in a loose seat back. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Seats:mid/rear Assembly

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 vehicles equipped with rear outboard seats and manual seat back recliner mechanisms. The recliner mechanisms may be missing the third pawl required for seat back strength, resulting in a loose seat back. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems."

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Seats:front Assembly:recliner

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 vehicles equipped with rear outboard seats and manual seat back recliner mechanisms. The recliner mechanisms may be missing the third pawl required for seat back strength, resulting in a loose seat back. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems."

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

RQ24015 · Seat Belt Retractor Pretensioner Inadvertent Deployment

Opened Nov 15, 2024 · Closed Jul 23, 2025

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:pretensioner

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.

PE23021 · Seat Belt Pretensioner Inadvertent Deployment

Opened Nov 22, 2023 · Closed Jul 29, 2024

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:pretensioner

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.