2019 Ford Expedition

I started by 2019 Ford Expedition and was driving through a parking lot at a low speed when there was an explosion sound (comparable to a gun shot over my left shoulder as the driver). My seatbelt pulled in and locked down. My car smelled like a firework had been set off and there was a white-grey powder across my lefts. I immediately stopped and parked my vehicle. I had my passenger move to the back of the car as a safety precaution. It took effort to get the belt to unlatch and off. We moved the vehicle to a safer parking spot and had it towed to David McDavid - FtW. I have a seatbelt burn on my neck. My left shoulder, across my chest, and right hip are very sore today. We received the recall notice the day prior. However, the letter states that: Ford has not issued instructions to stop driving your vehicle…. Had this happened while driving at a faster speed, the incident could have very easily been catastrophic. My concern now is that the dealership is trying to say this is an interior trim concern, and Ford’s customer service could do nothing other than repeat their script that there is no remedy at this time. Their advice lent the consumer to saving receipts for rental and/or repair with faulty parts until the advanced notice becomes an active one. I have no vehicle to drive, I have mild injuries, and we have zero support from Ford. Making matters worse, our dealership is wanting to charge us for inspecting the vehicle and calling it an “interior trim concern”, while listing the seatbelt retractor inspection right after it for free. THESE ARE THE SAME ISSUE.

The passenger-side seat-belt retractor pretensioner, which is part of the supplemental restraint/airbag system, malfunctioned. The pretensioner apparently deployed without a collision, and the passenger seat belt became permanently locked and unable to retract or extend. The vehicle and failed component remain available for inspection upon request. My safety and the safety of my passengers were put at risk because the pretensioner activated unexpectedly with a loud explosion-like bang, a burning or chemical smell, and movement of the passenger-side interior panel. The passenger seat belt is now unusable, leaving that seating position without a functional restraint. The unexpected deployment could also have startled the driver and caused a crash, and I am concerned that other restraint components may deploy unexpectedly or fail during an actual collision. The problem was confirmed by an authorized Ford dealership. Before the failure, the airbag warning light illuminated. I took the vehicle to the Ford dealership, where personnel looked it over and scheduled an appointment for August 28, 2026. At that appointment, the dealership performed diagnostic testing and documented code B007F for an open passenger-seat-belt pretensioner circuit. The dealership also confirmed that an open Ford Field Service Action appears in OASIS for this concern but stated that the campaign is currently on hold until Ford releases the repair. The vehicle has been inspected by the Ford dealership but, to my knowledge, has not been inspected by Ford corporate representatives, police, insurance representatives, or another independent service center. The airbag warning light was the warning symptom that appeared before the unintended deployment. After the failure, the passenger seat belt was locked, the airbag light remained illuminated, and the dealership’s diagnostic test confirmed the pretensioner-circuit fault.

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V099000 (Seat Belts). While driving approximately 45 MPH and approaching an intersection, the air bag warning light illuminated. There was an abnormally loud sound like a gunshot coming from the vehicle, and smoke was inside the vehicle. The front passenger’s seat belt unexpectedly deployed and retracted on the side of the vehicle. The seat belt failed to move and became inoperable. Prior to the failure, the owner's daughter was seated in the front passenger’s seat. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.

The airbag warning light illuminated on my 2019 Ford Expedition. My Ford dealer diagnosed the vehicle and confirmed that the condition is related to an active Ford safety recall. The dealer also confirmed that the defect disables the entire Supplemental Restraint System (SRS), meaning the airbags will not deploy in the event of a collision. I was informed that the recall replacement part will not be available until approximately December 2026 and that Ford will not authorize an interim repair or replacement using available parts. As a result, I am expected to continue driving a vehicle with a disabled airbag system for several months despite the known safety defect. The dealer advised that if I choose to have the vehicle diagnosed or repaired before the recall remedy becomes available, I must pay the costs myself and may only be eligible for reimbursement if Ford later authorizes it. This defect significantly increases the risk of serious injury or death because the airbags will not deploy in a crash. I am filing this complaint because a manufacturer should not leave owners without a functioning airbag system for months while waiting for recall parts.

On XXX, while driving my 2019 Ford Expedition (VIN: [XXX]) on the highway, the front passenger seatbelt retractor pretensioner spontaneously deployed with a loud explosion and smoke. There was no accident, no impact, and no erratic driving. The seatbelt is now completely locked and unusable, and the entire SRS/Airbag system is disabled with a hard fault light on the dash. My vehicle is covered under the newly expanded Safety Recall 26S34 / NHTSA Campaign 26V344. I immediately visited an authorized Ford dealership (Covert Ford) seeking an interim repair or a safe loaner vehicle. The dealer refused to help, stated that the parts are unavailable, and handed me an internal printout stating that the FSA program is paused (Recall 24S06 Supplement #1). Ford and the dealership are forcing me to drive an unsafe vehicle with a compromised restraint system and disabled airbags, putting my family at extreme risk because they do not have a remedy or interim solution available. I am requesting immediate federal intervention to hold Ford accountable and compel them to provide a safe rental/loaner vehicle until the final recall remedy parts are available. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while slowing down and pulling into the driveway at 25 MPH, the passenger’s side air bag suddenly deployed without warning or impact. The seat belt struck the contact’s wife on the right arm and wrist, and she sustained bruises; however, medical attention was not provided. The local dealer was contacted and informed about NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V344000 (Seat Belts) and 24V099000 (Seat Belts). A loaner vehicle was initially provided, but the dealer informed the contact that the loaner was his responsibility. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to parts being on back order. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle and with the engine idling, the front passenger side seat belt pretensioner erroneously deployed, causing the passenger to be forcefully retracted into the seat. During the incident, an explosion had occurred, and smoke filled the cabin of the vehicle. The contact sustained an injured neck during the seat belt deployment. No medical treatment was required. After the incident, the air bag warning light had remained illuminated. The cause of the failure was not determined. The contact indicated that the failure had previously occurred on the front driver's side seat belt, also. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V197000(SEAT BELTS). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 135,000.

Yesterday, while I was driving to pick up my kids from school, my 2019 Ford Expedition, the driver’s side seatbelt literally exploded — it went off like it would in a crash (but there was no crash). I was driving when it exploded and tightened so tight on me. Now the seatbelt doesn’t work at all. It was terrifying, so loud and painful. This is part of a known recall issue. When the dealership had my car back in May to replace my cam phasers, they told me the seatbelt recall parts weren’t available yet. Fast forward to now — the seatbelt has gone off, the vehicle can’t be driven safely, and Ford (both the local dealership and customer service) is saying there’s nothing they can do for me right now. The dealership told me I would have to pay to have it towed and pay for a rental. Also, they aren’t sure how fast they can get parts or diagnose it. I’m honestly at a loss. This is a safety recall, and I can’t use my car because of it. I literally just paid $2400 in may for my cam phasers and now this.