Illustration***SEE CURRENT NHTS Report: 24V-099 AND MANUFACTURER RECALL: 24S06*** Airbag light illuminated. Scanned for SRS codes found: RCM- Restraint Control Module (B007E-13). Driver Seatbelt Pretensioner C Deployment Control - Circuit Open
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Expedition years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
180–25K
2425–50K
5850–75K
5075–100K
33100–150K
3150K+
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
Air Bags complaints
21 reportsAirbag light illuminated. Scanned for SRS codes found: RCM- Restraint Control Module (B007E-13). Driver Seatbelt Pretensioner C Deployment Control - Circuit Open.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the passenger’s side front seat belt exploded. There was an abnormal banging noise heard and there was smoke inside the vehicle. While occupying the passenger's side front seat, the seat belt pulled hard, and the passenger was slammed against the s…
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The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the passenger’s side front seat belt exploded. There was an abnormal banging noise heard and there was smoke inside the vehicle. While occupying the passenger's side front seat, the seat belt pulled hard, and the passenger was slammed against the seat. The driver was able to pull over safely. The air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V099000 (Seat Belts) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
In or around October I reported my Seatbelt tensioner/retractor explosive device deployed almost causing me to have an accident. After really complaining to Ford, they finally fixed it. Now my warning light came on pertaining to my passenger side tensioner. I also received the notice, and went to my dealership. They had the veh…
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In or around October I reported my Seatbelt tensioner/retractor explosive device deployed almost causing me to have an accident. After really complaining to Ford, they finally fixed it. Now my warning light came on pertaining to my passenger side tensioner. I also received the notice, and went to my dealership. They had the vehicle for a week and could not fix it. They said Ford has to ok it and supply the parts, and it could take all the way to the end of 2024. They gave me the vehicle back, refused a loaner and said their hands were tied. I can tell you first hand that someone may die or cause a serious accident if driving at high speed when the device deploys. It is as loud as a 45 cal or shotgun, inside the cab. The SPL is enormous and the seatbelt tightens 3 to 4 inches, causing disorientation, total fear and loss of control of the vehicle. My incident caused me to have irregular heartbeat and I ended up in the hospital. THEY NEED TO REPLACE THESE DEVICES ASAP, BEFOE SOMEONE DIES.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's side air bag inadvertently deployed. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed failures with both the seat belt and driver's side air bags. The vehicle was not repaired…
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The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's side air bag inadvertently deployed. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed failures with both the seat belt and driver's side air bags. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V099000 (Seat Belts). The VIN was included, but parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 93,000.
Airbag pre-tensioner fired without any collision.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the air bag warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed and determined that the passenger’s side seat belt pretensioner was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. …
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The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the air bag warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed and determined that the passenger’s side seat belt pretensioner was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Later, while driving approximately 55 MPH, the front passenger’s side seat belt pretensioner suddenly deployed causing the driver to nearly lose control of the steering. During the failure there was no passenger seated in the front passenger's seat. There was no crash. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 97,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that after the vehicle was shifted into park, the seat belt was removed, and the contact heard a loud popping sound then the front driver’s side air bag inadvertently deployed. As a result of the failure, the seat belt retracted and burned the contact hand. No medical a…
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The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that after the vehicle was shifted into park, the seat belt was removed, and the contact heard a loud popping sound then the front driver’s side air bag inadvertently deployed. As a result of the failure, the seat belt retracted and burned the contact hand. No medical attention was required. The air bag warning light and the seat belt warning light illuminated. No medical attention was required. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the seat belt retractor pretensioner failed and the seat belt retractor pretensioner and air bag needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened and the contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.
Vehicle parked and had just been started. Went to put on dvr seatbelt and a loud explosion happened to my left and the seatbelt shoulder strap was pulled out of my fingers. The driver seatbelt pretensioner activated without a collision and the cab filled with smoke. Vehicle has never been in a collision, ever had a restraint ma…
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Vehicle parked and had just been started. Went to put on dvr seatbelt and a loud explosion happened to my left and the seatbelt shoulder strap was pulled out of my fingers. The driver seatbelt pretensioner activated without a collision and the cab filled with smoke. Vehicle has never been in a collision, ever had a restraint malfunction, is the original OEM safety component, and hasn’t been serviced/replaced for a seatbelt/airbag issue. Now, the air bag light is activated and the seatbelt is tightly fully retracted to the pillar so tight it can’t be moved at all. Access to the onboard computer can verify all the above info. Dealership stated there was an activation of the pretensioned charge on the driver seatbelt resulting in the belt fully retracting and the seatbelt no longer functioning. 2nd 2019 Ford Expedition they have seen this week with the same mishap. If this would have deployed at highway speeds, a driver may have been startled due to the loud explosion in the cab and lost control of the vehicle (I was parked). Smoke immediately entered the occupant compartment. The seat belt retracted so quickly/tightly, injury to one’s chest would have occurred.
On July 24th 2023, at approximately 2:15pm my wife and I were completely stopped at a red traffic light on 66th St N that crosses Ulmerton Rd in Pinellas County Florida. We were talking and listening to the radio, when all of a sudden, a loud shotgun or explosive sound filled the vehicle. I got hit with something in the chest t…
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On July 24th 2023, at approximately 2:15pm my wife and I were completely stopped at a red traffic light on 66th St N that crosses Ulmerton Rd in Pinellas County Florida. We were talking and listening to the radio, when all of a sudden, a loud shotgun or explosive sound filled the vehicle. I got hit with something in the chest that felt like a punch or a kick, knocking me out of breath. But my wife only heard the extremely loud noise. I was clutching my chest in pain as I thought I was shot. When the light turned green, I immediately pulled into a Dunkin donuts parking lot, and we exited the vehicle. There was no damage whatsoever on the inside and outside of the vehicle, but we smelled gun powder. My driver's seatbelt was stuck in the retracted position. I slowly drove to my home at 6500 30th Avenue N, St Petersburg, Fl 33710. I immediately called the Pinellas County Sheriff's Department to report the incident, because at the time I thought it was a gunshot. They have a record under my phone number. I had no idea what the loud gun sound was, so I started to research and found the driver's seat belt tensioner charge must have gone off. I called Auto Nation Ford and made an emergency appointment to bring the vehicle in. I explained everything to them, then dropped the vehicle off. Upon doing a full inspection, the Auto Nation Ford mechanic determined there was a factory short in the air bag circuit, which caused the seatbelt tensioner charge to explode. They found the location, under the center console & replaced all necessary wiring, sensors, modules, tensioner & seatbelt. I researched and found recalls for 2020 Expeditions and 2018 F150 pickups, but there was no recall for the 2019 Expedition. I can't imagine what would have happened if we were going fast on an interstate when it happened. Now I get in my 2 Ford vehicles and worry about it happening again. t turned out the kick in the chest was the seatbelt retracting 4 inches pulling me back in the seat.
Official recalls
1126V402000 · 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
2RQ24015 · 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.