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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

What owners actually said

494 reports
52,000 miles · Oct 16, 2023
Engine

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact received a recall notice for Ford Campaign Number: 21B10. The contact took the vehicle to a dealer where a software update was performed on the vehicle. The contact stated that immediately upon return of the vehicle, an abnormal thud sound came from the vehicle. There was no w…

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The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact received a recall notice for Ford Campaign Number: 21B10. The contact took the vehicle to a dealer where a software update was performed on the vehicle. The contact stated that immediately upon return of the vehicle, an abnormal thud sound came from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the contact was informed that the cam phasers needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided a case number. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 52,000.

NHTSA ODI #11550259

80,000 miles · Oct 13, 2023
EnginePower Train

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to shift out of 4th gear. The contact then stated that the vehicle failed to shift in the intended gears. The contact stated that while the accelerator pedal was depressed, the engine revved but the vehicle faile…

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The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to shift out of 4th gear. The contact then stated that the vehicle failed to shift in the intended gears. The contact stated that while the accelerator pedal was depressed, the engine revved but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that when the vehicle finally accelerated, the vehicle shook violently. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the cam phaser and transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The transmission was replaced but the cam phaser had not yet been replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was transferred to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #11549789

72,000 miles · Oct 6, 2023
Air BagsSeat Belts

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.

NHTSA ODI #11548577

Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2023
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

2019 Ford Expedition engine rattles on cold start, while driving at highway speeds, loss of engine power, and when Auto start/stop engages, it will, at times, "catch" and turn vehicle off due to lack of engine power- it will then flash a warning message stating driver must shift to park, then restart vehicle. Cam Phaser/Cam s…

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2019 Ford Expedition engine rattles on cold start, while driving at highway speeds, loss of engine power, and when Auto start/stop engages, it will, at times, "catch" and turn vehicle off due to lack of engine power- it will then flash a warning message stating driver must shift to park, then restart vehicle. Cam Phaser/Cam shaft wears prematurely, thus, not allowing it to open and close valves related to the crankshaft and pistons, which in turn poses a risk to both the vehicle operator as well as drivers on the road. Safety is a put at risk due to the cam phaser adjusting the camshaft so the car responds to low RPM- This causes reduced engine power and potential stalling- which is a major concern when driving any vehicle, especially on freeways with small children in the car. This problem has been confirmed by a dealing, specifically a dealer services manager, who stated "its a very known issue and somehow hasn't been recalled yet". The vehicle has been inspected a ford service manager The first known symptom is the rattle sound upon cold start, then other symptoms arose such as the lack of engine power, stalling, and auto start/stop not working correctly. The only "warning" is that of the auto start/stop malfunction that offers upon stalling (at a stop speed), this does not include stalling when at highway speeds.

NHTSA ODI #11546919

Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2023
Power Train

April 2023 was the first time we experienced an issue. We were out of town driving on the highway, accelerating to an on-ramp when we heard a loud thud underneath the car and then lost acceleration. My husband removed his foot off the gas and then when he put pressure on the gas pedal again it began driving. During this incident…

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April 2023 was the first time we experienced an issue. We were out of town driving on the highway, accelerating to an on-ramp when we heard a loud thud underneath the car and then lost acceleration. My husband removed his foot off the gas and then when he put pressure on the gas pedal again it began driving. During this incident we saw warning lights on the dash (a wrench and we believe a few other lights as well) and a chime noise. Since April 2023 we have had 3 to 4 other instances where the car has shifted hard, not like the usual shifting. On August 29 2023, my car was at 77,405 miles we experienced the same hard shifting incident. This time we were accelerating to change lanes on the highway when we heard a loud thud underneath the car, this time it was so loud it was like a sledgehammer underneath us, we could even feel it underneath our feet. We lost all acceleration and could not get it back. Because we lost all acceleration, my husband had to get over multiple lanes of traffic to get to the shoulder and figure out what to do next. This experience was very frightening because with no acceleration it put us at a huge risk in the middle of a very congested highway with our kids. Again, we had warning lights on the dash (a wrench) and a chime noise but it went away before we could get a picture or look at it long enough to remember if any additional lights popped up, we were too worried about pulling over to safety. After being pulled over for a few minutes, turning the car off and back on again, we were able to accelerate. We tried to take the car in to be fixed under warranty but they were not able to replicate the issue. We believe this issue it due to the power train (transmission) and it is available for inspection upon request. The vehicle or component has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others.

NHTSA ODI #11546614

Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2023
Engine

Complete failure of the timing chain components. Vehicle completely shut down while driving on the interstate, almost causing me to get rear ended. The problem has been diagnosed and confirmed by an independent service center. The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership. They stated this is a very common issue and "they're …

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Complete failure of the timing chain components. Vehicle completely shut down while driving on the interstate, almost causing me to get rear ended. The problem has been diagnosed and confirmed by an independent service center. The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership. They stated this is a very common issue and "they're not sure why Ford had done a recall on the timing chain and timing chain components." No warning lights ever came on, the only symptom that occurred was the timing chain rattle on cold starts.

NHTSA ODI #11546605

30,000 miles · Sep 22, 2023
Engine

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the vehicle started shaking abnormally upon startup. The contact also heard an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed by the dealer. The contact was informed that the cam…

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The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the vehicle started shaking abnormally upon startup. The contact also heard an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed by the dealer. The contact was informed that the camshaft phase sensor was the cause of the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and determined that the vehicle was not under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

NHTSA ODI #11546028

Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2023
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

My Expedition Windshield fluid leaks into my front passenger floor rug. Safety issue can’t clean windshield without fluid in the tank as it is leaking into front passenger floor rug.

NHTSA ODI #11545740

Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2023
Seat BeltsInjury

I reported this incident once already and since then 2 more 2019 For Expedition had the exact same issue. The seatbelt tensioner charge blew up for no reason while vehicle was stopped and running. This is a very dangerous problem as I almost heart attack, I thought I was shot. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS AND DON'T WASH IT UNDER THE …

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I reported this incident once already and since then 2 more 2019 For Expedition had the exact same issue. The seatbelt tensioner charge blew up for no reason while vehicle was stopped and running. This is a very dangerous problem as I almost heart attack, I thought I was shot. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS AND DON'T WASH IT UNDER THE RUG. TO THIS DAY I'M AFRAID OF DRIVING MY EXPEDITION FO FEAR OF IT HAPPENING AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #11544664

Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2023
EnginePower Train

Car has 49700 miles. I was traveling on highway at speed and tried to accelerate to merge into exit lane traffic and engine and power train completely cut out and transmission failure light with wrench came on. Luckily cars behind me were able to slow down and avoid an accident but this could have been deadly. Thank God my child…

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Car has 49700 miles. I was traveling on highway at speed and tried to accelerate to merge into exit lane traffic and engine and power train completely cut out and transmission failure light with wrench came on. Luckily cars behind me were able to slow down and avoid an accident but this could have been deadly. Thank God my children were not in the car. Car was previously taken to dealership in January of 2023 for transmission shifting issues and repair work was done. Car is also “hard shifting” into gear from park, causing whole car to jerk. Car routinely “hard shifts” when accelerating onto highway and “hard shifts” when slowing in rush hour traffic.

NHTSA ODI #11544270

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.