- 420,000 MY18-22 Ford and Lincoln SUVs are being recalled over faulty seatbelts.
- Front seatbelt pretensioners may deploy unexpectedly, locking the belts during driving.
- Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the belt retractors and replace affected units free.
Seatbelts are supposed to tighten up during a crash, but leave you free to move the rest of the time. Unfortunately for hundreds of thousands of Ford owners, that’s exactly the kind of problem that has prompted the automaker’s latest safety recall, and it’s another familiar one.
Ford is recalling 419,967 SUVs in the United States because the front seatbelt pretensioners in certain vehicles can deploy when they shouldn’t, strapping owners down like they’ve buckled up a five-point harness ready for 24 hours at Le Mans. The campaign covers 2018-2022 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator models and expands two previous recalls addressing the same issue.
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The problem centers on the seatbelt retractor pretensioner, a device designed to instantly tighten the belt during a crash. In affected vehicles, however, the driver and front passenger pretensioners can inadvertently deploy when the occupants’ safety isn’t at risk. When that happens, the seatbelt can become locked in place and won’t retract or extend normally.
That’s not just annoying. Ford says a belt that can’t move properly could increase the risk of injury in an accident. In some situations, the unexpected deployment itself can also injure occupants because of the force generated as the belt rapidly retracts.
The recall affects Expeditions and Navigators built at Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant between May 2017 and October 2022. According to the automaker, vehicles previously repaired during previous recall campaigns may still need to be inspected under this new one, meaning some owners could be heading back to the dealer for round two.
If You See A Light, Hold On Tight
Ford’s investigation found that the propellant used inside certain pretensioners can degrade after prolonged exposure to high temperatures. As the material breaks down, corrosive byproducts can form and damage internal components, potentially triggering an unintended deployment. Owners may notice an illuminated airbag warning light before they get the weird sensation that they’re being attacked by a monster hiding in the back seat.
The fix is fairly straightforward. Dealers will inspect both front seatbelt retractors starting late summer and replace any suspect units at no cost. The replacement parts use a revised propellant and stabilizer combination that Ford says offers improved long-term chemical stability.
