Nearly 420,000 Ford Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators Flagged Over Seat Belt Issue

If there’s a 2018 to 2022 Expedition or Lincoln Navigator parked in your driveway, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has news you’ll want to read. Ford is calling back nearly 420,000 of these big SUVs because the front seat belt pretensioners may not work the way they should.

• The recall covers about 420,000 2018-2022 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs.
• Front seat belts can lock up, with no ability to retract or extend.
• Dealers will inspect and replace the affected retractors at no cost.

What’s Actually Wrong

The issue centers on the front seat belt pretensioners. Pretensioners are the small devices built into the seat belt assembly that tighten the belt against your body in a crash, pulling out slack so the restraint can do its job. In the affected SUVs, the front seat belts could become locked, meaning no retraction or extension.

That’s a serious safety concern. A belt that won’t extend is a belt you can’t buckle properly, which means front passengers may not be protected the way they should be.

Which Vehicles Are Covered

The Ford Expedition seatbelt recall sweeps in model years 2018 through 2022 for both the Expedition and its Lincoln Navigator sibling. Those two SUVs share a platform and many of the same components, so it’s not surprising they’re being recalled together. The total tally is just under 420,000 vehicles.

If you bought yours new, you may already be on Ford’s notification list. If you picked one up used, it’s worth being proactive rather than waiting on the mail.

The Timeline and the Fix

Ford expects to mail out recall notices to potentially affected customers by June 8. The actual repair is expected to be available at dealers sometime in August. Your local dealer will inspect and replace any faulty pretensioners at no cost, which is standard for any federally mandated safety recall.

That gap between notification and repair is a little frustrating if you’re an owner, because you know there’s a problem before there’s a fix ready. In the meantime, the best thing you can do is pay attention to how your belts behave. If a front belt suddenly won’t extend or retract, stop using that seat and contact your dealer.

How to Check Your VIN Right Now

You don’t have to wait for the letter to arrive. Head to nhtsa.gov/recalls and type in your 17-digit vehicle identification number. The system will pull up any open recalls tied to your specific SUV, including this one. The NHTSA reference number for this campaign is 26V344000.

You can also call your local Ford or Lincoln dealer with your VIN handy. They can verify whether your SUV is part of the affected batch and put you on a list to be contacted when parts are ready.

Part of a Bigger Pattern at Ford

This isn’t a one-off. Ford has had a busy stretch of recall activity recently. About a month earlier, a few thousand Broncos were recalled over transmission and transfer case alignment issues. After that, the Bronco and Ranger were flagged over seat bolt problems. The seat belt notice on the Expedition and Navigator adds to a growing list, and it suggests Ford is still working through quality issues on vehicles that already left the factory.

Steps to Take This Week

If you own one of these SUVs, do three things. Run your VIN through the NHTSA lookup tool to confirm your vehicle is included. Watch your mail for the official recall letter from Ford. And book your appointment as soon as the repair becomes available in August. Safety recalls are free, the process is straightforward, and there’s no reason to put it off once parts are in.