Ford is recalling nearly 420,000 vehicles due to a seat belt problem that could lead to injury in the event of a crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced this recall on Tuesday. It affects specific Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator models from 2018 to 2022.
The issue involves seat belts that may inadvertently lock, preventing them from retracting or extending properly. According to the NHTSA report, a seat belt that fails to retract or extend could lead to injury during a collision. Additionally, individuals may risk injury if the seat belt retracts suddenly.
This recall replaces and expands two prior NHTSA recalls. Ford is aware of two warranty claims and two field reports pertaining to this issue. There has been one reported injury.
Owners will be notified by mail regarding the recall. They can visit a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the front seat belt retractors inspected and replaced if necessary, free of charge.
In a separate matter, Ford issued a do-not-drive warning for several Bronco Sport and Maverick vehicles due to suspension system problems. The NHTSA explained that the front lower control arm ball joints may have been improperly installed or repaired at the assembly plant, which could cause the control arm to disconnect from the front wheel knuckle. If this occurs, it might result in loss of vehicle control and increase crash risk.
This suspension recall affects 4,600 Bronco Sport models spanning from 2021 to 2026 and Maverick models from 2022 to 2026. Dealers will inspect and repair any issues with the front lower control arm ball joints at no cost. For more information, owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or the NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236.