Ford Motor Company has issued a recall for nearly 420,000 vehicles over a seat belt defect that may lock in the driver and/or the front passenger, “increasing the risk of injury in a crash.”
“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,” the recall alert posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states.
Ford added that while the “primary seatbelt locking functions continue to function properly, a seatbelt that does not retract or extend may result in injury in the event of a crash.” In some cases, the inadvertent retractor pretensioner deployment can also cause injury to the occupant due to rapid seatbelt retraction.
Which Vehicles Are Affected by the Ford Recall?
According to the NHTSA, 419,967 vehicles are potentially affected under recall number 26S34. Models listed in the recall include:
- 2018–2022 Ford Expedition
- 2018–2022 Lincoln Navigator
What Should Ford Vehicle Owners Do?
Ford said car owners will be notified by mail with instructions to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the front seat belt retractors inspected and replaced if they fall within the suspect production date range.
“Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt retractors as necessary,” the notice said. The service will be offered free of charge.
Interim letters are expected to be mailed June 8, while additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in August 2026.
Car owners can also contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 with recall number 26S34.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY.
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