316 of the
12,004 complaints filed about the Ford Expedition
are about the seat belts —
100% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2019.
Our vehicle cannot shift into gear. This results in it jolting, and almost stopping while we are driving. The is a huge safety issue on roads and especially highways. The check engine light is on. We have taken it multiple times to mechanics and have been told this is a transmission issue. We received a transmission safety recall notice a few months back and were hopeful that Ford would fix the issue. However, we were disappointed to hear that the recalled parts aren't even made and will not be available until late 2027. This car has 3 recalls on it and Ford has not been able to fix a single one of them.
NHTSA complaint #11764172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My 2020 Ford Expedition has an open Ford safety recall 26S34 involving the front seat belt retractor/pretensioner. My driver’s seat belt is now completely unusable (shredded and locked in place), making the vehicle unsafe to drive. Ford and the dealership have confirmed that the recall applies to my vehicle, but I have been told the permanent recall part is currently unavailable. I was told that if I want a functioning driver’s seat belt while waiting for the recall part, I must pay out of pocket to have a temporary/older part installed. I explained to Ford that I cannot safely operate the vehicle without a functioning driver’s seat belt and asked what no-cost solution Ford would provide while its recall remedy is unavailable. I requested either a covered temporary repair or alternate transportation and asked for the matter to be escalated. Ford customer service refused to transfer me to a supervisor, and the representative ultimately disconnected the call. I am requesting NHTSA review whether Ford is meeting its obligations under this safety recall when an affected vehicle currently has an unusable driver’s restraint, the recall remedy is unavailable, and the owner is being required to pay out of pocket to restore a functioning restraint while waiting. Ford Case #CXH09305259
NHTSA complaint #11763697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 26V344000 (Seat Belt), 26V368000 (Structure), and 26V402000 (Power Train); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the front driver's side seat belt had deployed. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 135,772.
NHTSA complaint #11762780 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I started by 2019 Ford Expedition and was driving through a parking lot at a low speed when there was an explosion sound (comparable to a gun shot over my left shoulder as the driver). My seatbelt pulled in and locked down. My car smelled like a firework had been set off and there was a white-grey powder across my lefts. I immediately stopped and parked my vehicle. I had my passenger move to the back of the car as a safety precaution. It took effort to get the belt to unlatch and off. We moved the vehicle to a safer parking spot and had it towed to David McDavid - FtW. I have a seatbelt burn on my neck. My left shoulder, across my chest, and right hip are very sore today. We received the recall notice the day prior. However, the letter states that: Ford has not issued instructions to stop driving your vehicle…. Had this happened while driving at a faster speed, the incident could have very easily been catastrophic. My concern now is that the dealership is trying to say this is an interior trim concern, and Ford’s customer service could do nothing other than repeat their script that there is no remedy at this time. Their advice lent the consumer to saving receipts for rental and/or repair with faulty parts until the advanced notice becomes an active one. I have no vehicle to drive, I have mild injuries, and we have zero support from Ford. Making matters worse, our dealership is wanting to charge us for inspecting the vehicle and calling it an “interior trim concern”, while listing the seatbelt retractor inspection right after it for free. THESE ARE THE SAME ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11761923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. While entering the vehicle, the contact became aware that the front passenger’s side seat belt was locked but was able to be retracted. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V344000 (SEAT BELTS); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
NHTSA complaint #11761569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the parking brake warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The contact was informed that parts were unavailable to repair the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive with the unrepaired seat belt recall. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V344000 (Seat Belts), 26V368000 (Structure), and 26V402000 (Power Train); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
NHTSA complaint #11761707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V344000 (Seat Belt). The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH with his wife seated in the passenger’s seat, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that approximately 5 minutes later, the passenger’s seat belt pretensioner exploded. The contact's wife sustained stomach bruises when the seat belt tightened on her stomach, and the contact released the passenger from the seat belt. Medical attention was not needed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.
NHTSA complaint #11761393 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While pulling into a parking space, vehicle in drive, the passenger seatbelt exploded. There was no accident and no one was sitting in the passenger seat. It sounded like a gunshot went off inside the truck, followed by smoke filling the cabin, and a smell like fireworks. The seatbelt was then permanently on a retracted position. No air bags were deployed but the plastic casing on the inside of the vehicle popped out where side airbags are stored. This incident was traumatic as the vehicle was in motion, but thankfully at a low speed. Ford says the remedy is not available and currently will not repair the seatbelt so that the vehicle is legally safe, and drivable.
NHTSA complaint #11761441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while parking, the passenger removed their seat belt. As the seat belt retracted, there was a very loud explosion sound. A cloud of dust was observed, and the passenger-side seat belt became extremely tight. The contact stated that the vehicle shook, and the sound and movement originated from the passenger-side seat belt retractor housing. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V344000 (Seat Belts); however, the part to perform the recall repair was unavailable. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed with the failure related to the recall; however, the dealer stated that the contact would have to pay out of pocket for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 87,849.
NHTSA complaint #11760915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My 13 year old daughter and I were driving home from softball practice, and mid conversation, without warning, it felt like something rammed into us from the side of my car. We were coasting at a cool 40 miles per hour and were winding down after a long day. My daughter yelped that her seatbelt was suffocating her. My mind was racing but I didn't see a vehicle that anywhere that looked like it actually hit us. After further researching the issue, I discovered that the massive boom we felt in my vehicle was most likely the pyrotechnic charge firing inside the seatbelt retractor assembly. My daughter's seatbelt instantly retracted tightly, and my daughter had to unbuckle quickly. I'm glad I was still with it enough not to stop right there because no doubt we would've been hit on the highway, and her sitting there without a seatbelt. We pulled over and inspected our vehicle but no sign of a wreck, confused we googled exactly what had happened and were in shock to find that the seatbelt had deployed like a bomb in our vehicle. The recall has been noted without a remedy on both the dealer's website as well as NHTSA, however, we were never notified by mail. The vehicle was inspected previously, and the dealership noted that it had the recall without communicating with us. This happened without warning, messages, or anything else. My driver side seatbelt did not work effectively like it would if we were indeed in a crash, so I felt like someone wrecked into us and I basically didn't have a seatbelt restraint because the vehicle did not recognize the deployment of the mechanism as a "wreck". My neck down to my back hurts and has continued to be sore from the incident. I have been hit by vehicles before over my lifetime, and this felt much harder than any hits I have encountered.
NHTSA complaint #11760588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The passenger-side seat-belt retractor pretensioner, which is part of the supplemental restraint/airbag system, malfunctioned. The pretensioner apparently deployed without a collision, and the passenger seat belt became permanently locked and unable to retract or extend. The vehicle and failed component remain available for inspection upon request. My safety and the safety of my passengers were put at risk because the pretensioner activated unexpectedly with a loud explosion-like bang, a burning or chemical smell, and movement of the passenger-side interior panel. The passenger seat belt is now unusable, leaving that seating position without a functional restraint. The unexpected deployment could also have startled the driver and caused a crash, and I am concerned that other restraint components may deploy unexpectedly or fail during an actual collision. The problem was confirmed by an authorized Ford dealership. Before the failure, the airbag warning light illuminated. I took the vehicle to the Ford dealership, where personnel looked it over and scheduled an appointment for August 28, 2026. At that appointment, the dealership performed diagnostic testing and documented code B007F for an open passenger-seat-belt pretensioner circuit. The dealership also confirmed that an open Ford Field Service Action appears in OASIS for this concern but stated that the campaign is currently on hold until Ford releases the repair. The vehicle has been inspected by the Ford dealership but, to my knowledge, has not been inspected by Ford corporate representatives, police, insurance representatives, or another independent service center. The airbag warning light was the warning symptom that appeared before the unintended deployment. After the failure, the passenger seat belt was locked, the airbag light remained illuminated, and the dealership’s diagnostic test confirmed the pretensioner-circuit fault.
NHTSA complaint #11760375 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 26V402000 (Power Train), 24V099000 (Seat Belts), 26V344000 (Seat Belts), and 26V368000 (Structure); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact was mostly concerned about NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V402000 (Power Train) recall. The dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure.
NHTSA complaint #11759516 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle, and the front driver's side seat belt retractor pretensioner independently deployed. The contact stated that there was no crash or any impact to the vehicle to cause the inadvertent deployment. The vehicle was pulled over to the shoulder of the road and then driven to the residence. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, a diagnostic test was not performed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V197000 (Seat Belts) and 26V344000 (Seat Belts); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 66,230.
NHTSA complaint #11759553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
There is a known recall on the front seatbelt restraints on 2019 Ford Expeditions. It has been over a year and Ford still does not have a remedy. I got a fault code and light on the dash regarding the front drivers side seatbelt. Ford confirmed I’m at risk of the pretensioner detonating and tightening but refuses to give a loaner car, a temporary fix, or issue a no drive warning.
NHTSA complaint #11758812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
There was a loud bang and the seat belt suddenly tightened unexpectedly while I was driving. I cannot retract the seatbelt and can no longer fasten it.
NHTSA complaint #11758137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact was unable to extend the driver’s side seat belt to securely buckle the seat belt. The failure was a recurring failure. The "Supplemental Restraint System" warning light was illuminated. The dealer was contacted and associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V099000 (Seat Belts); however, the remedy was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 128,270.
NHTSA complaint #11757023 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THERE IS A SEAT BELT RECALL AND 3 OTHER RECALLS THAT FORD CORP OFFICE AND THE DEALERSHIP IN HENDERSON NC TOLD ME THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL 2027 AND I AM EXPECTED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE PLEASE HELP ME
NHTSA complaint #11756469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My 2019 Expedition has experienced an inadvertent seat-belt pretensioner deployment. There was a very loud explosion-like bang, the belt tightened suddenly, fortunatelly I didn't loose control of the car and continue driving slowly until I got home (5 min away). Now the belt is locked and cannot retract or extend. The vehicle is not safely usable. I had light bruises on my left shoulder and some pain. I've called the dealer and they said there is a recall on this but no solution until September.
NHTSA complaint #11756465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving a 2019 Ford Expedition under normal conditions, the driver-side front seat belt pretensioner suddenly deployed without a collision, impact, hard braking event, or other apparent reason. The deployment produced a very loud explosion-like sound immediately next to the driver's head/ear and forcefully activated the seat belt pretensioner. After the deployment, the driver's seat belt became completely locked and can no longer be extended or used. There were no known warning signs immediately before the deployment. The vehicle was not involved in an accident. The failure occurred spontaneously while the vehicle was being operated. I contacted an authorized Ford dealer after the incident. The vehicle is affected by Ford's recall involving inadvertent front seat belt retractor pretensioner deployment. The dealer advised that there is currently no remedy available for the recall. Because the pretensioner has already deployed and the driver's seat belt is now inoperative, the vehicle cannot be safely operated with a functioning driver's restraint. The failed seat belt/pretensioner assembly remains installed in the vehicle and is available for inspection. I am also contacting Ford directly regarding the failure and the lack of an available recall remedy.
NHTSA complaint #11755974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V344000 (Seat Belts), 26V368000 (Structure), and 26V402000 (Power Train); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The contact stated that the chrome around the center console had started to peel. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.
NHTSA complaint #11755226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.