44 of the
1,812 complaints filed about the Lincoln Navigator
are about the seat belts —
100% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2019.
The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle, the front driver’s side seat belt pretensioner inadvertently deployed and released smoke. The vehicle was towed to the residence and could not be repaired by a mobile technician. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer, where it was determined that the seat belt needed to be replaced. The contact later received notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V344000 (Seat Belts); however, the dealer informed the contact that the seat belt would be replaced out-of-pocket because the remedy was not yet available. The contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.
NHTSA complaint #11761712 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
COMPONENT FAILURE: The driver-side front seat belt retractor & pyrotechnic pretensioner assembly spontaneously & violently deployed while the vehicle was in motion. Immediately following the explosion, the vehicle's dashboard SRS/Airbag warning light illuminated & remains locked on. The component is currently intact & remains inside the vehicle; it is fully available for physical inspection upon request. SAFETY RISK: The component fired with a gunshot-like sound inside the enclosed cabin, forcefully locking & pinning the [XXX] driver against the seat. This sudden explosion & physical restraint severely startled the young driver, nearly causing a loss of vehicle control. Had this occurred seconds later as we exited the subdivision & turned onto CR 346 heading toward Whitehouse—which is a narrow, fast-moving two-lane county road with no shoulder—a severe head-on collision with oncoming traffic or a road-departure rollover would have been unavoidable. The incident caused ongoing shoulder/chest soreness to the [XXX] driver & extreme distress to an autistic passenger in the vehicle. Furthermore, the driver's safety belt is now completely flaccid & inoperable, leaving the driver with zero crash protection. DEALER CONFIRMATION: Not yet confirmed by tech. Dealer did not provide/offer an emergency drop-off or inspection stating a 4-day delay (Wednesday) would be likely- leaving 1-car family stranded. 3rd-PARTY INSPECTION: None. Vehicle remains parked at residence awaiting safe transport. WARNINGS/SYMPTOMS: Zero symptoms, alerts, or warnings prior to failure. SRS light triggered immediately at moment of deployment due to system fault. ADDITIONAL DATA: This incident is a direct failure under NHTSA Campaign Number 26V344 (Lincoln Service Action Code 26S34) regarding the spontaneous, unprovoked deployment of front seat belt retractor pretensioners. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11760633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While a passenger was riding in the company-owned Lincoln Navigator, the front passenger seat belt suddenly tightened with significant force without a collision or other apparent triggering event. The seat belt remained extremely tight against the passenger and caused visible bruising. We later became aware that Ford has issued safety recalls involving inadvertent deployment of the seat belt retractor pretensioners on certain Lincoln Navigator vehicles. We are reporting this incident as a suspected seat belt pretensioner/retractor malfunction and are requesting that it be documented and investigated.
NHTSA complaint #11758530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On August 20, 2026, I was driving my 2020 Lincoln Navigator and came to a complete stop at a traffic light. While I was sitting stationary at the light, with no collision, impact, sudden braking, or other event, I suddenly heard a very loud noise that sounded like a gunshot. At the same time, the driver-side seat belt violently tightened and pulled me back into the seat. The seat belt tightened with enough force to leave marks across my chest and stomach. I was able to get myself out of the seat belt, but afterward the seat belt remained extremely tight and locked in place and could no longer be used normally. My vehicle had previously been identified as being affected by a Lincoln/Ford recall involving the seat belt pretensioner. Several months ago, I received notification instructing me to bring the vehicle to a Lincoln dealership to have the recall addressed. I scheduled the repair and brought the vehicle to the dealership approximately two weeks later. At that time, I was informed that the recall had been paused and that the dealership could not perform the repair because Lincoln did not have an available remedy/replacement part. I continued driving the vehicle because Lincoln had not provided a repair or instructed me that the vehicle should not be driven. The seat belt pretensioner has now unexpectedly deployed while the vehicle was completely stationary and without any accident or impact. The Lincoln dealership has informed me that they expect it may take approximately one month to obtain the replacement part needed to repair the vehicle. I have also contacted Lincoln Customer Support, and a case has been opened regarding this incident. I am reporting this because this was a serious and frightening safety failure. The seat belt pretensioner deployed without a collision or other apparent reason and tightened with enough force to cause visible marks on my body. I am concerned that this defect could cause more serious injuries if it occurs to other drivers
NHTSA complaint #11758614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front driver’s side seat belt retractor pretensioner deployed. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V197000 (Seat Belts); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not yet available. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 117,000.
NHTSA complaint #11755045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns 2020 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, occupied with his wife in the vehicle, he heard a loud explosion noise coming from inside the vehicle, and as his wife leaning forward the seat belt deployed on his front passenger side of the vehicle causing his wife to sustain whiplash and brushing to her chest. A dealer or An Independent mechanic was not contacted. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer for dignanoses. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure mileage was 124,000. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number:25V197000(SEATBELTS) However, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 55, 884.
NHTSA complaint #11751851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving my car about 30 miles an hour when my driver’s side seat belt suddenly locked down on me painfully. Also when that happened it sounded like a gunshot went off and it smelled like smoke. I did not hit anything or apply my brakes suddenly to cause the seat belt to engage.
NHTSA complaint #11748856 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Licoln Navigator. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the front driver and passengers seat belts retactators seized. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with failed front drivers and passenger seat belts retractor. The contact was informed that the front driver's and passenger's seat belt retractors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed of an open recall assoicated with the contact's VIN, NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V344000 (Seat Belts) however the parts were unavailable. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline and report the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately
NHTSA complaint #11741543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Our vehicle is part of a recall of the seatbelts and there is no remedy from the Ford motor company for this yet. Due to safety issues, I feel this needs to be addressed as soon as possible.
NHTSA complaint #11738060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On May 26, 2024, I entered into a lease agreement for a Lincoln Navigator vehicle manufactured and warranted by Lincoln Motor Company. This vehicle subsequently developed multiple serious and dangerous safety defects, including uncontrolled and spontaneous seat inflation, failure of seat pump systems, infotainment system failure including loss of backup camera and safety display systems, unexpected closure of side mirrors while driving, and continued seat movement and mechanical activation after the vehicle was powered off. These defects presented a direct and substantial risk to occupant safety. On multiple occasions, uncontrolled seat inflation physically restrained and trapped an occupant, including a minor child, by causing the seat structure to expand while the seatbelt locking mechanism engaged, restricting the occupant’s ability to exit the seat. These events occurred while the vehicle was in operation, including while traveling on a public freeway, creating an immediate and dangerous safety hazard. Lincoln Motor Company and Galpin Ford were repeatedly notified of these safety defects. On January 6, 2025, the vehicle was delivered to Galpin Lincoln, an authorized Lincoln Motor Company repair facility, for emergency repair due to these ongoing and escalating safety failures. Lincoln Motor Company retained possession of the vehicle for approximately eighty-three (83) days. During this time, Lincoln Motor Company admitted in writing that critical seat systems and associated pump mechanisms were not functioning as designed. Lincoln Motor Company further admitted that no repair remedy existed for certain infotainment and software-related system failures due to lack of available corrective software or engineering solution. Despite these admissions & despite exceeding statutory repair period thresholds, Lincoln Motor Company failed to repair myriad safety hazards on our Navigator leaving us with an inoperable vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11720221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
this recall is taking a long time to get fix and i don’t think this company is going anything to hurry up , and to be honest im not even feel safe to drive this car. the recall is been done for over 6 months allrdy
NHTSA complaint #11687096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving the car at approximately 10 miles/hr (slowly accelerating after stopping at a traffic light), when I heard a loud bang / explosion. This was accompanied by a feeling like I had been struck in the chest. However, there was no collision to the car. I then realized that my seatbelt was tightly cinched and locked around my body, and it had caused the blow to my chest. I was able to pull off the road and stop the car, and I worked my way out of the seatbelt with difficulty by unclasping it. There was a smell of gunpowder in the air, but I confirmed that no collision or accident to my car had occurred. The skin on my chest and left neck were badly bruised by the seatbelt pretensioning. It is clear that the seatbelt pretensioning system inappropriately triggered while I was driving this vehicle. There is a known recall for this car's seat belt pretensioning system, and prior to this incident the restraint system error light was turning on and off since September 2024. I paid for a "repair" of this error, though it continued to occur. When I contacted the Lincoln dealership again, they stated that the part for this recall is not yet available. After this incident occurred, I had my vehicle towed to the Lincoln dealership and contacted Lincoln Customer Service. They again stated that they could not repair the seatbelt as the part is still not available. When this incident occurred, I was driving my 2 year-old daughter to preschool. I feel lucky that the seatbelt malfunction did not cause a car crash--the inappropriate triggering was shocking, caused bodily harm, and I was barely able to keep control of the car to pull aside safely.
NHTSA complaint #11682077 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated that the passenger’s side seat belt had seized. The contact stated that the seat belt was inoperable and could not be used safely. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer and was referred to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and declined to provide a goodwill repair. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.
NHTSA complaint #11680919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My husband (age [XXX] ) and I (age [XXX] ) were traveling on, he was driving, [XXX] in Atoka, OK on the evening of [XXX], when all of a sudden we heard a loud pop. It sounded like a gun shot. The sound was followed by a smoke smell. He held his composure and was able to pull over, and we learned that it was the seatbelt that was affected, and he had cinch marks on his shirt left by the seatbelt. We then realized the driver’s side seatbelt was “floppy” and wouldn’t retract back. I then called our local Ford dealership in Durant, OK to get it in asap and was informed to bring it in Monday, June 23, 2025. We drove the car home to Durant, OK which is approximately 30 minutes away on a very dangerous stretch of highway after the call. On Monday, I carefully drove it to the dealership to be repaired. I was informed later that day that they were able to repair one recall, the back up camera, but the seatbelt couldn’t be repaired due to a back order on the part (told by Kyle the service tech). I emailed Red River Ford service manager immediately after that and was sent an email back that had his phone number. I then called him, Rick Riley, and he told me that he’s showing that the part is actually not even available to get and couldn’t give me an estimated time. I asked if it was possible to get a loaner, this is my personal car and the only car that can hold my family of 6. We were leaving for vacation June 25 and had no way to get to the airport. I called Lincoln concierge to see if they could do anything to get me a loaner, and the representative was no help. She told me she was going to contact Red River Ford but never did; I had sent a message asking Rick Riley if he had been contacted, and he said no. We ended up paying for a driver to safely get us to DFW airport which cost $360. I’ve called Lincoln 2 more times now and keep getting told the part is on back order but no advice on getting a loaner or them buying back the car. I don’t know what else to do. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
NHTSA complaint #11671066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln Navigator. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V099000 (SEAT BELTS); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle and allowing the engine to warm up, the contact attempted to buckle the seat belt and heard a loud pop and the seat belt started to retract with the contacts left arm in the seat belt harness. The contact stated that the Air Bags/SRS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the seat belt retractor was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
NHTSA complaint #11671128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2020 Lincoln Navigator. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V197000 (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 dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA complaint #11670363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MAY 19 2025 MY WIFE WENT TO A LOCAL BAKERY TO GET SOME BREAD, WHEN SHE PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARKING A LOUD BANG IN HER LEFT SIDE WAS HEARD SHE DESCRIBE IT AS A GUNSHOT NOISE, ALSO BURNING SMELL AS FIREWORKS, THE SEATBEALT RETRACTED HURTING HER CHEST AND PART OF THE NECK, SHE DID NOT KNEW WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND WAS CONFUSED AT THE SAME TIME IN PAIN SHE FELT LIKE SHE WAS CHOKING OR OUT OF AIR, SHE MANAGED TO UNBUCKLE HER SEATBELT AND CALLED ME CRYING BECAUSE OF THIS WHOLE NIGHTMARE, HER CHEST AND NECK ARE BRUISED AND IN PAIN, THANKS TO GOD MY TWO KIDS WHERE WITH ME AT THE TIME, KNOW WE ARE AFRAID OF EVEN STARTING THE SUV THINKING THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN WITH ONE OF THE OTHER 3 SEARBELTS IN EACH DOOR AFFECTING OR HURTING ONE OF OUR CHILDREN OR A PASSENGER, WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN ANY NOTIFICATION OF A RECALL FOR OUR VEHICLE FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY REGARDING THIS ISSUE, WE ONLY KNEW THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ONCE I STARTED TO LOOK INTO WHAT HAPPEN BY SEARCHING ONLINE, 24S06 RECALL ITS SAYS IT WAS ISSUE A MONTH AGO BY FORD, REALLY SCARE TO KEEP USING THIS VEHICLE, IF YOU HAVE ONE BEWARE YOU CAN GET HURT OR EVEN KILLED IF THESE HAPPENS WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING AND THANKS TO GOD THIS DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #11662003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Have had Navigator in shop (at dealership) six times for drive train/transmission/seat belt recall and it is not repaired. Last repair has not even been driven 200 miles after dealership having vehicle for 5 weeks.
NHTSA complaint #11659642 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated that the front driver's side seat belt had locked and had failed to extend as needed. The contact stated that the seat belt was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the seat belt assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V099000 (Seat Belts); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
NHTSA complaint #11655192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.