Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator Recalled to Fix Seat Belts Again

This is the third time Ford has issued a recall for this problem, which now includes more vehicles that haven’t been recalled before. In addition, vehicles repaired or inspected as part of earlier recalls will still need another repair.

The problem is due to a faulty pretensioner, an important safety device that uses a controlled explosive charge to tighten the belt at the beginning of a crash to prevent injury. If the pretensioner deploys when it isn’t supposed to, the belt may lock into place and won’t protect occupants during a crash. There’s also a risk that the improper pretensioner deployment itself may cause an injury. 

Exposure to high-heat environments can cause the pretensioner’s propellant to emit corrosive byproducts that can damage internal parts and trigger the pretensioner to go off. In addition to a stuck seat belt, drivers may notice that the airbag warning light is illuminated on the display behind the steering wheel.

To fix the issue, Ford and Lincoln dealerships will inspect and, if necessary, replace the pretensioners with upgraded ones, free of charge. Those parts are not yet available, so owners will receive two letters: one informing them of the problem and another in August or September when they can take their cars in for a free recall repair.

According to documents provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there have been 12 total injuries due to this problem: 11 related to the first recall and one related to the third recall.