Ford and its Lincoln luxury brand have issued a recall for about 78,000 full-size SUVs because their seatbelts can lock in place, leaving them unable to retract or extend.
The recall affects the:
- 2018-2020 Ford Expedition
- 2018-2020 Lincoln Navigator
Ford tells federal safety officials that the retractor pretensioner – a device that tightens slack in the belt in the event of a crash – can develop internal corrosion over time “caused by an undefined supplier manufacturing issue.” That can cause the pretensioner to deploy inadvertently, locking the belt. The problem affects only pretensioners from one particular manufacturing lot.
The problem is more common in high-temperature areas, where heavy air conditioner use can cause condensation inside the car.
Ford says it is aware of no accidents but “six reports of unspecified injury” due to the problem.
Dealers will inspect the pretensioners to determine whether they’re part of the problematic batch and replace them if necessary. They’ll also inspect the air conditioning system to determine whether it has a drain tube elbow that can reduce condensation and install a new one if it’s missing or damaged.
As with all recalls, the repair is free.
Many cars are recalled, often more than once, during their lifespan. Automakers try to contact every owner but don’t always reach them all. Find out whether your car has any outstanding recalls with the easy VIN tool at our recall center.
