Seat Belt Problems of Ford Expedition - part 1

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving 50 mph, the driver's seat belt pretensioner deployed inadvertently with an explosion and smoke filled the cabin of the vehicle, and the seat belt latched very tightly. The contact freed himself from the seat belt; however, the seat belt no longer retracted and became inoperable. The contact stated that an air bag module warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that there was a gun powder odor inside the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance in replacing the seat belt and pretensioner. The dealer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 26v344000 (seat belts); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available.

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Beginning xxx, the vehicle's restraints control module repeatedly warned of a fault with the passenger seatbelt retractor pretensioner circuit, via in-vehicle warning light and Ford app alert. This warning recurred on xxx, and again on xxx, each instructing the owner to contact an authorized dealer as soon as possible. On xxx, the vehicle was brought to clement Ford in [xxx] for diagnosis. Service technician [xxx] confirmed via text message that the diagnostic codes were secondary codes tied to the open recall for the seatbelt pretensioners, and stated that "the pretensioners have been placed on hold for that recall. " the technician advised the owner to wait until the recall remedy was released, have the recall repair completed, and verify the concern was resolved at that time. On xxx, the owner again contacted [xxx], this time in connection with a required state safety inspection for license plate renewal. The vehicle passed the safety inspection. In the same exchange, the owner again asked about the open recall, and [xxx] confirmed in writing: "the seatbelt recall is on hold and can not be done at this moment. . . Nothing can be performed at this time. We are just waiting on Ford to get things going. " no interim repair, part replacement, or other remedy was offered or performed on either occasion. On xxx, at approximately 1:40 pm, at 79,000 miles, while driving with the engine on and under normal conditions — no collision or impact event — the front passenger seatbelt retractor pretensioner deployed inadvertently. The deployment produced a loud explosion-like sound and a strong odor resembling gunfire/gunpowder. The belt immediately locked tight across the occupant's chest and would not retract or extend, causing an abrasion injury to their arm. This is the exact failure mode described in NHTSA recall 26v344: driver and/or front passenger seatbelt retractor information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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On xxx, I experienced a serious safety incident involving my 2019 Ford Expedition, VIN [xxx]. My family and I were parked at a lowe’s with the vehicle running but completely stationary. I was in the driver’s seat wearing my seat belt. Without any collision or impact, there was a sudden loud pop and the driver’s seat belt forcefully tightened around my chest. It was violent enough that I initially thought another vehicle had struck us from behind. Immediately afterward, smoke/haze appeared inside the cabin and moved toward the windows, accompanied by a strong chemical/burnt odor. My family and I immediately exited the vehicle and remained outside for approximately 30–40 minutes before entering again. Lowe’s may have surveillance footage confirming that the vehicle was stationary, no collision occurred, and we exited immediately afterward. The driver’s seat belt has not functioned normally since the incident. The vehicle had also displayed an airbag/srs warning light prior to this event. I have photographs documenting the condition of the seat belt immediately afterward. I contacted Ford customer relations. The first representative requested my social security number, which I declined to provide, and then requested an account number I did not have. The interaction became hostile, and he told me I was “terrible. ” when I asked to speak with a supervisor because of his behavior, the call was disconnected. I called again and spoke with a more courteous representative. She initially stated that she could not find a recall associated with my VIN. I asked her to review NHTSA information regarding the Expedition seat-belt pretensioner issue, after which she located the recall information I was referring to. When I requested escalation, she said a supervisor would contact me Monday but also stated that the supervisor would give me the same answer. Ford has not provided a repair, rental/loaner, towing assistance, or another transportation solution information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5.

I was driving my 2019 Ford Expedition normally. The driver’s seat belt suddenly and rapidly tightened around me. I heard a loud popping sound immediately after the rapid tightening. The seat belt then appeared to malfunction. The force and sudden movement of the seat belt caused burns to my neck and collar/chest. There was no collision, crash, or other impact preceding the event.

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.

My vehicles warning lamp came on 9/10/2026 and I'm honestly nervous to drive with that recall because it affects my driver seatbelt and airbags. At first, it was just a known recall but when it personally affected my vehicle being that my warning lamp came on, I called a Ford dealership near me and they all stated that I had to wait because the inspection can't be completed yet until they get the parts from Ford which won't be for a couple weeks to a month. I am wondering if I can get a loaner vehicle until this is fixed because this is a very serious issue if I were to get in a car accident and not be protected. That is a huge lawsuit waiting to happen. I just don't feel safe driving it with that issue because those are my main sources of protection when a car accident occurs.

While driving my 2019 Ford Expedition the passenger airbag deployed unexpectedly. This resulted in the seat belt not retracting or extending. There were no warnings, messages or problems prior to this occurring. Yes, safety was put at risk by the airbag deploying unexpectedly and the seat belt quickly retracting , it was very startling. This also caused damage to my passenger seat.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while reversing at an undisclosed speed, the seat belt retractor exploded, and the seat belts became inoperative. The air bag warning light was 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 for the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,361.

While I, the driver, was parking the vehicle, there was a loud pop noise next to my ear. My seatbelt locked up in place and there was smoke coming from the seatbelt tensioner area of the car. The seatbelt will not move at all now. I just took it into the Ford dealer and they said they are unable to fix it under the recall because it is only in the advanced stages. They recommend that I wait.

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 25 mph, there was an abnormally loud popping sound coming from the vehicle, accompanied by a rotten-egg odor. The contact stated that the driver’s seat belt tightened and locked across the chest, rendering the seat belt inoperable; however, the contact was eventually able to unbuckle the belt. The contact had a headache due to the noise and left shoulder pain associated with the seat belt failure but had not sought medical attention. The contact stated that prior to the failure, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact had received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 26v344000 (seat belts). The dealer was notified of the failure, and an appointment was scheduled; however, the vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was provided a case number. The dealer and the manufacturer denied a request for a loaner vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 152,000.

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an explosion sounding like a gunshot coming from the top of the vehicle. The contact stated that the driver’s side seat belt retractor tightened, and the contact felt severe pressure on the chest, almost knocking the wind out of the contact. The vehicle was swerving due to the failure, but the contact was able to keep the vehicle under control before pulling over. There was a burned electronics odor coming from the seat belt location. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 26v344000 (seat belts). The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while stopping at a red light, there was a big explosion coming from the seat belt pretensioner that shook the vehicle. Additionally, the seat belt seized, and the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact sustained whiplash and was treated with anti-inflammatory medication, shots, and muscle relaxers by the doctor. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 26v344000 (seat belts). The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 136,000.

While driving on a public road, the recalled driver's side seatbelt pretensioner (recall 26s34) spontaneously exploded without a crash. The seatbelt violently locked on my body, causing friction burns and bruising to my skin while the explosion caused hearing loss in my left ear. The vehicle is now un-driveable as the seatbelt no longer works and has been towed to a Ford dealership. The dealership has obtained possession of the vehicle stating it is not safe or legal to drive. We have contacted both the dealership and corporate Ford for assistance with alternate transportation and have not been provided with any thus far. We have called 10 different times and visited the dealership in person twice & still no help. Since the incident, I experience high anxiety and stress whenever I am inside a motor vehicle. To add to this, the loss of my vehicle has caused severe logistical distress, disrupting my daily routine, which compounds my daily anxiety. It has been 10 days without any answers, only to be told if we don’t hear anything by mid August to call back and then we can escalate. This is unacceptable.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact received notifications of NHTSA campaign numbers: 24v099000 (seat belts), 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 not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

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The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 26v368000 (structure), 26v402000 (power train), 26v344000 (seat belts) and 25v197000 (seat belts); 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 while shifting the transmission into park(p) or drive(d), the vehicle lunged forward. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

The contact owns a 2019 Ford explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 24v099000 (seat belts). While driving approximately 45 mph and approaching an intersection, the air bag warning light illuminated. There was an abnormally loud sound like a gunshot coming from the vehicle, and smoke was inside the vehicle. The front passenger’s seat belt unexpectedly deployed and retracted on the side of the vehicle. The seat belt failed to move and became inoperable. Prior to the failure, the owner's daughter was seated in the front passenger’s seat. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.

The seatbelt failed, it retracted rapidly and locked into position. It left marks on my chest and a burn on my chest. The injury was from the tightened seatbelt. I was unable to easily get out of the seatbelt. The seatbelt will not work properly since it’s locked into place.

The contact rented a 2024 Ford Expedition from enterprise rent-a-car. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and occupied, the contact was informed by his grandson that the seat belt was not operating properly. The contact inspected the seat belt and became aware that the third-row seat belt rear passenger’s side seat belt buckle assembly was damaged. Neither a dealer nor an independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure, and no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 80,240.

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The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that the driver’s and front passenger’s side seat belts failed to operate properly. The driver’s and front passenger’s side air bags warning lights were illuminated. The contact received notification of nthsa campaign number: 26v344000 (seat belts); and associated the failure with the recall. However, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not 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 failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, the driver’s seat belt pretensioner exploded and locked the driver in extremely tightly. The contact was startled and lost control of the vehicle, and the vehicle almost drove into a ditch. The vehicle was stopped, and after approximately 10 minutes, the driver’s seat belt retracted. The contact stated that the shoulder belt webbing did not retract, but the contact was able to latch the seat belt and continued driving. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and it was determined that the seat belt and pretensioner needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 133,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact received notifications of NHTSA campaign numbers: 25v197000 (seat belts), 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 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 had not experienced a failure.