Seat Belt Problems of Ford Expedition - part 2

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.

See all problems of the 2019 Ford Expedition 🔎.

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.

While driving down the road on August 16, 2026, our front seat belt exploded and the tightened down on my daughter. There was a poof of smoke, smell of an explosive, and my daughter complained of pressure on her abdomen and shoulder. It was frightening! equally as frightening has been the experience dealing with Ford. We have been without our family vehicle for 73 days! multiple calls to Ford with no follow through. At first a local dealership gave us a loaner, but in time they have now added ridiculous mileage limit restrictions and the inability for us to leave the state. (we are near neighboring states where family lives. ) last communication was parts would be shipped end of September. It’s now the end of October and no update has been communicated. Considering this recall has been ongoing since February 2024 I’m having little hope this will be taken care of soon. In the meantime those of us with actual explosions and inoperable seatbelts are being given the same treatment & accommodations of those that are driving with working (ticking time bomb) seatbelts. When I first took it in the dealership claimed they had never heard of one actually exploding. I now know they have a second one sitting inoperable as well. Ford owners need help putting the pressure on Ford! our calls, our inconvenience, our safety is not being handled.

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.

See all problems of the 2020 Ford Expedition 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2018 Ford Expedition 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2024 Ford Expedition 🔎.

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.

I heard a load pop noise and then smelled almost a burnt type smell. The next day my driver side seatbelt is completely locked. I’ve tried all my Ford dealership close to me and I’ve called multiple customer service no one is willing to help me.

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact received a notification for NHTSA campaign number: 26v344000 (seat belts); however, the part to complete the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the seat belt warning light illuminated, and an abnormal loud sound emanated from the vehicle. The contact then noticed that the front passenger-side seat belt pretensioner had exploded without impact, releasing smoke inside the vehicle. Several dealers were contacted, but the dealers informed the contact that the parts were unavailable. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that parts would not be available until September. The failure mileage was unavailable.

The airbag warning light illuminated on my 2019 Ford Expedition. My Ford dealer diagnosed the vehicle and confirmed that the condition is related to an active Ford safety recall. The dealer also confirmed that the defect disables the entire supplemental restraint system (srs), meaning the airbags will not deploy in the event of a collision. I was informed that the recall replacement part will not be available until approximately December 2026 and that Ford will not authorize an interim repair or replacement using available parts. As a result, I am expected to continue driving a vehicle with a disabled airbag system for several months despite the known safety defect. The dealer advised that if I choose to have the vehicle diagnosed or repaired before the recall remedy becomes available, I must pay the costs myself and may only be eligible for reimbursement if Ford later authorizes it. This defect significantly increases the risk of serious injury or death because the airbags will not deploy in a crash. I am filing this complaint because a manufacturer should not leave owners without a functioning airbag system for months while waiting for recall parts.

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while unbuckling the passenger’s side seat belt, the assembly deployed forcefully and struck the contact in the stomach. Following the retraction, white smoke was coming from the top of the seat belt assembly by the b-pillar. The contact experienced abdominal pain for several days but did not seek medical attention. An independent body shop inspected the vehicle and provided a repair estimate. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA campaign number: 24v099000 (seat belts); however, the part for the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer and the manufacturer confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer informed the contact that the vehicle must be repaired by an authorized Ford dealer to qualify for a reimbursement. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

As I was driving down the road, my passenger seatbelt popped and exploded, filling my car with smoke. My son yelled fire although I didn’t see a flame. My passenger seatbelt is no longer functioning. Leaving me with one less seat in my car. Ford refuses to fix or give a loaner.

On xxx, while driving my 2019 Ford Expedition (VIN: [xxx]) on the highway, the front passenger seatbelt retractor pretensioner spontaneously deployed with a loud explosion and smoke. There was no accident, no impact, and no erratic driving. The seatbelt is now completely locked and unusable, and the entire srs/airbag system is disabled with a hard fault light on the dash. My vehicle is covered under the newly expanded safety recall 26s34 / NHTSA campaign 26v344. I immediately visited an authorized Ford dealership (covert Ford) seeking an interim repair or a safe loaner vehicle. The dealer refused to help, stated that the parts are unavailable, and handed me an internal printout stating that the fsa program is paused (recall 24s06 supplement #1). Ford and the dealership are forcing me to drive an unsafe vehicle with a compromised restraint system and disabled airbags, putting my family at extreme risk because they do not have a remedy or interim solution available. I am requesting immediate federal intervention to hold Ford accountable and compel them to provide a safe rental/loaner vehicle until the final recall remedy parts are available. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Expedition. The contact received notifications of NHTSA campaign numbers: 26v344000 (seat belts) and 26v368000 (structure); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was not made aware of the issue. 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.

See all problems of the 2021 Ford Expedition 🔎.

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.

Took my car in for the seat belt recall and an oil change and the dealership said the recall has been paused. They are still looking into it for me but, this recall should not be paused. It is a real issue. Real people are having. My seat belt never retracts all the way back into place. I have to manually tighten it when I put it on and it randomly locks up while I’m driving even if brakes were not hit or it wasn’t yanked on. I worry in the event of an accident it wouldn’t do the job that’s needed to protect me.

The vehicle has experienced repeated critical transmission failures and currently has four active federal safety recalls with no available remedy. The transmission has failed four separate times, requiring four transmission assemblies within approximately 68,795 miles. The latest failure produced dtc p07f7 (gear 10 incorrect ratio) and was confirmed by the Ford dealer and an independent inspector as an internal transmission failure. Symptoms included harsh engagement, delayed shifting, hesitation, slipping, and repeated powertrain malfunction messages. The vehicle was out of service for 26 consecutive days during the most recent repair. A NHTSA VIN lookup shows four active unrepaired recalls: a transmission rollaway hazard affecting the parking system (26s48), two seatbelt pretensioner recalls involving inadvertent deployment or failure to retract (25s31 and 26s34), and a chrome trim recall involving sharp edges (26s38). All four recalls currently have no remedy available, with estimated repair dates extending into late 2026 and 2027. These defects affect critical safety systems including the power train, seat belts, and parking system. The rollaway hazard recall indicates the vehicle may move unexpectedly even when shifted into park, creating a serious risk of injury or collision. The seatbelt pretensioner recalls involve components that may deploy without warning or fail to retract, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. The chrome trim recall involves sharp edges that may injure occupants. Combined with repeated transmission failures, these issues create multiple simultaneous safety risks. The problems have been confirmed by the Ford dealer and an independent inspector. Warning symptoms occurred before each failure, including harsh shifting, slipping, hesitation, and powertrain alerts. The combination of unresolved federal safety recalls and repeated transmission failures makes the vehicle unsafe to operate.

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.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact received notifications of NHTSA campaign numbers: 26v344000 (seat belts), 26v368000 (structure), and 26v402000 (power train); however, the parts for the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the parts to be available. The contact stated that after pulling into the driveway and shifting into park(p), the parking brake engaged independently, causing the vehicle to jerk into park. The failure was intermittent. The following morning, the gear shifter shifted hard into reverse(r) while attempting to reverse out of the driveway. While driving at lower speeds under 50 mph and coasting forward, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted. The contact attempted to continue driving but the vehicle slightly jolted forward. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that there were metal shavings inside the transmission. The failure mileage was approximately 101,000.

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while slowing down and pulling into the driveway at 25 mph, the passenger’s side air bag suddenly deployed without warning or impact. The seat belt struck the contact’s wife on the right arm and wrist, and she sustained bruises; however, medical attention was not provided. The local dealer was contacted and informed about NHTSA campaign number: 26v344000 (seat belts) and 24v099000 (seat belts). A loaner vehicle was initially provided, but the dealer informed the contact that the loaner was his responsibility. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to parts being on back order. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

I am filing a safety complaint regarding a 2019 Ford Expedition seatbelt-related safety recall (25v197). The defect involves seatbelts that are unsafe & require replacement. Ford has acknowledged the defect but despite my numerous requests for assistance, has not provided any repair timeline, leaving the vehicle in an unsafe condition for an indefinite period. Seatbelts are a critical safety component. The defect prevents my seatbelts from functioning properly, creating risk of injury or death in the event of a crash. On 5/26 at 5:30 pm our passenger side seatbelt suddenly deployed while driving. At first my significant other 88 year old female thought she'd been shot due to the loud bang & odor of gun powder when her seatbelt snapped violently, impacting her upper chest near the throat. Furthermore, the recall applies to the front driver’s side seatbelt as well. As the vehicle cannot be safely operated, I've been forced to park it until repairs are available. Manufacturer response: Ford has stated that no parts or remedy timeframe is available. They are offering rental reimbursement, but the reimbursement rate is far below the actual cost of a rental vehicle, making it financially impossible to maintain safe transportation while waiting for Ford to provide a remedy. Impact: I'm without a safe vehicle due to a known safety defect, & Ford’s inadequate remedy/reimbursement leaves me without reasonable transportation. So I've been forced to secure a comparable rental vehicle. After searching for the lowest possible rates, beginning 7/24 I'm renting at a cost of $49. 60/day for 30 days at a time. Requested action: I request that NHTSA investigate Ford’s failure to provide a timely remedy for this safety recall & evaluate whether Ford’s rental reimbursement program complies with federal safety recall obligations. I also request that NHTSA require Ford to provide immediate remedy, transportation assistance, or full reimbursement for until repairs are completed.