Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling 2018-2020 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles, according to documents made publicly available by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning.
The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently deploy and lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend. About 80,000 SUVs are involved in a safety defect that occurs because of rust.*
Certain seatbelt retractor pretensioners may develop corroded squib pins caused by an undefined supplier [ZF] manufacturing issue. After extended corrosion and with a partial separation at the weld between the squib pin and the bridge-wire (the heating element of a pyrotechnic or exploding device), high resistance or open circuit may occur. If not resolved this may result in a retractor pretensioner inadvertent deployment. Increased humidity inside the cab, caused by water leakage after customer air-conditioning (A/C) usage in the hot temperature areas, may potentially contribute to the development of corrosion on top of the squib pins. An airbag malfunction light illuminates on the cluster preceding an inadvertent deployment of the seatbelt retractor pretensioner.
Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt retractors, as necessary. Dealers will also install an HVAC drain tube elbow if it is missing. Repairs will be performed free of charge as required by the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
Interim owner notification letters explaining the safety risk are expected to be mailed on 4 March 2024. A second notice will be sent once remedy parts become available, which is a common problem that delays Ford recalls. Ford in the filing said it anticipated that parts will become available during the second half of 2024.
Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 24S06. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or go to www.nhtsa.gov about NHTSA 24V-099.
*Recalled are
- 3,101 2018 model year Ford Expedition vehicles are affected.
- 57,031 2019 model year Ford Expedition vehicles are affected.
- 23 2020 model year Ford Expedition vehicles are affected.
- Production Dates are from 1 October 2018 through 30 June 2019.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Ford Recalls Expeditions, Navigators for Bad Seat Belts
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is recalling 2018-2020 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles, according to documents made publicly available by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning.
The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently deploy and lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend. About 80,000 SUVs are involved in a safety defect that occurs because of rust.*
Certain seatbelt retractor pretensioners may develop corroded squib pins caused by an undefined supplier [ZF] manufacturing issue. After extended corrosion and with a partial separation at the weld between the squib pin and the bridge-wire (the heating element of a pyrotechnic or exploding device), high resistance or open circuit may occur. If not resolved this may result in a retractor pretensioner inadvertent deployment. Increased humidity inside the cab, caused by water leakage after customer air-conditioning (A/C) usage in the hot temperature areas, may potentially contribute to the development of corrosion on top of the squib pins. An airbag malfunction light illuminates on the cluster preceding an inadvertent deployment of the seatbelt retractor pretensioner.
Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt retractors, as necessary. Dealers will also install an HVAC drain tube elbow if it is missing. Repairs will be performed free of charge as required by the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
Interim owner notification letters explaining the safety risk are expected to be mailed on 4 March 2024. A second notice will be sent once remedy parts become available, which is a common problem that delays Ford recalls. Ford in the filing said it anticipated that parts will become available during the second half of 2024.
Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 24S06. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or go to www.nhtsa.gov about NHTSA 24V-099.
*Recalled are
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.