Honestly, the last thing anyone wants to deal with after a long day of carpooling or commuting is another recall notice in the mail. But here we are. Ford has officially issued a massive safety recall affecting roughly 105,322 of its popular full-size SUVs. If you’re driving a Ford Expedition or a Lincoln Navigator from the late 2010s, you’re going to want to pay attention to this one.
The core problem? A faulty seatbelt pretensioner. It sounds like a minor technicality, but it's basically the mechanism that yanks you back into your seat the moment the car senses a crash. When it works, it’s a lifesaver. When it glitches, like it is in these 105,000 vehicles, it can become a serious hazard.
What's Really Happening with the Ford Seatbelt Recall?
Basically, Ford discovered that the front seatbelt retractor pretensioners in certain SUVs can deploy "inadvertently." In plain English: your seatbelt might suddenly tighten and lock up for no reason at all while you’re just driving down the road.
This isn't just a nuisance. When a pretensioner fires, it uses a small pyrotechnic charge. It’s loud, it’s startling, and it causes the belt to lock in place permanently. If it happens while you’re cruising at 65 mph, it can be terrifying. You’re suddenly pinned to your seat, and the belt will no longer extend or retract.
Which Vehicles are Affected?
The recall specifically targets two of Ford's heaviest hitters from the 2018 to 2020 model years:
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- Ford Expedition
- Lincoln Navigator
If you own one of these, don't assume you're in the clear just because your belt feels fine today. Ford identified that the root cause is often internal corrosion or a bad weld inside the pretensioner. This is frequently exacerbated by high humidity or even moisture from the air conditioning system leaking into areas it shouldn't be.
The "Repeat" Recall Confusion
Here is where things get a bit messy. If this sounds familiar, it's because Ford actually issued a similar recall (24S06) back in early 2024 for about 77,000 vehicles.
They’ve now realized the problem was bigger than they thought. This latest 2025 expansion (Reference Number 25S31) includes vehicles that weren't part of the first round. Even more frustrating? Some owners who had their cars "inspected" during the first recall might still be at risk.
I’ve heard stories from owners who took their SUV in, were told "everything looks good," and then months later experienced the "loud bang" of the pretensioner firing while they were driving. Because the issue is linked to corrosion that develops over time, a clean inspection a year ago doesn't mean the part is safe today.
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Why This Matters (Beyond the Lock-Up)
The obvious danger is the distraction of a "mini-explosion" happening next to your ear while driving. But there’s a secondary safety risk that's arguably worse.
Once that pretensioner fires and locks the belt, it can’t be reset. If you keep driving with a locked belt—or worse, if you unbuckle it and can't get it back on because it won't extend—you are essentially driving without a functional safety system. In the event of an actual crash, that belt isn't going to give you the dynamic protection you need.
Ford has explicitly stated that while the primary locking functions (the ones that stop the belt if you jerk it) might still work, a belt that won't retract or extend is a failed safety device.
How to Tell if Your SUV is at Risk
You don't have to wait for a letter, though Ford started mailing them out in April 2025. You can be proactive.
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- Check for the Airbag Light: Surprisingly, your car might be trying to tell you something. Many owners reported their airbag warning light stayed on for weeks before the seatbelt actually failed. If that light is on, don't ignore it.
- The Date Code Check: Dealers are specifically looking at "date codes" on the retractor components. Not every 2018-2020 SUV has the bad parts—only those manufactured within specific windows at the Kentucky Truck Plant.
- Run Your VIN: This is the only way to be 100% sure. Go to the NHTSA Recall Website or the Ford owner support page and plug in your 17-digit VIN.
The Fix: What to Expect at the Dealer
The good news is that the repair is completely free.
When you take your Expedition or Navigator in, the technician will inspect the date codes on both the driver and passenger front seatbelt retractors. If they match the "bad batch" list, they’ll replace the entire assembly.
In some cases, Ford is also checking for a missing HVAC drain tube elbow. It turns out that when this little elbow is missing, A/C condensation can drip onto the pretensioner, causing the very corrosion that triggers the failure. Fixing the leak is just as important as replacing the belt.
Actionable Steps for Owners
If you're driving one of these SUVs, here is your immediate checklist:
- Don't wait for the letter. Call your local Ford or Lincoln dealer with your VIN ready. Ask specifically about Recall 25S31.
- Check your FordPass App. If you have the app synced to your vehicle, the recall notice should already be sitting in your notifications.
- Test your belts. Do they retract smoothly? Is there any grinding noise? While this won't catch internal corrosion, it's good to know your current baseline.
- Prioritize the repair. If your dealer says parts are on backorder, ask for a loaner or a rental. Since this is a safety-critical component (restraint system), you have a strong case for alternative transportation if the vehicle is deemed unsafe to drive.
If you previously paid out of pocket to have a seatbelt retractor replaced because of this issue, keep your receipts. Ford has a reimbursement program for owners who fixed this before the official recall was announced. It’s a bit of paperwork, but it’s your money.
Safety recalls are a pain, but with 105,000 of these heavy SUVs on the road, the risk of a seatbelt failure during a high-speed merge or a school run isn't worth taking. Get it checked.