Ford is recalling 419,272 Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators spanning model years 2018 through 2022 due to seatbelt pretensioners that can become stuck or fail to deploy properly. The issue stems from degrading propellant inside the pyrotechnic devices responsible for tightening seatbelts during crashes.
Seatbelt pretensioners are critical safety components. When a collision occurs, they fire to lock occupants firmly in place before airbags deploy, reducing injury risk. If the propellant degrades, the mechanism may not function as intended, leaving passengers inadequately restrained during an accident.
This recall affects two of Ford's most popular three-row SUVs. The Expedition serves Ford's full-size luxury SUV segment, while the mechanically similar Lincoln Navigator represents the brand's premium variant. Both vehicles have dominated their respective categories since their modern redesigns.
The propellant degradation issue appears connected to environmental exposure or manufacturing defects in the pretensioner cartridges themselves. Ford has not yet disclosed the root cause or timeline for when degradation becomes problematic. The automaker has not reported any injuries or deaths related to the defect.
Ford dealers will replace the defective seatbelt pretensioners at no cost to owners. Given the scale of the recall and the need for hardware replacement, dealers will likely experience extended service backlogs once the repair campaign begins.
This marks another seatbelt-related safety issue in the industry. Several automakers have issued similar recalls over the past five years as pretensioner designs age and exposure conditions take their toll. The 2018-2022 model years represent a critical period where vehicles are now old enough for material degradation to become apparent.
Owners of affected Expeditions and Navigators should watch for recall notices from Ford. The company typically