Recall 21V979 affects 2,622 2021-2022 Ford Mustang Mach E and Maverick vehicles for rear seat belt buckle attachments. Repair is free at franchised Ford dealers.
Ford is recalling 2,622 2021-2022 Mustang Mach E and Maverick vehicles because the rear seat belt buckles are not properly attached to the rear floor assembly. In a crash, those belts can fail to restrain rear-seat occupants as designed; a Ford dealer will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The rear floor assembly in the 2021-2022 Ford Mustang Mach E and Maverick is the body structure under the rear seats. The rear seat belt buckles are bolted to that structure, so the floor assembly and its threaded plates hold the buckle in place when a passenger is belted.
On affected vehicles, the threaded bolt holes in a supplier tapping plate were formed larger than Ford's specification. That leaves the buckle attachment bolt with less secure thread engagement and lower anchorage strength. If the vehicle is in a crash, a weakened rear buckle anchorage can keep the seat belt from restraining a rear-seat occupant as designed.
There is no warning sign before failure. The buckle can look normal and still have an attachment point that was not tightened into a correctly sized threaded hole. A Ford dealer checks the rear seat belt buckle attachment and repairs the threads with the specified Helicoil procedure.
Who's affected?
Covers Mustang Mach E and Maverick vehicles across the 2021-2022 model years, with the rear floor assembly tied to the rear seat belt anchorage.
| 2021 Ford Mustang Mach E | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2022 Ford Mustang Mach E | seat belt |
| 2022 Ford Maverick | seat belt |
| Units affected | 2,622 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
An improperly attached rear seat belt buckle leaves an occupant without the restraint Ford intended in a crash, increasing injury risk. There is no warning sign to tell you the buckle attachment is wrong, so schedule the repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2021-2022 Ford Mustang Mach E or Maverick is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Ford dealer to schedule the free rear seat belt buckle attachment repair that re-secures the buckles to the rear floor assembly.
- Bring the owner letter if you have it. If not, reference recall number 21V979 and Ford recall 21C36 when you call.
- Avoid using the rear seats until the repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Ford technician repairs the rear seat belt buckle attachments so the buckles are properly secured to the rear floor assembly. Parts and labor are covered under the recall, and the repair is available now through a Ford dealer. Out-of-pocket repairs already paid are handled through Ford's original warranty program, not through a separate reimbursement program, because Ford states that warranty coverage would provide a free repair for this concern. Ask the service desk how warranty coverage applies if you have prior repair paperwork.
| Reimbursement | Warranty coverage applies |
|---|
Timeline
| December 16, 2021 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 17, 2021 | Dealer notification began |
| January 17, 2022 | Dealer notification ended |
| January 17, 2022 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| January 17, 2022 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| January 28, 2022 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 21V979?
Recall 21V979 covers 2,622 2021-2022 Ford Mustang Mach E and 2022 Ford Maverick vehicles with rear seat belt buckles that were not properly attached to the rear floor assembly. Ford dealers will repair the rear seat belt buckle attachments for free.
What should I do if my 2021-2022 Ford Mustang Mach E or 2022 Ford Maverick is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 21V979. If it is, contact a franchised Ford dealer to schedule the rear seat belt buckle attachment repair. Reference recall 21V979 or Ford recall number 21C36 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Ford dealers will repair the rear seat belt buckle attachments free of charge, regardless of where you bought the vehicle.
What is the safety risk?
The rear seat belt buckle attachment can fail to restrain an occupant properly in a crash. That increases the risk of injury for someone riding in the rear seat. The repair path is to have a Ford dealer fix the rear seat belt buckle attachments for free.
When did Ford notify owners about recall 21V979?
Ford mailed owner notification letters on January 28, 2022. If you bought the vehicle used or never received a letter, the VIN check still decides whether your specific Mustang Mach E or Maverick is included.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/21V979000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-866-436-7332 |
| NHTSA recall # | 21V979 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 21V979000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 20, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →