Recall 23V198 affects 19 2023 Ford Edge and Lincoln Nautilus vehicles for weak child-seat tether welds. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
Ford is recalling 19 2023 Edge and Lincoln Nautilus vehicles under recall 23V198 because child seat tether wire welds on the second-row left-side seat back frame are insufficient. In a crash, that defect can reduce the seat's ability to restrain a child and increase injury risk; Ford dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The child seat tether anchor in the 2023 Ford Edge and Nautilus is the metal attachment point used with the top strap on a child safety seat. That strap helps hold the seat back and limit forward movement during a crash. On these vehicles, the concern is in the rear 60% seat back assembly on the left side.
The tether wire is welded to the seat back frame, so the weld has to hold when crash forces pull on the child seat. Ford traced the defect to welds that were not heated enough because welding station electrode tips were not replaced on the required maintenance schedule. A weak weld can let the tether anchor lose strength, reducing the seat's ability to restrain a child in a crash.
There is no warning sign before failure. The seat back and tether anchor can look normal during daily use, so the VIN decides whether this repair applies.
Who's affected?
Covers the Edge and Nautilus SUV nameplates with the same left rear seat-back tether anchor hardware.
| 2023 Ford Edge | Vehicle tether anchor |
|---|---|
| 2023 Lincoln Nautilus | Vehicle tether anchor |
| Units affected | 19 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific SUV is included.
What's the safety risk?
A child seated in the affected second-row position who is not properly restrained during a crash has an increased risk of injury. Use the correct child restraint and schedule the seat back frame replacement soon. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2023 Ford Edge or Lincoln Nautilus is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Ford dealer to schedule the free left-side second-row seat-back-frame replacement that restores the child-seat tether anchor support.
- Bring the recall notice if Ford sent one. If not, reference recall number 23V198 when you call.
- Avoid using the left-side second-row child-seat tether anchor until the repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Ford technician replaces the left side second row seat back frame, the part that holds the child seat tether wire welds for that seating position. The recall repair is free, with parts and labor covered. Ford's standard reimbursement plan covered eligible owner paid remedies before owner notification. The reimbursement eligibility period ended May 26, 2023, so bring any prior repair paperwork and ask the service desk or Ford customer service how the plan applies to your claim.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| March 24, 2023 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| March 27, 2023 | Dealer notification began |
| March 27, 2023 | Dealer notification ended |
| May 8, 2023 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| May 8, 2023 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| May 11, 2023 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 23V198?
Recall 23V198 covers 19 2023 Ford Edge and Lincoln Nautilus vehicles with insufficient welds on the child seat tether wire for the second-row left-side seat back frame. Ford dealers will replace the affected seat back frame for free.
What should I do if my 2023 Ford Edge or Lincoln Nautilus is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 23V198. If it is, contact a franchised Ford dealer to schedule the left-side second-row seat back frame replacement. Reference Ford recall number 23C09 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair the defect at no cost, and Ford will replace the left-side second-row seat back frame free of charge at a franchised Ford dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is reduced child-seat restraint performance in a crash. If the second-row left-side tether wire welds are insufficient, the seat back frame can fail to properly support a child restraint, increasing the risk of injury to a child during a crash.
When were owners notified about recall 23V198?
Ford mailed owner notification letters on May 11, 2023. If you bought the vehicle used or never received a letter, check your VIN and reference recall 23V198 or Ford recall number 23C09 when you contact the dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/23V198000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-866-436-7332 |
| NHTSA recall # | 23V198 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 23V198000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (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 →