Recall 23V420 covers 691,133 2018-2023 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, and Super Duty vehicles with missing head-restraint instructions. Ford mails the manual addendum free.
Ford is recalling 691,133 2018-2023 Expedition, Navigator, and F-250 Sd vehicles because the owner's manual leaves out instructions for adjusting or removing certain head restraints. Without those instructions, a head restraint can be set incorrectly and raise injury risk in a crash; Ford dealers will provide the missing information free of charge.
Does this recall apply to your specific vehicle?
The official, free per-VIN recall check is run by NHTSA. Enter your VIN and we'll forward you directly — and add you to a free watchlist so you hear about new recalls for your vehicle.
Check my VIN at NHTSARecallNotify doesn't check your VIN — NHTSA's official tool does. We use your email only to alert you to new recalls.
Watch this vehicle for recalls
Add it to your free watchlist and we will alert you as new federal recalls are posted for your year, make and model. New-recall alerts are rolling out now.
You are on the watchlist.
We will email you as new federal recalls are posted for your vehicle.
What's wrong?
The affected 2018-2023 Expedition, Navigator, F-350 Sd, F-250 Sd, F-450 Sd, and F-550 Sd vehicles use head restraints to support an occupant's head and neck position in a seat. The owner's manual is supposed to explain the head restraint, how to adjust it, and how to remove it when removal is allowed. That information helps owners and service staff handle the seat correctly.
The problem is not a cracked or missing head restraint. Ford published owner's manuals without required instructions for specific center seating positions: the third-row center seat in Expedition and Navigator vehicles, and the second-row center seat in SuperCab F-Super Duty trucks. Ford traced the issue to human error in the owner's manual review process.
There is no warning sign before failure. The vehicle will not give a light, sound, or driving symptom because the defect is missing written guidance, not a part that changes while driving.
Who's affected?
Includes Expedition and Navigator SUVs plus F-Series trucks, all tied to owner manual or supplemental guide material.
| 2023 Ford Expedition | vehicle equipment |
|---|---|
| 2023 Lincoln Navigator | vehicle equipment |
| 2020 Ford F-350 Sd | vehicle equipment |
| 2019 Ford F-250 Sd | vehicle equipment |
| 2021 Ford F-350 Sd | vehicle equipment |
| 2022 Ford F-450 Sd | vehicle equipment |
| 2023 Ford F-350 Sd | vehicle equipment |
| 2020 Ford F-250 Sd | vehicle equipment |
| 2023 Ford F-250 Sd | vehicle equipment |
| 2022 Ford F-250 Sd | vehicle equipment |
| 2019 Ford F-350 Sd | vehicle equipment |
| 2023 Ford F-450 Sd | vehicle equipment |
| 2021 Ford F-450 Sd | vehicle equipment |
| 2019 Ford F-450 Sd | vehicle equipment |
| 2023 Ford F-550 Sd | vehicle equipment |
| 2021 Ford F-550 Sd | vehicle equipment |
| 2018 Ford Expedition | vehicle equipment |
| 2018 Lincoln Navigator | vehicle equipment |
| 2019 Lincoln Navigator | vehicle equipment |
| 2019 Ford Expedition | vehicle equipment |
| 2020 Ford Expedition | vehicle equipment |
| 2020 Lincoln Navigator | vehicle equipment |
| 2021 Ford Expedition | vehicle equipment |
| 2021 Lincoln Navigator | vehicle equipment |
| 2022 Ford Expedition | vehicle equipment |
| 2022 Lincoln Navigator | vehicle equipment |
| 2022 Ford F-350 Sd | vehicle equipment |
| 2020 Ford F-450 Sd | vehicle equipment |
| 2022 Ford F-550 Sd | vehicle equipment |
| 2020 Ford F-550 Sd | vehicle equipment |
| 2019 Ford F-550 Sd | vehicle equipment |
| 2021 Ford F-250 Sd | vehicle equipment |
| Units affected | 691,133 |
| 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 vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
Missing instructions can leave head restraints in the center seating positions adjusted incorrectly, which increases injury risk in a crash. Use the addendum to set each restraint correctly before carrying passengers in those seats. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2018-2023 Expedition, Navigator, F-350 Sd, F-250 Sd, F-450 Sd, or F-550 Sd is included in this Ford recall.
- Contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 to request the free Owner's Manual addendum if you did not receive it.
- Reference recall number 23V420 when you call Ford or speak with a franchised Ford dealer.
- Use the addendum instructions to adjust or remove the center seating head restraints so they are not set incorrectly before a crash.
- Keep the recall notice and addendum with your Owner's Manual for future passengers, drivers, or service visits.
What happens at the repair
The recall remedy is available now. Ford mails Owner's Manual addendums that explain how to adjust and remove the head restraints for the affected center seating positions. There is no parts replacement for this recall, and the addendum is provided free of charge. If you already paid for a related manual correction before the recall notice, Ford's reimbursement plan covers eligible documented costs through August 7, 2023. Contact Ford customer service with your paperwork.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| June 9, 2023 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| July 13, 2023 | Dealer notification began |
| July 13, 2023 | Dealer notification ended |
| July 21, 2023 | Owner notification mailed |
| July 24, 2023 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| July 24, 2023 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 23V420?
Recall 23V420 covers 691,133 2018-2023 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, and Ford F-Series SuperCab vehicles with missing owner manual instructions for certain head restraints. Without those instructions, the head restraints can be adjusted incorrectly, increasing injury risk in a crash.
What should I do if my 2018-2023 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, Ford F-350 Sd, Ford F-250 Sd, Ford F-450 Sd, or Ford F-550 Sd is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 23V420. If it is, review the owner manual addendum Ford mailed and contact a franchised Ford dealer or Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 if you need the addendum.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to provide the recall remedy at no cost. For recall 23V420, Ford is providing owner manual addendums that explain how to adjust and remove the affected center-seat head restraints free of charge.
What is the safety risk in recall 23V420?
The safety risk is incorrect head restraint adjustment. Recall 23V420 says missing owner manual instructions can lead to improperly adjusted head restraints, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. The remedy is the free Ford addendum with the correct adjustment and removal instructions.
When did Ford notify owners about recall 23V420?
Ford mailed owner notification letters on July 21, 2023. The recall remedy is available, and Ford's recall number is 23C20. If you bought the vehicle used or never received a letter, check your VIN and contact a franchised Ford dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/23V420000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-866-436-7332 |
| NHTSA recall # | 23V420 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 23V420000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (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 →