Recall 25V197 covers 112,951 2018-2020 Navigator and Expedition SUVs for locked seat belts. Repair is free at any franchised Lincoln dealer.
Lincoln recall 25V197 covers 112,951 2018-2020 Navigator and Expedition vehicles because a driver or front passenger seat belt pretensioner can lock the belt so it will not retract or extend. A stuck belt can fail to restrain an occupant in a crash, and the dealer repair will be free once available.
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 2018-2020 Navigator and Expedition use front seat belt retractor pretensioners for the driver and front passenger seats. A retractor manages seat belt movement, and the pretensioner is the part that tightens the belt during a crash so the occupant stays better positioned.
On affected vehicles, oxidation can form on the pretensioner squib pins, the small electrical connection that starts the tightening action. That corrosion raises electrical resistance or opens the circuit, which sets a diagnostic trouble code and turns on the airbag light. If the connection between the pin and bridge wire degrades further, the pretensioner can activate when there has been no crash. After that happens, the belt can lock and stop retracting or extending.
The warning sign is an airbag malfunction light on the instrument cluster before the pretensioner activates. If that light comes on, treat it as a seat belt system warning, not just a dashboard nuisance.
Who's affected?
Covers Navigator and Expedition SUVs across 2018-2020, all tied to the same seat-belt pretensioner.
| 2018 Lincoln Navigator | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2019 Lincoln Navigator | seat belt |
| 2020 Lincoln Navigator | seat belt |
| 2018 Ford Expedition | seat belt |
| 2019 Ford Expedition | seat belt |
| 2020 Ford Expedition | seat belt |
| Units affected | 112,951 |
| 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 seat belt retractor that will not extend or retract can leave an occupant without the restraint intended in a crash, increasing injury risk. If the airbag malfunction light appears, schedule service soon and ask the dealer about the retractor remedy. Repair will be free at any franchised Lincoln dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2018-2020 Lincoln Navigator or Expedition is included in this recall.
- Watch for the owner letter Ford mailed on October 22, 2025, or keep it with your vehicle records if it already arrived.
- Contact a franchised Lincoln dealer with recall number 25V197 before making a repair appointment.
- Ask about the seat-belt-retractor replacement that fixes the locked driver or front passenger seat belt.
- Drive only with working front seat belts until the repair is complete. Do not use a seat where the belt will not retract or extend.
What happens at the repair
The dealer repair will be free once available. At the dealer, a Lincoln technician replaces the driver or front passenger seat belt retractors as needed so the belt can extend and retract normally. Some vehicles that were already inspected under recall 24V-099 and did not receive replacement parts still need this remedy completed. If you already paid for a related seat belt retractor repair before the recall notice, keep your repair invoices and ask the service desk how to submit them under the manufacturer's standard reimbursement plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| March 31, 2025 | Dealer notification began |
|---|---|
| March 31, 2025 | Dealer notification ended |
| May 23, 2025 | NHTSA published the recall |
| October 22, 2025 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 25V197?
Recall 25V197 covers 112,951 2018-2020 Lincoln Navigator and Expedition vehicles with seat belt pretensioners that can lock the driver or front passenger belt. When that happens, the belt does not retract or extend as intended. Dealers will replace the seat belt retractors as needed for free.
What should I do if my 2018-2020 Lincoln Navigator or Expedition is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 25V197. If it is, contact a franchised Lincoln dealer to schedule the seat belt retractor replacement. Reference recall number 25V197 and Ford recall number 25S31 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and the remedy says dealers will replace the affected seat belt retractors as necessary free of charge. Parts and labor are covered at the dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is that a locked seat belt does not retract or extend, so it does not restrain an occupant as intended in a crash. That increases injury risk. If your VIN is included, arrange the free dealer repair and ask the service desk what to do if the belt is already stuck.
What if my vehicle was inspected under recall 24V-099?
Your vehicle still needs a VIN check for recall 25V197. Ford says some vehicles previously inspected under recall 24V-099, with no parts replaced at that time, need this new recall remedy completed. Ask the dealer to confirm both recall numbers when you schedule service.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/25V197000 |
|---|---|
| Lincoln customer service | 1-866-436-7332 |
| NHTSA recall # | 25V197 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 25V197000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Report (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 19, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →