Recall 26V344 covers 419,967 2018-2022 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles for seat belts that lock. Repair will be free once available.
Ford is recalling 419,967 2018-2022 Expedition and Navigator SUVs because the driver or front passenger seat belt pretensioner can lock the belt, stopping it from retracting or extending. A belt that does not move correctly can fail to restrain an occupant in a crash, and the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The seat belt retractor pretensioner in 2018-2022 Expedition and Navigator vehicles is part of the front seat belt assembly. In a crash, the pretensioner pulls slack out of the belt so it can hold the driver or front passenger in position. The retractor is the part that lets the belt extend and rewind during normal use.
On affected vehicles, the propellant inside the retractor pretensioner degrades after exposure to high heat. That degradation creates corrosive by-products inside the unit. Over time, corrosion can damage internal electrical parts, creating high resistance or an open circuit that triggers the pretensioner when it should not deploy. When that happens, the belt can lock and stop extending or retracting.
Before an unintended deployment, the airbag malfunction light illuminates on the instrument cluster. That light is the warning sign to treat the seat belt system as unsafe and arrange dealer service.
Who's affected?
Covers both Expedition and Navigator SUVs across the 2018-2022 model years, all tied to the driver seat belt retractor pretensioner assembly.
| 2021 Ford Expedition | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2020 Ford Expedition | seat belt |
| 2019 Ford Expedition | seat belt |
| 2018 Ford Expedition | seat belt |
| 2022 Lincoln Navigator | seat belt |
| 2021 Lincoln Navigator | seat belt |
| 2020 Lincoln Navigator | seat belt |
| 2019 Lincoln Navigator | seat belt |
| 2018 Lincoln Navigator | seat belt |
| 2022 Ford Expedition | seat belt |
| Units affected | 419,967 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 4 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?
Seat belts that fail to retract or extend can leave an occupant without the intended restraint in a crash, increasing injury risk. If the airbag malfunction light comes on, stop using that seating position and call a Ford dealer for guidance. Repair will be free at any franchised Ford dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2018-2022 Ford Expedition or Lincoln Navigator is included in this recall.
- Watch for Ford's interim owner letter expected June 8, 2026; it explains the safety risk before the final repair opens.
- Contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 with questions and reference recall number 26V344 and Ford recall 26S34.
- Wait for the follow-up owner letter expected in August 2026 before scheduling the dealer inspection and repair.
- Schedule the free seat-belt-retractor inspection once Ford opens the remedy; the repair addresses seat belts that lock and fail to retract or extend.
What happens at the repair
The final dealer repair is not open yet. Once Ford makes it available, a Ford technician will inspect the driver and front passenger seat belt retractors and replace the affected retractor if the inspection finds it is needed. The dealer repair will be free once it opens. Vehicles already inspected or repaired under earlier related recalls still need this new repair completed. Ford's general reimbursement plan covers eligible documented expenses if you already paid for a related seat belt retractor repair before the recall notice. Keep receipts and service paperwork, and ask Ford customer service or the dealer how to submit them.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| May 27, 2026 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| May 29, 2026 | Dealer notification began |
| May 29, 2026 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| June 5, 2026 | Dealer notification ended |
| June 8, 2026 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 26V344?
Recall 26V344 covers 419,967 2018-2022 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles with seat belt pretensioners that can inadvertently lock the driver or front passenger seat belt. A locked belt will not retract or extend, which can prevent proper restraint in a crash.
What should I do if my 2018-2022 Ford Expedition or Lincoln Navigator is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 26V344. If it is, contact a franchised Ford dealer and reference recall 26V344 or Ford recall 26S34. Ford expects to mail interim safety letters on June 8, 2026, with repair letters after the remedy opens.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Ford dealers will inspect the affected seat belt retractors and replace them as needed for free once the remedy is available.
Is it safe to drive with this seat belt recall?
The recall does not include a do-not-drive order. The risk is that a locked driver or front passenger seat belt will not retract or extend, which can keep the belt from restraining an occupant as intended in a crash. Confirm your VIN and follow Ford dealer guidance.
What if my Expedition or Navigator was already inspected under an earlier recall?
You still need the new recall checked. Ford says recall 26V344 replaces and expands earlier recalls 24V099 and 25V197. Vehicles previously inspected or repaired under those recalls need the new repair completed if the VIN is included.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/26V344000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-866-436-7332 |
| NHTSA recall # | 26V344 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 26V344000 |
Source documents
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 4, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →