The U.S. auto safety regulator announced on Monday that it has opened a recall investigation into approximately 112,567 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs due to a potential issue with seat belt retractors. The problem could cause the retractors to lock unexpectedly, increasing the risk of injury during a crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated it had received three complaints, all describing accidental deployments of the seat belt retractor pre-tensioner. This mechanism uses an explosive charge to tighten the seat belt in a crash, helping to secure occupants and reduce injuries.
The recall covers vehicles from the 2018-2020 model years. Ford said it will involve inspecting and replacing the front driver or passenger seat belt retractors in all affected vehicles. In addition, the production code on each retractor will be inspected and replaced as needed.
Ford said the issue stems from the seat belt retractors being impacted by excess humidity, which can cause corrosion and partial separation of an internal weld. This may lead to high resistance or an open circuit, which could prevent the retraction or extension of the seat belt. Ford says excess humidity in the vehicle’s cabin caused by water leakage from its air conditioning system is likely to cause the problem.
In one incident reported to NHTSA, a contact owning a 2022 Ford Expedition stated that she heard a loud booming sound while driving at an undisclosed speed, and the seat belt retractor pretensioner was deployed. The contact stated that her shoulder was sore from the seat belt retractor’s deployment, but she received no medical treatment. The contact also stated that the front passenger seat belt retraction could not extend or retract.
Kenneth Saczalski and Alan Cantor submitted two other complaints to NHTSA, both of whom are with Environmental Research and Safety Technologists (ERST). Saczalski and Cantor petitioned to modify Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards No. 207 to increase the strength requirement for seats in the front row, saying that seats meeting the current standard can yield excessively during rear impact crashes. The petitioners argue that seat backs that yield excessively can cause occupants to be ejected from the occupied front seat, leading to severe head trauma and other injuries, including spinal cord injuries and brain damage.
The agency is seeking public comments on the petitions. NHTSA has denied a fourth petition from the Center for Auto Safety that sought to require additional warnings instructing adults regarding which rear seat positions they should use to restrain children. The agency has also withdrawn an earlier petition from the Consumers Union that sought to establish a dynamic seat-back test procedure for FMVSS No. 208 and FMVSS No. 207 to consolidate those requirements. The agency’s review of the petitions will be complete by June 30. The public can submit comments on the NHTSA website through that date.
