Ford is recalling 419,967 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs built between 2017 and 2022 for a seat belt pretensioner that can deploy on its own in hot weather, locking the belt and preventing it from extending or retracting. NHTSA campaign 26V344, announced June 3, is the third recall attempt for the same failure. Ford has confirmed one injury.
What's Actually Failing
The front seat belt retractors contain a small pyrotechnic charge, the pretensioner, that fires during a crash and pulls the belt tight against your chest. The propellant inside that assembly can break down when exposed to repeated heat cycles. As it degrades, it releases corrosive byproducts that attack the squib pin and bridgewire, the internal circuit that should only trigger during an impact.
Once corroded, that circuit can fire on its own. The pretensioner deploys without a crash. The belt locks. A locked belt won't extend or retract, which means it won't protect you if a real crash happens afterward. Per Ford's reporting to NHTSA, the degradation happens faster in hot environments, making this a disproportionate risk in southern climates. Texas has over 1,900 used Expedition listings on the market right now. Florida is second.
Three Campaigns for the Same Problem
Ford first tried to address this in 2024 under recall 24V099 (service campaign 24S06). A second attempt followed in 2025 under 25V197 (campaign 25S31). Recall 26V344 supersedes both. Ford found more affected VINs that weren't covered before and determined the propellant formulation used in prior repairs may still degrade over time.
That second part matters. If you're buying used and the seller shows you a service record proving the car went in for a prior recall completion, that isn't a green light here. Vehicles repaired under 24S06 or 25S31 may still need this new fix.
Affected Vehicles
| Vehicle | Model Years | Production Window | Units Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Expedition | 2018-2022 | May 15, 2017 – Oct 25, 2022 | 342,283 |
| Lincoln Navigator | 2018-2022 | May 15, 2017 – Oct 26, 2022 | 77,684 |
| Total | 419,967 |
Model year and production year don't line up perfectly: MY2018 production started in mid-2017. VIN lookup is the only reliable check, not model year alone.
Remedy Timeline
Owner notification letters start going out June 8 and complete by June 12. The repair is free at any Ford or Lincoln dealership. Dealers will inspect the pretensioner assembly and replace it if necessary. But the replacement parts aren't in the supply chain yet. Ford says a second letter will go out in August or September 2026 when parts are available and owners can schedule service.
That leaves a gap of roughly three months. Between now and fall, nearly 420,000 vehicles have an open safety recall that physically cannot be closed.
What This Means If You're Shopping Now
Most private sellers and smaller dealerships haven't received their notification letters yet. Those start arriving June 8. For the next few days, and likely for weeks after, sellers don't know whether their specific vehicle was covered under a prior campaign and still needs the new fix. That information asymmetry won't last.
If you're looking at a 2018-2022 Expedition or Navigator, check the VIN on NHTSA.gov before negotiating. Ask whether the seller has service records showing prior recall work under campaigns 24S06 or 25S31. If they do, that vehicle may still need the new pretensioner. Then factor in the wait: you're buying a vehicle whose open recall can't be resolved until fall, and that timeline is worth something on the asking price.
The recall is free, the repair is routine, and Ford isn't telling owners to stop driving these vehicles. One injury has been reported in connection with inadvertent pretensioner deployment. This is a "verify and negotiate" situation, not a "walk away" one. Know what you're buying.
Used 2020 Ford Expeditions currently list from $7,600 to $54,940 across 593 active listings per CarScout data. See current prices and days-on-market for 2018-2022 Expeditions and Navigators in your area at usecarscout.com/market/ford/expedition.
FAQ
How do I check if my specific Expedition or Navigator is part of recall 26V344? Run your VIN at NHTSA.gov or at owner.ford.com. The NHTSA campaign number is 26V344. All 2018-2022 Expeditions and Navigators built between May 2017 and October 2022 are potentially covered, but the VIN lookup is the only definitive way to confirm your specific vehicle is included.
My Expedition was already repaired under a prior recall. Does it need service again? Possibly, yes. Recall 26V344 supersedes both 24V099 and 25V197. Ford determined the propellant in the prior replacement assemblies may still break down over time. Vehicles that completed repairs under either earlier campaign should still run a VIN check and plan for the new service when parts ship in fall 2026.
Should this recall be a dealbreaker when buying a used 2018-2022 Expedition or Navigator? For most buyers, no. The fix is free, the repair is well-defined, and the timeline is known: parts arrive August/September 2026. The risk is buying one without knowing the recall is open. Check the VIN before any offer, use the outstanding recall as a negotiating point on price, and plan one dealership visit when parts become available.