Ford Just Recalled Nearly 420,000 Expeditions and Navigators — And the Seat Belt Problem Goes Back YearsFord is recalling almost 420,000 vehicles over a seat belt defect that could cause injuries in a crash — and what makes this story bigger than a typical recall is that it's the third time Ford has had to go back and address the same problem.According to a report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), recall number 26S34 covers 419,967 vehicles: certain 2018-through-2022 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs. Both front seat belt retractors are the problem. They can lock up unexpectedly, meaning the belt either won't extend when you reach for it or won't retract when you take it off. In a crash, a seat belt that isn't properly positioned is worse than useless — it can concentrate impact force in ways that cause serious injury.More Stories Like This:AdvertisementAdvertisementFord Sends Cease-and-Desist to YouTuber Over Mustang GTD Bodykit — and the Car Community Is FuriousFord Recalls Over 1,000 Supercharged Mustangs for Risk of Unintended AccelerationSubaru's New Airbag Wins Safety Award After Tackling a Problem Most Automakers Haven't SolvedTesla Driver Charged After Head-On Crash Destroyed a 1968 Ford Mustang and Enraged Car EnthusiastsThis Is Ford's Third Pass at the Same ProblemThis isn't a new defect that caught Ford off guard. Recall 26S34 explicitly replaces and expands on two earlier NHTSA actions — 24V099 and 25V197 — which means Ford first became aware of this seat belt retractor issue as far back as 2024.The fact that it has taken three separate recall campaigns to address it raises questions that owners deserve to have answered. How many vehicles that went through the first two fixes are still experiencing problems? How confident is Ford that this latest repair campaign will finally close the loop?Ford says it is currently aware of two warranty claims, two field reports, and one confirmed injury connected to the issue covered by this latest recall.What the Defect Actually DoesThe mechanism here is the seat belt pretensioner retractor — a component that uses controlled force to pull the belt snug in the instant before a crash is detected. When it malfunctions, it can lock up during normal use.AdvertisementAdvertisementThat means two failure scenarios. In one, the belt won't extend at all when you reach for it — an obvious nuisance, but also a sign something is wrong. In the other, the belt retracts so quickly it can cause injury on its own. Either way, if a real crash happens and the belt isn't seated properly across the chest and lap, the protection it's designed to provide isn't there.On a vehicle the size of the Expedition or Navigator — full-size body-on-frame SUVs that regularly carry families — that's not a minor concern.What Ford Is Doing About ItDealers will inspect both front seat belt retractors and replace any that are part of the recall free of charge. No out-of-pocket costs for owners.Ford will notify affected owners by mail. If you'd rather not wait, you have two options right now:AdvertisementAdvertisementFord Customer Service: 1-866-436-7332 (Ford's recall number: 26S34)NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline: 1-888-327-4236Check online: nhtsa.gov/recalls — enter your VIN to see if your vehicle is affectedIf your Expedition or Navigator was inspected under one of the previous recalls, Ford says that service may not cover the components addressed in this latest action. It is worth confirming your vehicle's status directly rather than assuming the prior work covered everything.The Bigger PictureThe Expedition and Navigator are two of Ford's most important vehicles — large, family-hauling flagships that have sold consistently well through the entire 2018–2022 window covered by this recall. That means a significant number of these SUVs are still in daily use, driven by families on school runs, road trips, and everything in between.Seat belts are the last line of defense. Airbags, crumple zones, and every other safety system in a modern vehicle are designed to work with a properly functioning belt — not compensate for one that isn't doing its job. A defect in the retractor pretensioner isn't a convenience issue. It's a safety issue, and Ford and NHTSA are treating it as one.AdvertisementAdvertisementIf you own one of these vehicles, check your VIN. Don't wait for the letter.Join our Newsletter, follow our Instagram page, and connect with us on Facebook.