2021-2022 Ford Transit Seat Belt Retractor Recall (21V592)
Ford Motor Company · 42,493 vehicles · Reported July 30, 2021
Ford Motor Company is recalling 42,493 2021-2022 Ford Transit; 2021 Ford Transit Connect vehicles. The front passenger seat belt automatic locking retractor (ALR) may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V592 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V592000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 21C18 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | July 30, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2021-2022 Ford Transit; 2021 Ford Transit Connect |
| Units affected | 42,493 |
| Component | Seat Belts > Front > Retractor |
| Safety risk | An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021-2022 Ford Transit in recall 21V592?
The front passenger seat belt automatic locking retractor (ALR) may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Transit and 2021 Transit Connect vehicles. The front passenger seat belt automatic locking retractor (ALR) may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2022 Transit with recall 21V592?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the retractor.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V592?
Recall 21V592 covers 42,493 vehicles: 2021-2022 Ford Transit; 2021 Ford Transit Connect.
NHTSA lists 42,493 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | Ford | Transit |
| 2021 | Ford | Transit Connect |
What is the fix for the Transit seat belt retractor recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect the front passenger seat belt assembly, and replace the assembly as necessary, free of charge.
Dealers will inspect the front passenger seat belt assembly, and replace the assembly as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on September 14, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 30, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C18.
When was recall 21V592 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 21V592 to NHTSA on July 30, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| July 30, 2021 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V592000. |
| September 14, 2021 | Interim owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
| December 30, 2021 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 62 months ago. If your Transit was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Transit is part of recall 21V592?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V592 is open on your Transit, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 21V592000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should Transit owners do about recall 21V592?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V592000 applies to your Transit.
- Call a Ford dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Keep a simple log of any retractor symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Transit owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 69 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 2 of them about the seat belts.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the seat belts have been filed since recall 21V592 was reported (2) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 69 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 2 of them involve the seat belts. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2022 Ford Transit: 38 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
- 2021 Ford Transit: 23 complaints in total, 2 about the seat belts
- 2021 Ford Transit Connect: 8 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
The passenger side seat belt locks up at unusual times. Passenger can’t reach anything because they are locked in their seat. The seatbelt has locked up numerous times however the mechanic can’t repeat the problem in the shop. Yes is has been reported and investigated by TASCA Ford, 1300 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, RI.
2021 Ford Transit owner, CT, NHTSA complaint 11741881, filed June 3, 2026
U-Haul rented me this vehicle and didn't notify me if the outstanding recall also tires. This was a replacement for a worse truck and now they are saying I stole both trucks.
2021 Ford Transit owner, PA, NHTSA complaint 11460442, filed April 11, 2022
Can recall 21V592 make my Transit a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Owners often ask whether this retractor recall means their Transit qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Seat belt defects are safety defects. If the belt, buckle or pretensioner still does not work right after the recall repair, the repeat visit belongs in your records.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Transit went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Transit been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Ford Transit recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V592
Is the 21V592000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Transit is part of recall 21V592000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 21V592000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Ford. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.