2022 Ford Maverick Seat Belt Anchor Recall (21V979)
Ford Motor Company · 2,622 vehicles · Reported December 16, 2021
Ford Motor Company is recalling 2,622 2022 Ford Maverick; 2021-2022 Ford Mustang Mach E vehicles. The rear seat belt buckles may not be properly attached to the rear floor assembly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection," and 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages." Improperly attached seat belts may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V979 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V979000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 21C36 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | December 16, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2022 Ford Maverick; 2021-2022 Ford Mustang Mach E |
| Units affected | 2,622 |
| Component | Seat Belts > Rear / Other > Anchorage |
| Safety risk | Improperly attached seat belts may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2022 Ford Maverick in recall 21V979?
The rear seat belt buckles may not be properly attached to the rear floor assembly.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Mustang Mach-E and 2022 Maverick vehicles. The rear seat belt buckles may not be properly attached to the rear floor assembly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection," and 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."
Is it safe to drive a 2022 Maverick with recall 21V979?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Improperly attached seat belts may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Improperly attached seat belts may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
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 anchorage.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V979?
Recall 21V979 covers 2,622 vehicles: 2022 Ford Maverick; 2021-2022 Ford Mustang Mach E.
NHTSA lists 2,622 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Ford | Maverick |
| 2021-2022 | Ford | Mustang Mach E |
What is the fix for the Maverick seat belt anchor recall?
Yes. Dealers will repair the rear seat belt buckle attachments, free of charge.
Dealers will repair the rear seat belt buckle attachments, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 28, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C36.
When was recall 21V979 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 21V979 to NHTSA on December 16, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as January 28, 2022.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| December 16, 2021 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V979000. |
| January 28, 2022 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 58 months ago. If your Maverick was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Maverick is part of recall 21V979?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V979 is open on your Maverick, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 21V979000 is open on your Maverick, it will be listed there, along with Ford recall number 21C36. You can also ask any Ford dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should Maverick owners do about recall 21V979?
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 21V979000 applies to your Maverick.
- 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 anchorage 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 Maverick owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 635 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 7 of them about the seat belts.
Since recall 21V979 was reported on December 16, 2021, owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the seat belts on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the seat belts and were received on or after December 16, 2021, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related seat belts issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 635 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 7 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.
- 2021 Ford Mustang Mach E: 347 complaints in total, 2 about the seat belts
- 2022 Ford Maverick: 150 complaints in total, 5 about the seat belts
- 2022 Ford Mustang Mach E: 138 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
Found when friends were sitting in the backseat that the seatbelt retractors were not functioning correctly.
2021 Ford Mustang Mach E owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11453088, filed February 20, 2022
The rear left side seat belts do not secure, when passenger gets in seat and tries to fasten seatbelt it doesn't tighten and remains extremely loose…
2021 Ford Mustang Mach E owner, IN, NHTSA complaint 11468828, filed June 12, 2022
I am getting a “rear seat belt monitor fault” warning on my dash accompanied by an air bag warning light. It is also not allowing the auto start stop function to work as the vehicle states it cannot verify the driver seat belt is fastened.
2022 Ford Maverick owner, AZ, NHTSA complaint 11685134, filed September 4, 2025
Can recall 21V979 make my Maverick 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.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
A seat belt that does not latch or retract correctly on the 2022 Ford Maverick affects safety directly, and a failed recall repair is a repair attempt under California law.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2022 Ford Maverick has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have 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 Maverick been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Ford Maverick recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V979
Did the recall 21V979 fix work?
Since recall 21V979 was reported on December 16, 2021, owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the seat belts on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed January 28, 2022.
Is the 21V979000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Maverick is part of recall 21V979000?
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.
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 21V979000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 7, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq., Founder and Managing Attorney of America’s Lemon Lawyer (Wynn Law Group, APC). Licensed by the State Bar of California, No. 362320. His practice focuses on California lemon law under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act.
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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.