2023 Ford Edge Vehicle Tether Anchor Recall (23V198)
Ford Motor Company · 19 vehicles · Reported March 24, 2023
Ford Motor Company is recalling 19 2023 Ford Edge; 2023 Lincoln Nautilus vehicles. The child seat tether wire welds on the second-row left-side seat back frame may be insufficient, which can reduce the seat's ability to properly restrain a child during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems." A child that is not properly restrained during a crash can have an increased risk of injury. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 23V198 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 23V198000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 23C09 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | March 24, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2023 Ford Edge; 2023 Lincoln Nautilus |
| Units affected | 19 |
| Component | Child Seat > Vehicle Tether Anchor |
| Safety risk | A child that is not properly restrained during a crash can have an increased risk of injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2023 Ford Edge in recall 23V198?
The child seat tether wire welds on the second-row left-side seat back frame may be insufficient, which can reduce the seat's ability to properly restrain a child during a crash.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Edge and Lincoln Nautilus vehicles. The child seat tether wire welds on the second-row left-side seat back frame may be insufficient, which can reduce the seat's ability to properly restrain a child during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."
Is it safe to drive a 2023 Edge with recall 23V198?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A child that is not properly restrained during a crash can have an increased risk of injury.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A child that is not properly restrained during a crash can have an increased risk of injury.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Edge shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the vehicle tether anchor, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 23V198?
Recall 23V198 covers 19 vehicles: 2023 Ford Edge; 2023 Lincoln Nautilus.
NHTSA lists 19 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Ford | Edge |
| 2023 | Lincoln | Nautilus |
What is the fix for the Edge vehicle tether anchor recall?
Yes. Dealers will replace the left-side second-row seat back frame, free of charge.
Dealers will replace the left-side second-row seat back frame, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 11, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C09.
When was recall 23V198 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 23V198 to NHTSA on March 24, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as May 11, 2023.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| March 24, 2023 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 23V198000. |
| May 11, 2023 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 42 months ago. If your Edge was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Edge is part of recall 23V198?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V198 is open on your Edge, 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 23V198000. 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 Edge owners do about recall 23V198?
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 23V198000 applies to your Edge.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Ford dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Keep a simple log of any vehicle tether anchor 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 Edge owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 6 of them about the other equipment.
Since recall 23V198 was reported on March 24, 2023, owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the other equipment on these vehicles. 1 of them (17%) 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 other equipment and were received on or after March 24, 2023, 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 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related other equipment issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 29 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 6 of them involve the other equipment. 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.
- 2023 Ford Edge: 22 complaints in total, 3 about the other equipment
- 2023 Lincoln Nautilus: 7 complaints in total, 3 about the other equipment
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
I was doing 65 and had to gun it to get out of someone's way and when I did it just didn't go. There was a long pause then it kicked in just in time.
2023 Ford Edge owner, CT, NHTSA complaint 11679580, filed August 9, 2025
The "hands-free" liftgate on numerous occasions comes down on a person when that person is in the cargo area. the "hands-free" feature seems to have a mind of it own and besides being very irritating, seems dangerous. There is no way to turn off this feature.
2023 Ford Edge owner, MN, NHTSA complaint 11588241, filed May 11, 2024
When vehicle is started, intermittently, rear view camera does not come on for approximately 45-60 seconds later.
2023 Lincoln Nautilus owner, NC, NHTSA complaint 11649750, filed March 21, 2025
Can recall 23V198 make my Edge 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 vehicle tether anchor recall means their Edge 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)).
Even an equipment recall can matter in a lemon law claim if the problem keeps coming back or the 2023 Ford Edge spends many days at the dealer.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2023 Ford Edge has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Edge 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 Edge been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Ford Edge recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 23V198
Did the recall 23V198 fix work?
Since recall 23V198 was reported on March 24, 2023, owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the other equipment on these vehicles. 1 of them (17%) 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 May 11, 2023.
Is the 23V198000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Edge is part of recall 23V198000?
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 23V198000 (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, Lincoln. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.