2021 Ford Explorer Seat Belt Recall (25V093)
Ford Motor Company · 240,510 vehicles · Reported February 14, 2025
Ford Motor Company is recalling 240,510 2021 Ford Explorer; 2021 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The seat belt buckle anchor bolts at one or more seating positions may be improperly secured. Additionally, vehicles may have an improperly secured seat belt retractor anchor bolt and/or seat belt anchor bolt at the second-row center seating position, if equipped. A loose seat belt or seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 25V093 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 25V093000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 25S09 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | February 14, 2025 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2021 Ford Explorer; 2021 Lincoln Aviator |
| Units affected | 240,510 |
| Build dates | October 19, 2018 to July 11, 2020 |
| Component | Seat Belts |
| Safety risk | A loose seat belt or seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Ford Explorer in recall 25V093?
The seat belt buckle anchor bolts at one or more seating positions may be improperly secured.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Explorer and Aviator vehicles. The seat belt buckle anchor bolts at one or more seating positions may be improperly secured. Additionally, vehicles may have an improperly secured seat belt retractor anchor bolt and/or seat belt anchor bolt at the second-row center seating position, if equipped.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Explorer with recall 25V093?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A loose seat belt or seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A loose seat belt or seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during 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 seat belts.
Which vehicles are included in recall 25V093?
Recall 25V093 covers 240,510 vehicles: 2021 Ford Explorer; 2021 Lincoln Aviator.
NHTSA lists 240,510 vehicles in this campaign, built October 19, 2018 to July 11, 2020. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Ford | Explorer |
| 2021 | Lincoln | Aviator |
What is the fix for the Explorer seat belt recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect seat belt buckle anchor bolts in all seating positions.
Dealers will inspect seat belt buckle anchor bolts in all seating positions. Additionally, dealers will inspect the seat belt retractor anchor bolt and seat belt anchor bolt at the second-row center seating position, if equipped. If loose anchor bolts are found, the affected seat components will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 5, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S09.
When was recall 25V093 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 25V093 to NHTSA on February 14, 2025.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| October 19, 2018 | First affected vehicle built (per Ford Motor Company's filing). |
| July 11, 2020 | Last affected vehicle built. |
| February 14, 2025 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 25V093000. |
| June 5, 2025 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 19 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 631 days. If your Explorer was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Explorer is part of recall 25V093?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 25V093 is open on your Explorer, 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 25V093000. 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 Explorer owners do about recall 25V093?
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 25V093000 applies to your Explorer.
- Call a Ford dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- 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 seat belts 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 problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Explorer owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 469 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 3 of them about the seat belts.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the seat belts have been filed since recall 25V093 was reported (2) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 469 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 3 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 Explorer: 430 complaints in total, 3 about the seat belts
- 2021 Lincoln Aviator: 39 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
Recall Action Soon Issue Since 06-20-2025 Unrequested second-row seat movement For More Information Telematics Generated Issue…
2021 Ford Explorer owner, VA, NHTSA complaint 11674872, filed July 20, 2025
The contact owned a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the seat belt on the passenger’s side failed to retract as needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the seat belt components were replaced. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V093000 (Seat Belts).
2021 Ford Explorer owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11733954, filed April 27, 2026
The contact owned a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact was stopped at an intersection traffic signal when she was crashed from behind by another vehicle. The contact's seat belt pretensioner failed to lock and was not able to restrain her. The contact's face hit the steering wheel.
2021 Ford Explorer owner, MI, NHTSA complaint 11606835, filed August 6, 2024
Can recall 25V093 make my Explorer 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 2021 Ford Explorer affects safety directly, and a failed recall repair is a repair attempt under California law.
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.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
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 Explorer been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Ford Explorer recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 25V093
Is the 25V093000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Explorer is part of recall 25V093000?
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 25V093000 (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.