2021-2022 Ford Expedition Seat Belt Pretensioner Recall (26V344)
Ford Motor Company · 419,967 vehicles · Reported May 27, 2026
Ford Motor Company is recalling 419,967 2021-2022 Ford Expedition; 2021-2022 Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend. Seat belts that do not retract or extend can fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. Owners first received an interim notice; check NHTSA for whether the remedy is now available for your VIN.
Recall 26V344 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 26V344000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 26S34 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | May 27, 2026 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2021-2022 Ford Expedition; 2021-2022 Lincoln Navigator |
| Units affected | 419,967 |
| Component | Seat Belts > Pretensioner |
| Safety risk | Seat belts that do not retract or extend can fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. |
| Fix | Interim notice issued; remedy may now be available, check NHTSA for current status |
What is wrong with the 2021-2022 Ford Expedition in recall 26V344?
The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend.
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2022 Expedition with recall 26V344?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Seat belts that do not retract or extend can fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Seat belts that do not retract or extend can fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in 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 pretensioner.
Which vehicles are included in recall 26V344?
Recall 26V344 covers 419,967 vehicles: 2021-2022 Ford Expedition; 2021-2022 Lincoln Navigator.
NHTSA lists 419,967 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 | Expedition |
| 2021-2022 | Lincoln | Navigator |
What is the fix for the Expedition seat belt pretensioner recall?
An interim notice went out first. Check NHTSA to see if the final repair is now available for your VIN.
Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt retractors as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 8, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in August 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S34. This recall replaces and expands previous NHTSA recalls 24V099 and 25V197. Vehicles previously inspected or repaired under the prior recalls will need the new repair completed.
When was recall 26V344 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 26V344 to NHTSA on May 27, 2026.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| October 25, 2022 | Last affected vehicle built. |
| May 27, 2026 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 26V344000. |
| June 8, 2026 | Letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 4 months ago. If your Expedition was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Expedition is part of recall 26V344?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 26V344 is open on your Expedition, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 26V344000 is open on your Expedition, it will be listed there, along with Ford recall number 26S34. 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 Expedition owners do about recall 26V344?
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 26V344000 applies to your Expedition.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Ford dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- 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.
- Write down when symptoms involving the pretensioner happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- 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 Expedition owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 402 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 7 of them about the seat belts.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the seat belts have been filed since recall 26V344 was reported (4) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 402 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 Expedition: 235 complaints in total, 4 about the seat belts
- 2022 Ford Expedition: 113 complaints in total, 3 about the seat belts
- 2021 Lincoln Navigator: 33 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
- 2022 Lincoln Navigator: 21 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
The collision avoidance system repeatedly faults and becomes unusable. Also, the 2nd row bench seat belt locks without warning. This posses a great risk in a crash.
2022 Ford Expedition owner, OK, NHTSA complaint 11742078, filed June 4, 2026
I would like to know when parts will be available to fix my recall please let me know thank you [XXX] or email [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C.
2022 Ford Expedition owner, IL, NHTSA complaint 11765019, filed September 17, 2026
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, a vehicle that was making a U-turn crashed into the rear passenger side door and that after the impact, all of the air bags failed to deploy.
2022 Ford Expedition owner, AZ, NHTSA complaint 11488096, filed October 5, 2022
Can recall 26V344 make my Expedition 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 pretensioner recall means their Expedition 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)).
A seat belt that does not latch or retract correctly on the 2021-2022 Ford Expedition affects safety directly, and a failed recall repair is a repair attempt under California law.
This campaign follows an earlier recall for the same issue. A second recall can mean the first remedy failed, and repeated repair attempts on the same defect are the core of most lemon law claims.
Earlier campaigns on these vehicles involving the same component: 24V099000, 25V197000.
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.
A recall with no fix can support a buyback on its own.
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.
Recall repairs depend on parts. Owners can wait days, weeks or months, usually about one to three months in our cases, and those days count toward California's 30-day out-of-service rule.
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 Expedition been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Ford Expedition recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 26V344
Is the 26V344000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Expedition is part of recall 26V344000?
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 26V344000 (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.