2020 Ford Expedition · symptom sheet
Seat belt or seat problems
- 40owner reports
- 70,000median miles
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Sep 29, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
40 of the 416 complaints on this car describe seat belt.
Tick what matches of 40 reports
Seat belt on other Expedition years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2026.
What this problem usually is
This group covers the belt and the seat it's bolted to: buckles that won't latch or won't let go, belts that lock up and won't pull out, and seats that shift or rock in their tracks. It's a wide bucket, with over 9,000 complaints across the vehicles on this site, and a quarter of them mention a recall.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the retractor (7 reports) and the buckle (5 reports).
Recalls and investigations
7 recalls on the seat belts cover the 2020 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
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.
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.
The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently deploy and lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend.
The seat belt tension sensor may incorrectly classify a child occupant as an adult.
The attachment bracket for the driver's side second-row seat headrest may not have been sufficiently welded to the seat frame. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 202, "Head Restraints."
The front passenger seatbelt buckle's Belt Tension Sensor (BTS) may malfunction and may result in the seat occupant being misclassified.
Also included are certain 2020 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with rear outboard seats and manual seat back recliner mechanisms.
All 18 recalls on the 2020 Ford Expedition, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the seat belts on the Expedition
Seat belt retractor pretensioner inadvertent deployment. Closed jul 23, 2025, led to recall 25V-197.
Seat belt pretensioner inadvertent deployment. Closed jul 29, 2024, led to recall 24V-099.
Front seat belt buckle assembly. Closed jul 6, 2005.
Front seat belt buckle assembly. Closed feb 17, 2005.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 62,935 and 88,476 miles, from the 18 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 5 service bulletins or notices for the 2020 Ford Expedition that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Some 2018-2024 Navigator and Expedition vehicles may exhibit a concern where the second row seat back does not fold down or recline when the recline handle is pulled upward or the second row single seat easy entry seat fold switch is pressed.
Some 2018-2023 Navigator and Expedition vehicles may exhibit a concern where the second row seat back does not fold down or recline when the recline handle is pulled upward or the second row single seat easy entry seat fold switch is pressed.
Some 2018-2023 Expedition/Navigator vehicles may have a concern where the second row seat is locked in the forward tilted position while using Easy Entry preventing rearward movement.
Some 2017-2018 Focus/MKX/C-MAX, 2017-2019 MKC/Taurus/Flex/MKT, 2017-2020 Fusion/MKZ/Continental, 2017-2022 Mustang/Edge/Explorer/Police Interceptor Utility/Escape/F-150/F-Super Duty, 2018-2022 Expedition/Navigator, 2019-2022 Ranger/Nautilus, 2020-2022 ...
1 more on the 2020 Ford Expedition page.
What owners wrote
“While I the vehicle was on, the seat belt malfunctioned. The issue appears to be the same one described in the recall. During the incident, the belt tightened / locked unexpectedly and caused significant pressure to my chest. Since then Iâve been experiencing chest pain. The air bag light in the car is now on.”
Filed Mar 13, 2026
“Seatbelts have been recalled but no fix has been approved, Ford says 3rd quarter of 2025, but we are now nearly in the 4th quarter”
Filed Sep 26, 2025
“Safety recall issued but no parts and no date set. Go on record as stating the safety recall was issued, dealer contacted but no repair available and no estimated date.”
Filed Apr 23, 2025
“Every time I put seatbelt on in passenger side it locks up and it stays in that position until I take it off. I can pull on it and it will not move at all I will unusually have to take it off and put on again just for the same thing to happen.this happens with front seats belts not sure if back ones do the same I just know I can not put on back seat belt itâs seems they are made for kids only.”
Filed Nov 18, 2024
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 40 reports involved a crash and 10 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 148 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 62 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 40 reports
- Transmission drops into neutral or downshifts on its own 35 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 26 reports