2017 Ford Explorer · symptom sheet

Seat belt or seat problems

39owner reports
46,500median miles
4involved a crash

Newest report Sep 9, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026

39 of the 1,693 complaints on this car describe seat belt.

2 recalls on this systemcovering the 2017 model year

4 crashesin 39 reports

7 people hurtin these reports

Tick what matches of 39 reports

the belt will not latch or release

the belt locks or will not extend

a seat moves or rocks

a seat heater or motor failed

there is a recall

Seat belt on other Explorer years

201431 reports 201553 reports 201672 reports 201739 reports 202056 reports

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: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025, 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.

Read the full explainer · Which cars report it most

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the buckle (12 reports).

Recalls and investigations

2 recalls on the seat belts cover the 2017 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

19V-651Sep 11, 2019

Seats

The seat frames may have sharp edges.

Risk, remedy and owner complaints on recall 19V-651

17V-332May 22, 2017

Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner

In the event of a crash, the seat back frame may not restrain the occupant due to having inadequate welds.

Risk, remedy and owner complaints on recall 17V-332

All 14 recalls on the 2017 Ford Explorer, with the owner complaints on each recalled system

NHTSA investigations into the seat belts on the Explorer

PE03-020opened May 21, 2003

Seats · model years 1998 to 2001

Front seat back recliner attachment. Closed sep 5, 2003, led to recall 03V-281.

EA02-011opened Jul 2, 2002

Seat Belts · model years 1995

Safety belt assembly failure. Closed may 21, 2003.

PE02-007opened Jan 23, 2002

Seat Belts · model years 1995

Safety belt assembly. Closed jul 2, 2002.

EA01-008opened Feb 26, 2001

Seat Belts · model years 1999 to 2000

Seat belt webbing. Closed apr 25, 2002.

PE00-044opened Nov 3, 2000

Seat Belts · model years 2000

Seat belt webbing. Closed feb 26, 2001.

PE92-084opened Oct 23, 1992

Seats · model years 1990 to 1991

Front seat track failure. Closed feb 26, 1993.

None of these investigations covers the 2017 model year.

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 27,000 and 78,000 miles, from the 19 reports that gave a mileage.

Is this a known problem?

The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 9 service bulletins or notices for the 2017 Ford Explorer 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.

Service bulletinSSM 50502Feb 17, 2022
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 ...
Service bulletinTSB 21-2236Jul 22, 2021
Some 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2020 Fusion/MKZ, 2013-2021 Escape, 2015-2018 Focus, 2015-2019 MKC, 2015-2021 Edge/F150/Mustang, 2016-2018 MKX, 2016-2019 Explorer, 2017-2021 F-Super Duty, 2018-2021 EcoSport/Expedition, 2019-2021 Ranger/Nautilus, 2021 Bronco ...
Service bulletinSSM 48431Jan 7, 2020
Some 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles may exhibit a heated front seat that does not operate properly after turning the ignition on after a remote start event. The seat back heats properly while the lower seat cushion does not.
Service bulletinTSB 19-2293Sep 27, 2019
Some 2015-2019 F-150/Explorer, 2017-2019 F-Super Duty/Continental, 2018-2019 Expedition/Navigator, 2016-2018 MKX, 2019 Nautilus, and 2013-2019 MKZ vehicles equipped with Multi-Contour seats may exhibit intermittent multi-contour seat operation and/or massage ...

5 more on the 2017 Ford Explorer page.

What owners wrote

“My back seatbelts are not working and my family feels unsafe without being able to put the seatbelts on.”
Filed Jul 23, 2026

“Rear passenger side seat belt strap is twisted and stuck in fully extended position.”
Filed Dec 4, 2025

“Passenger side/right side second row bucket seat = seat belt broke. Called numerous dealerships and were on a waiting list of over 350 that need a seatbelt. No seat belts available. Unable to fix problem. Safety issue due to no seat belt. No warning lamps or messages.”
Filed Apr 11, 2025

“The driver side heated seat does not work at all the passenger side heated seat works just the driver side does not work”
Filed Mar 30, 2024

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 4 of 39 reports involved a crash and 7 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