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Ford Motor Co. is recalling 240,510 vehicles in the U.S. due to a potential issue with seat belt buckles that may fail to properly restrain occupants in a crash, according to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The recall applies to the 2020-21 Ford Explorer and 2020-21 Lincoln Aviator models. A Ford spokesperson stated on Feb. 21 that t he defect is expected to affect approximately 1 percent of these vehicles, Automotive News said.
The NHTSA confirmed that no injuries or accidents have been reported in connection with the issue.
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Owners of affected vehicles can visit Ford or Lincoln dealerships for a seat belt inspection, and if the defect is detected, a replacement will be provided.
Dealerships were informed of the recall on Feb. 17, while vehicle owners will receive notifications between March 31 and April 4, according to Automotive News.
The problem was initially identified in November 2024 after Transport Canada received a complaint.
Ford is still investigating the root cause of the issue but suspects that the seat belt anchor bolts may have been improperly installed during assembly. This could result in seat belts detaching during a crash, increasing the risk of injury, Automotive News said.
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