Ford Expedition and Navigator Seat Belt Recall: 26S34

Which vehicles are in the campaign?

The current NHTSA campaign record lists both models across five model years. Ford’s manufacturer filing breaks the potential population into the two groups below. These are vehicles included for recall purposes, not counts of failed belts, injured occupants or repairs still outstanding.

The two groups total 419,967. NHTSA repeats that campaign-wide figure on its individual model-year records; those repeated entries are not additional vehicles. Ford also says the vehicles were not produced in VIN order. A model year or apparent build-date match cannot replace a check of the specific VIN.

What can happen to the belt?

Ford’s May 27 safety recall report identifies degradation of pretensioner propellant in high-heat environments. Corrosive by-products can affect internal components and eventually cause unintended deployment. The resulting belt can become locked in position. Ford also reports that rapid belt retraction during unintended deployment can itself injure an occupant.

The filing identifies an airbag-malfunction light before unintended deployment, but it does not provide a dependable warning interval for an owner. Waiting for a light or trying to reproduce a locked belt is not a way to determine recall eligibility. A belt that will not extend or retract needs instructions from Ford or Lincoln for that vehicle; forcing or modifying restraint components is not the recall remedy.

The repair is an inspection with conditional replacement

Ford’s stated program calls for a dealer to inspect both front seat belt retractors and replace those within the suspect component-production range, free of charge. The replacement pretensioners use a different propellant-and-stabilizer combination with improved chemical stability. This is not a promise that every belt in an affected SUV will be replaced, and it does not ask owners to identify internal components themselves.

What the notification dates establish

As checked October 16, 2026, NHTSA records that interim safety letters were mailed June 8. Its remedy description still refers to availability anticipated in August, rather than confirming a final mailing date. Ford’s original filing planned remedy letters for August 31–September 4. Those were schedules; their dates passing does not establish current parts availability or a repair appointment for an individual SUV.

Owners need the latest VIN-specific instructions and remedy status. NHTSA lists Ford’s campaign contact as 1-866-436-7332. An interim safety notice and a completed repair order answer different questions: the first describes the risk, while the second documents work on a particular vehicle.

An earlier recall repair still needs a fresh check

NHTSA explicitly says 26S34 replaces and expands campaigns 24V099 and 25V197, and vehicles inspected or repaired under those earlier campaigns need the new repair completed. A receipt showing either older campaign number is therefore not evidence that 26S34 has been performed.

The NHTSA VIN lookup shows unrepaired recalls, not a full history of completed work. When checking an Expedition or Navigator’s records, match the repair order’s VIN and campaign number, then confirm the current status with Ford or Lincoln. A routine service visit after the announcement does not, by itself, document completion of this seat belt campaign.