The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, her daughter became entrapped by the rear passenger-side seat belt. The seat belt continuously clicked tighter, forcing the contact to cut the belt strap to free her daughter. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 26V344000 (Seat Belts), which the contact associated with the failure. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that because there was no recall regarding a rear passenger-side seat belt failure, assistance could not be provided. The failure mileage was approximately 98,650.
2018 Ford Expedition: seat belt won't latch or retract
6 of the 384 complaints about the 2018 Ford Expedition describe seat belt won't latch or retract.
- owner complaints
- 6
- of this car's complaints
- 2%
- recalls
- 3
Seat belt won't latch or retract by model year
What owners say
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V197000 (Seat Belts); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while refueling the vehicle, the contact heard an abnormal firecracker-like sound coming from the vehicle. The contact later noticed that the front driver's side seat belt had retracted and was locked. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that the seat belt pretensioner had deployed, causing the seat belt to be locked. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the same assessment was made; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to continue driving the vehicle even though the front driver's side seat belt was inoperable. The failure mileage was approximately 121,992.
My vehicle is having the exact same issue addressed in Recall 24S06. Although Ford’s system indicates that my VIN is not included in the recall due to its manufacturing date, my vehicle is exhibiting the same safety defect that the recall resolves. My vehicle was manufactured 2 months prior to the date of manufacture that was included in the recall. My Vehicle is the same year, make and model of the vehicles included. Specifically: The Airbag light is on and received a message that says: The restrains control module has detected a fault with the passenger seatbelt retractor pretensioner circuit , causing drivability and safety concerns.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at 20 MPH, the front driver's side seat belt exploded, making a loud popping sound, and the seat belt tightened and pulled the driver back into the seat. Additionally, the automatic emergency braking system engaged, causing the vehicle to stop. No warning light was illuminated. The contact's husband stated that the cabin was filled with smoke and an electrical burning odor was noticed. The driver pulled over, but the seat belt had significantly retracted and was able to be unbuckled after several attempts. The contact’s husband sustained a seat belt mark on the left shoulder, but no medical attention was received. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was informed of that the VIN was included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V197000 (Seat Belts); however, the contact stated that the recall notification had not been received and the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The failure mileage was approximately 26,600.
Cam phaser and timing chain assembly is beginning to fail. Ford has a CSB out on this problem but is unwilling to repair or replace components. Transmission has had to be replaced be cause of failure at 100000 miles. I’ve had to replace the water pump twice on my Expedition. Driver side seat belt no longer retracts.
Driver side seat belt air bag popped while driving down the road and now the seat belt will not retract. shows that this is a known issue in my year model but this is not a recall for my specific vin.
Related recalls
Seat belts: pretensioner
- What is wrong
- 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.
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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 the federal safety agency recalls 24V099 and 25V197. Vehicles previously inspected or repaired under the prior recalls will need the new repair completed.
Recall number 26V344000 · Recall details
Seat belts: pretensioner
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 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.
- 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.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the seat belt retractors as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S31. Some vehicles in this recall that were previously inspected under recall 24V‑099 and did not have parts replaced will need to have this new recall remedy completed.
Recall number 25V197000 · Recall details
Seat belts: pretensioner
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. 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.
- Risk
- Seat belts that do not retract or extend may fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the seat belt retractors, as necessary. Additionally, dealers will install an HVAC drain tube elbow if it is missing. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 8, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S06.
Recall number 24V099000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2018 Ford Expedition seat belt
Is seat belt won't latch or retract a common problem on the 2018 Ford Expedition?
6 of 384 owner complaints about the 2018 Ford Expedition (2%) mention seat belt won't latch or retract. The model year with the most reports is 2019.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2018 Ford Expedition?
There are 3 recalls and 0 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2018 Ford Expedition
Check engine light 32Jerking 29Transmission failure 27Loss of power 26Harsh shifting 20Slipping 19Stalling 17Knocking 12Headlights 12Won't shift 12Grinding brakes 11Overheating 11Hesitation 9Door locks 8Backup camera 7Engine failure 7Shudder 7Start-stop 5
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