2019 Ford Expedition: airbag warning light

Filed Nov 3, 2026 · Seat belts · 88,539 miles · TX · 1 injury

The contact's wife owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that after refueling and restarting the vehicle, his wife was driving away from the gas pump at 5 MPH when the vehicle experienced a sensation resembling a rear-end collision. The front driver side seat belt retracted and failed to unbuckle immediately as intended, unlatching only after multiple attempts. The driver sustained a shoulder laceration and body soreness, requiring a telehealth medical consultation. Following the failure, the seat belt became inoperable. One day prior to the failure, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact associated the failure with the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 26V344000 (Seat Belts); however, the part to complete the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted and associated the failure with the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,539.

Filed Sep 24, 2026 · Seat belts · MS · 1 injury

On September 24, 2026 around 4:10PM, the driver's front seatbelt retractor/pretensioner on my 2019 Ford Expedition unexpectedly malfunctioned and deployed while I was driving on the interstate approximately 70 mph. There was no collision or crash. The seatbelt made an extremely loud popping sound and immediately tightened and locked so tightly around me that it made a rash/burn on my neck. The vehicle has an open seatbelt pretensioner recall, and the airbag warning light had illuminated prior to this incident. I called the local Ford dealer when the light came on, they told me it was not related to the seatbelt recall. I contacted a Ford dealer after the incident and reported what happened, but the vehicle and component have not yet been inspected or confirmed by the dealer, manufacturer, police (told me they would not dispatch and I needed to take it to the dealership), insurance company, or an independent service center. I also contacted Ford Corporate Customer Service and they told me I did not need to operate the car, but there is not a fix until September 30. The local dealer told me that I could bring the car to them and pay out of pocket to get it fixed, if it was the same fix the recall suggests then I would be reimbursed, my worry is, what if they fix it but then the recall suggests a different way to fix it? The vehicle and component remain available for inspection upon request. I am concerned that the unexpected deployment of the driver's pretensioner created a serious safety hazard and that another affected seatbelt in the vehicle could malfunction and cause injury to another occupant.

Filed Sep 19, 2026 · Airbags, Body · TX · 1 injury

On XXX, I experienced a serious safety incident involving my 2019 Ford Expedition, VIN [XXX]. My family and I were parked at a Lowe’s with the vehicle running but completely stationary. I was in the driver’s seat wearing my seat belt. Without any collision or impact, there was a sudden loud pop and the driver’s seat belt forcefully tightened around my chest. It was violent enough that I initially thought another vehicle had struck us from behind. Immediately afterward, smoke/haze appeared inside the cabin and moved toward the windows, accompanied by a strong chemical/burnt odor. My family and I immediately exited the vehicle and remained outside for approximately 30–40 minutes before entering again. Lowe’s may have surveillance footage confirming that the vehicle was stationary, no collision occurred, and we exited immediately afterward. The driver’s seat belt has not functioned normally since the incident. The vehicle had also displayed an airbag/SRS warning light prior to this event. I have photographs documenting the condition of the seat belt immediately afterward. I contacted Ford Customer Relations. The first representative requested my Social Security number, which I declined to provide, and then requested an account number I did not have. The interaction became hostile, and he told me I was “terrible.” When I asked to speak with a supervisor because of his behavior, the call was disconnected. I called again and spoke with a more courteous representative. She initially stated that she could not find a recall associated with my VIN. I asked her to review the federal safety agency information regarding the Expedition seat-belt pretensioner issue, after which she located the recall information I was referring to. When I requested escalation, she said a supervisor would contact me Monday but also stated that the supervisor would give me the same answer. Ford has not provided a repair, rental/loaner, towing assistance, or another transportation solution INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5

Filed Aug 28, 2026 · Airbags, Seat belts · OK

The passenger-side seat-belt retractor pretensioner, which is part of the supplemental restraint/airbag system, malfunctioned. The pretensioner apparently deployed without a collision, and the passenger seat belt became permanently locked and unable to retract or extend. The vehicle and failed component remain available for inspection upon request. My safety and the safety of my passengers were put at risk because the pretensioner activated unexpectedly with a loud explosion-like bang, a burning or chemical smell, and movement of the passenger-side interior panel. The passenger seat belt is now unusable, leaving that seating position without a functional restraint. The unexpected deployment could also have startled the driver and caused a crash, and I am concerned that other restraint components may deploy unexpectedly or fail during an actual collision. The problem was confirmed by an authorized Ford dealership. Before the failure, the airbag warning light illuminated. I took the vehicle to the Ford dealership, where personnel looked it over and scheduled an appointment for August 28, 2026. At that appointment, the dealership performed diagnostic testing and documented code B007F for an open passenger-seat-belt pretensioner circuit. The dealership also confirmed that an open Ford Field Service Action appears in OASIS for this concern but stated that the campaign is currently on hold until Ford releases the repair. The vehicle has been inspected by the Ford dealership but, to my knowledge, has not been inspected by Ford corporate representatives, police, insurance representatives, or another independent service center. The airbag warning light was the warning symptom that appeared before the unintended deployment. After the failure, the passenger seat belt was locked, the airbag light remained illuminated, and the dealership’s diagnostic test confirmed the pretensioner-circuit fault.

Filed Jul 31, 2026 · Seat belts · 152,000 miles · TX · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 25 MPH, there was an abnormally loud popping sound coming from the vehicle, accompanied by a rotten-egg odor. The contact stated that the driver’s seat belt tightened and locked across the chest, rendering the seat belt inoperable; however, the contact was eventually able to unbuckle the belt. The contact had a headache due to the noise and left shoulder pain associated with the seat belt failure but had not sought medical attention. The contact stated that prior to the failure, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact had received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 26V344000 (Seat Belts). The dealer was notified of the failure, and an appointment was scheduled; however, the vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was provided a case number. The dealer and the manufacturer denied a request for a loaner vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 152,000.

Filed Jul 29, 2026 · Seat belts · 136,000 miles · SC · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while stopping at a red light, there was a big explosion coming from the seat belt pretensioner that shook the vehicle. Additionally, the seat belt seized, and the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact sustained whiplash and was treated with anti-inflammatory medication, shots, and muscle relaxers by the doctor. The contact associated the failure with the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 26V344000 (Seat Belts). The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 136,000.

Filed Jul 20, 2026 · Airbags, Seat belts · 81,000 miles · TN

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 24V099000 (Seat Belts). While driving approximately 45 MPH and approaching an intersection, the air bag warning light illuminated. There was an abnormally loud sound like a gunshot coming from the vehicle, and smoke was inside the vehicle. The front passenger’s seat belt unexpectedly deployed and retracted on the side of the vehicle. The seat belt failed to move and became inoperable. Prior to the failure, the owner's daughter was seated in the front passenger’s seat. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.

Filed Jul 2, 2026 · Airbags, Seat belts · TX

The airbag warning light illuminated on my 2019 Ford Expedition. My Ford dealer diagnosed the vehicle and confirmed that the condition is related to an active Ford safety recall. The dealer also confirmed that the defect disables the entire Supplemental Restraint System (SRS), meaning the airbags will not deploy in the event of a collision. I was informed that the recall replacement part will not be available until approximately December 2026 and that Ford will not authorize an interim repair or replacement using available parts. As a result, I am expected to continue driving a vehicle with a disabled airbag system for several months despite the known safety defect. The dealer advised that if I choose to have the vehicle diagnosed or repaired before the recall remedy becomes available, I must pay the costs myself and may only be eligible for reimbursement if Ford later authorizes it. This defect significantly increases the risk of serious injury or death because the airbags will not deploy in a crash. I am filing this complaint because a manufacturer should not leave owners without a functioning airbag system for months while waiting for recall parts.

Filed Jun 30, 2026 · Airbags, Seat belts · TX

On XXX, while driving my 2019 Ford Expedition (VIN: [XXX]) on the highway, the front passenger seatbelt retractor pretensioner spontaneously deployed with a loud explosion and smoke. There was no accident, no impact, and no erratic driving. The seatbelt is now completely locked and unusable, and the entire SRS/Airbag system is disabled with a hard fault light on the dash. My vehicle is covered under the newly expanded Safety Recall 26S34 / the federal safety agency Campaign 26V344. I immediately visited an authorized Ford dealership (Covert Ford) seeking an interim repair or a safe loaner vehicle. The dealer refused to help, stated that the parts are unavailable, and handed me an internal printout stating that the FSA program is paused (Recall 24S06 Supplement #1). Ford and the dealership are forcing me to drive an unsafe vehicle with a compromised restraint system and disabled airbags, putting my family at extreme risk because they do not have a remedy or interim solution available. I am requesting immediate federal intervention to hold Ford accountable and compel them to provide a safe rental/loaner vehicle until the final recall remedy parts are available. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Apr 3, 2026 · Airbags, Seat belts · 135,000 miles · FL · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle and with the engine idling, the front passenger side seat belt pretensioner erroneously deployed, causing the passenger to be forcefully retracted into the seat. During the incident, an explosion had occurred, and smoke filled the cabin of the vehicle. The contact sustained an injured neck during the seat belt deployment. No medical treatment was required. After the incident, the air bag warning light had remained illuminated. The cause of the failure was not determined. The contact indicated that the failure had previously occurred on the front driver's side seat belt, also. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V197000(SEAT BELTS). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 135,000.

Filed Oct 20, 2025 · Seat belts · 135,000 miles · FL · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 MPH with the driver's seat belt fastened, she observed a loud explosion inside the vehicle, and then she felt what she thought was an impact to her chest, and the wind was knocked out of her as she began gasping for air. The contact stated that she believed she had been shot. The contact added that she steered the vehicle to the side of the road and where she observed that the driver's seat belt did not extend or retract, and the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that after 20 minutes, she observed a swollen imprint of the seat belt, which eventually scabbed over. 911 was called, but Medical attention was not needed. The contact stated that she continues to drive the vehicle, but had to buckle the seat belt behind her while driving so that the notification chimes do not go off continuously while driving. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.

Filed Aug 7, 2025 · Airbags, Seat belts · LA

Passenger air bag light came on and passenger seat belt locked up also the transmission had to be fixed