2018 Ford Explorer: seat belt won't latch or retract

Filed Nov 4, 2026 · Seat belts · MO

I own a 2018 Ford Explorer XLT with a defective rear passenger seat belt that does not retract properly. The seat belt remains loose instead of retracting back into its housing, creating a serious safety concern. This seating position is used by my young child, and I am concerned that the seat belt cannot properly restrain or protect an occupant in the event of a collision. I have brought this issue to the attention of a Ford dealership multiple times and requested that it be repaired. However, the problem has not been resolved, and the seat belt remains defective. I am concerned about the potential for serious injury in an accident due to the seat belt failing to function as intended. I am requesting that this safety defect be documented and investigated.

Filed Jul 16, 2026 · Seat belts · 97,000 miles · PA

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the driver's side front seat belt failed to click securely into the buckle. The seat belt warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was associated with the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V093000 (Seat Belts); however, the VIN was not included. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.

Filed Apr 7, 2026 · Seat belts · CA

One of my backseat seatbelt buckles is completely broken and the other side has a crack in the plastic casing in the same spot but not as big. And the insides of the buckle where it locks in there is nothing for it to lock onto. One still works as the other one has nothing for it to lock into. Yes it can be inspected. It puts my passengers at risk if they can't buckle up. It has never been inspected or looked at by anyone

Filed Apr 29, 2024 · Seat belts, Seats · OK

Air bag style seat belt has broken twice and won’t allow seat belt to latch after it breaks. Broke while seat belt was in use and driving down the highway. When replacing the buckle I found that the frame piece on the seat was broke and moved when trying to tighten the buckle. The buckle has been unavailable online through multiple vendors and finally found one in stock.

Filed Oct 21, 2020 · Seat belts · 18,000 miles · MA

Tl* the contact owns a 2018 ford explorer. The contact stated that the inflatable seat belt failed to retract with britax frontier click tight child safety seat while using the high back with the rear passenger shoulder strap failed to secure the child in the vehicle. As the child was seen hanging out the window while the mother was driving. The contact stated that the car seat was secured with the latch system however, the child was not secured with the vehicle's seat belt. The contact stated that the failure also occurred with the graco turbo booster which does not have a latch system. The manufacturers ford and britax were made aware of the failure. The ford manufacturer opened a case. The britax manufacturer offered no assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 18,000.*dt the consumer provided photos.

Filed Oct 11, 2018 · Airbags, Seat belts · 200 miles · CT

I recently purchased a 2018 ford explorer on august 30 from hammonasset ford in madison, ct. I paid several thousand dollars extra for a safety package which includes rear seat belt airbags. We were disappointed to discover an issue in the second row of seats that hinders us from using one of the seats because of the airbag configuration. The middle seat where there are seat belts for three only fits two people. The design of the seat belt latches is a flawed one. The seat belts overlap which is a safety concern not to mention a human body cannot fit in the space they allotted. This car is advertised for seven people but only can seat six. I have seven people in my family including a baby in a car seat and we all can't go in the car together at the same time because of it. I reached out to the dealership as soon as we got the car home and they told me to go to ford. The person I talkled to told me no need to talk to the owner or bother her. They would not help me because they said it is a design issue not anything they can repair. I reached out to ford who said the same thing. I continued to reach out to the dealership who had service reach out to ford to see if they can change the seat belts in the car but due to safety issues they were told they cannot and again they said it is a design issue not a manufacturing issue therefore I should go to the bbb.in addition to hammonasset ford, I also went to hoffman ford in east hartford to show the sales manager the car. He was shocked about the design of this car. We looked at the same exact car without the safety package and the seat belts were not flawed. The sales manager at hoffman ford said he cant help me because I didn't buy the car there but if ford reached out to him he could help. I contacted the bbb but they declined my application due for the same reason saying it is not an manufacturing issue.