Seat Belt Issues Forcing Ford To Recall 240,510 SUVs

According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the issue involves improperly secured seat belt buckle anchor bolts in one or more seating positions.

Additionally, vehicles equipped with a second-row center seat may have an improperly secured seat belt retractor anchor bolt or seat belt anchor bolt in that position. The issue could prevent the seat belts from properly restraining occupants in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

The recall follows an investigation prompted by Transport Canada, which contacted Ford in November of last year after receiving a defect complaint from a customer alleging a loose or uninstalled second-row center seatbelt anchor bolt on a 2020 Ford Explorer.

The vehicle had no documented instances of the bolt being removed and reinstalled, prompting Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group (CCRG) to open an investigation in December.

Throughout December and January of this year, Ford’s team visited the facility of its seat supplie to review manufacturing records and interview personnel. The investigation revealed undocumented seat rework performed outside standard operating procedures.

The potentially affected vehicles were produced between June 2019 and June 2020. Luckily, None of these vehicles have been involved in accidents or caused injuries.

To address the issue, Ford dealers will inspect seat belt buckle anchor bolts in all seating positions. If loose anchor bolts are found, the affected seat components will be replaced free of charge. For vehicles with a second-row center seat, the seat belt retractor and anchor bolts will also be inspected and replaced if necessary. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed starting at the end of March.

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