Feds investigate Ford for seat belt and loss of power issues

The NHTSA on Monday said it was opening two investigations into Ford vehicles over two separate issues, reports Reuters.

One of these investigations is a recall query into 112,567 Ford Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators from model years 2019 and 2020 over an issue with seat belt pretensioners. These automatically tighten seatbelts in the event of a collision, but there have been complaints that the mechanisms in the affected vehicles are activating outside of those circumstances.

The NHTSA said it had received three complaints alleging that, after a loud sound, seat belts rapidly tightened and remained in the locked position. Ford told Reuters that it is working with the regulator to support the investigation, which is part of the process leading to a recall.

A second NHTSA investigation covers 456,565 Ford vehicles, including 2021-2024 Ford Maverick pickup trucks and Ford Bronco Sport crossover SUVs, according to Reuters. That investigation probes an electrical failure and loss of engine power. 

Last week, the NHTSA also imposed a $165 million fine on Ford for failing to comply with a rearview camera recall in a timely and transparent manner. The original recall dates back to Sept. 23, 2020, and addresses a high rate of failure of display projections in rearview camera mirrors of many 2020 Ford and some Lincoln models to start. The penalty marks the second highest fine ever levied by the NHTSA, second only to the fines imposed after the fatal Takata airbag fiasco.

Ford has the highest number of recalls and often the most vehicles recalled on an annual basis since 2021. In 2023, Ford issued 57 recalls covering more than 6.1 million cars, representing 16% of all recalled cars, according to the NHTSA. Honda recalled 6.3 million cars, but issued fewer recalls. In the first half of 2024, Ford issued 30 recalls affecting 3.6 million cars.