Ford seat recalls: loose seat backs and foldaway van seats
Two very different sets of recalls sit in this group. The larger set isn't Ford's own: 2014-2018 Transit, E-350 and Ram ProMaster vans converted by upfitters — National Van Builders, TransitWorks, Prime-Time, Quality Van Sales, Vantage Mobility, Waldoch, Royale and Mobility Transportation — all fitted with Freedman GO-ES foldaway seats whose cushion may not stay locked when rotated upright. Ford's own recalls concentrate on seat structure: 2018 Expedition and Navigator second-row seats (excessive forward travel, an improperly installed bolt, missing J-channel brackets), improperly welded 2019 EcoSport front seat frames, manual recliner mechanisms across 2018-2020 F-150, Super Duty, Explorer, Expedition and Escape, and loose front seat pivot bolts on 2024-2026 Ranger and Bronco.
Warning signs to watch for
- A foldaway seat cushion that doesn't stay locked when you rotate it up from the stowed position.
- A seat back that rocks, leans or gives way when you push against it.
- A second-row seat that slides farther forward than it should, or shifts when loaded (2018 Expedition and Navigator).
- A child seat that won't attach properly at the rear lower anchors because the fixed head restraint is in the way (Ranger Super Cab).
- Play or rattling at the front seat cushion from a loose or dislodged height-adjust pivot bolt.
Is it safe to keep driving?
No recall in this group tells owners to stop driving or park outside, and none affects how the vehicle steers, stops or accelerates. The risk is what happens in a crash or a hard stop, when a seat back or foldaway cushion can move and leave the person sitting there less protected. Until the repair, the notices point to keeping affected seats unused where you can — the Transit and shuttle foldaway seats, the Expedition and Navigator second-row positions — and to not relying on a Ranger rear seat for a child seat.
What the free repair involves
All repairs are free. Ford dealers inspect seat frames and replace seat frame or seat assemblies, add missing J-channel reinforcement brackets, inspect recliner seat structure, swap the Ranger's non-removable head restraints for removable ones while adjusting the lower child anchorages, and replace loose pivot links and bolts. For Freedman foldaway seats, the converter's dealers inspect and repair the seat or supply a Freedman repair kit.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| high | 8 |
| medium | 13 |
Models affected most
Every recall in this group
Common questions
A company I've never heard of converted my Transit — who fixes the seats?
The converter that installed them. National Van Builders, TransitWorks, Quality Van Sales, Vantage Mobility, Waldoch, Royale and Mobility Transportation each recalled their own vans, with Freedman Seating supplying the repair or a repair kit at no cost.
Can passengers still ride in a foldaway seat before the repair?
None of these notices bans driving the van, but the cushion may not stay locked under load, such as in a crash or sudden stop. Where you can, leave those seats unoccupied until the seat has been inspected and repaired.
What changes on my Ranger Super Cab rear seat?
Dealers inspect the rear-lower child restraint anchorages for correct alignment and adjust them as needed, and replace the non-removable fixed head restraints with removable ones so child seats can be installed and attached properly. The work is free.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.