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Ford and Lincoln seat backs may be dangerously weak

NHTSA campaign 19V633000 · Reported 2019-08-28 · Ford Motor Company

high How serious is it? About this label

A seat back that can give way in a crash is a serious injury risk, though the notice does not tell owners to stop driving.

What's wrong, in plain English

The mechanism that lets a seat back tilt is supposed to have three metal catches holding it in place, and on these vehicles one catch may be missing. With a catch missing, the seat back is weaker than it should be and may feel loose. In a crash, a seat back like this may not hold the person in the seat properly, which can make injuries worse. Dealers will inspect the seats and replace them as needed, free of charge.

What you should do

1. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm your vehicle is covered.
2. Book a free inspection at a Ford or Lincoln dealer and mention recall 19C07.
3. If a seat feels loose or rocks, mention that when you call Ford at 1-866-436-7332.

Affected vehicles (14)

2018 Ford Explorer
2018 Ford F-150
2019 Ford Expedition
2019 Ford Explorer
2019 Ford F-150
2019 Ford F-450
2019 Ford F-550
2020 Ford Escape
2020 Ford Expedition
2020 Ford Explorer
2020 Ford F-150
2020 Ford F-450

Show all 14 vehicles

2020 Ford F-550
2020 Lincoln Aviator

Who to contact

Ford — official Ford recall lookup

Customer service: 1-866-436-7332

Lincoln — official Lincoln recall lookup

Customer service: 1-866-436-7332

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

The bigger picture

Ford seat recalls: loose seat backs and foldaway van seats · all 21 Ford recalls in this area
Lincoln seat recalls: seats that shift, fold or recline · all 8 Lincoln recalls in this area

Official notice

Component: SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also included are certain 2020 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with rear outboard seats and manual seat back recliner mechanisms. The recliner mechanisms may be missing the third pawl required for seat back strength, resulting in a loose seat back. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems."
Safety risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19C07.

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.