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Ford and Lincoln manuals missing head restraint instructions

NHTSA campaign 23V420000 · Reported 2023-06-09 · Ford Motor Company

The notice says that without instructions the head restraints may be improperly adjusted, which increases the risk of injury in a crash. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving.

What's wrong, in plain English

Ford is recalling certain 2018 through 2023 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles with third-row seats, along with 2019 through 2023 F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 Super Duty SuperCab trucks. The owner's manual for these vehicles is missing the instructions for adjusting and removing some of the head restraints, also called headrests. Because of that, these vehicles do not meet the federal standard covering head restraints.

What you should do

1. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if your vehicle is included.
2. Ford is mailing owners an owner's manual addendum explaining how to adjust and remove the center-seat head restraints; if you have not received it, call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 and give them recall number 23C20.
3. The addendum is free of charge.

Affected vehicles (27)

2018 Ford Expedition
2018 Lincoln Navigator
2019 Ford Expedition
2019 Ford F-250 SD
2019 Ford F-350 SD
2019 Ford F-450 SD
2019 Ford F-550 SD
2019 Lincoln Navigator
2020 Ford Expedition
2020 Ford F-350 SD
2020 Ford F-550 SD
2020 Lincoln Navigator

Show all 27 vehicles

2021 Ford Expedition
2021 Ford F-250 SD
2021 Ford F-350 SD
2021 Ford F-450 SD
2021 Ford F-550 SD
2021 Lincoln Navigator
2022 Ford Expedition
2022 Ford F-250 SD
2022 Ford F-450 SD
2022 Ford F-550 SD
2022 Lincoln Navigator
2023 Ford Expedition
2023 Ford F-450 SD
2023 Ford F-550 SD
2023 Lincoln Navigator

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

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Official notice

Component: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with third-row seating; and 2019-2023 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 SuperCab vehicles. The owner's manual does not include instructions for adjusting or removing certain head restraints. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 202, "Head Restraints."
Safety risk: Without instructions, the head restraints may be improperly adjusted, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will mail the Owner's Manual addendums that describe how to adjust and remove the head restraints for the center seating positions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C20.

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