The defect
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."
The 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.
The 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.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
Components: SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Escape | 2020 | 1,612 | 23 |
| Ford Expedition | 2019 | 518 | 11 |
| Ford Expedition | 2020 | 425 | 18 |
| Ford Explorer | 2018 | 734 | 7 |
| Ford Explorer | 2019 | 299 | 6 |
| Ford Explorer | 2020 | 1,241 | 33 |
| Ford F-150 | 2018 | 2,324 | 18 |
| Ford F-150 | 2019 | 1,340 | 9 |
| Ford F-150 | 2020 | 738 | 11 |
| Ford F-450 | 2019 | 20 | 4 |
| Ford F-450 | 2020 | 24 | 1 |
| Ford F-550 | 2019 | 14 | 4 |
| Ford F-550 | 2020 | 17 | 2 |
| Ford Redundant F-250 | 2019 | 0 | 4 |
| Ford Redundant F-250 | 2020 | 0 | 1 |
| Ford Redundant F-350 | 2019 | 0 | 4 |
| Ford Redundant F-350 | 2020 | 0 | 2 |
| Lincoln Aviator | 2020 | 110 | 30 |
Other seats recalls in 2019
38 of the 880 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2019 concerned the seats; Ford Motor Company filed 737 campaigns in all.
| 19V867000 6 Dec 2019 | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. |
| 19V800000 6 Nov 2019 | Daimler Vans USA, LLC |
| 19V786000 1 Nov 2019 | Thor Motor Coach |
| 19V762000 24 Oct 2019 | General Motors LLC |
| 19V759000 24 Oct 2019 | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) |
| 19V712000 4 Oct 2019 | Daimler Trucks North America LLC |
| 19V666000 18 Sept 2019 | Daimler Vans USA, LLC |
| 19V651000 11 Sept 2019 | Ford Motor Company |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2019