Ford Expedition Lemon Law

Ford recalled nearly 420,000 2018–2022 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs because the front seat-belt retractor pretensioners can inadvertently deploy and lock the belt so it won't retract or extend. Exposure to heat can cause the pretensioner's propellant to emit corrosive byproducts that trigger the malfunction — and there have been reports of occupants, including children, trapped by a locked belt. This is the third recall for the problem.

A seat belt that won't work as designed is a serious safety defect, and a repeatedly recalled problem that isn't permanently fixed is exactly what the Lemon Law addresses.

A recall isn't automatically a lemon. But if the seat-belt problem keeps returning after repairs, or your Expedition is out of service for an extended time, California's Lemon Law may entitle you to a buyback, replacement, or cash settlement — with Ford paying your attorney fees.

A recall is not automatically a lemon — it's the manufacturer acknowledging a defect and offering a free repair. California's Lemon Law (the Song-Beverly Act) comes into play when a substantial defect can't be fixed after a reasonable number of attempts, or when your Expedition has been out of service for 30 or more cumulative days.

If your Ford Expedition qualifies, you may be entitled to a buyback (a refund of what you've paid, minus a mileage offset), a replacement vehicle, or a cash-and-keep settlement — and Ford pays your attorney fees on a successful claim, so pursuing your case costs you nothing out of pocket.