2020 Ford Expedition Airbags Problems

2020 Ford Expedition MAX. Ford issued Safety Recall 26S48 / NHTSA 26V402 confirming a transmission park pawl defect causing potential rollaway and crash risk. Remedy not available until Q2 2027. Vehicle has experienced the exact defect symptoms since at least November 2025 including stuck-in-park diagnostic codes and shifting anomalies. Prior to November 2025 the transmission failed to execute a commanded shift at approximately 65mph while passing another vehicle on an expressway causing sudden unexpected deceleration with family members present — a near-miss consistent with the park pawl defect Ford now confirms. An authorized Ford dealer visit in June 2026 for computer reprogramming included verbal acknowledgment of transmission concerns but no documentation on the repair order. Eight days later Ford issued Recall 26S48. Separately this vehicle has generated over 1,400 Restraints Indicator Lamp Warnings logged in Ford’s own connected vehicle app since at least April 2023. Restraints warnings began within 30 days of purchase at under 400 miles. Ford issued Recall 26S34 / NHTSA 26V344 for Front Seatbelt Retractor inspection on this vehicle. On multiple dealer visits spanning 2021 to 2026 service advisers verbally acknowledged the restraints warning but documented no concern and performed no diagnostic action on repair orders. Ford’s telematics platform received all warnings in real time with no proactive owner notification. Remedy not available for either recall.

NHTSA ID

11751145

Incident

Jun 25, 2026

"YOUR AIR BAG WARNING IS ON DUE TO AN ISSUE WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE FRONT PASENGER AIRBAG MAY NOT WORK PROPERLY." THIS SYSTEM SHOULD UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE BE MALFUNCTIONING IN ANY WAY OUTSIDE OF A COLLISION. THIS NEEDS RECALLED AND FIXED.

NHTSA ID

11745673

Incident

May 16, 2026

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V197000(Seat Belts); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 40 MPH, the front driver’s side seat belt retracted and tightened unexpectedly, and then detached. Additionally, the front driver’s side air bag deployed unexpectedly. The contact’s wife sustained bruises and a head injury; however, no medical assistance had been received. The insurance company assisted in towing the vehicle to the dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer related the failure to the recall and confirmed that the recall parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but was unable to confirm when the parts would be available. The contact also stated that no loaner vehicle was provided. The contact expressed concerns that the failure posed a serious risk of injury to the vehicle occupants. The failure mileage was approximately 46,000.

NHTSA ID

11690963

Incident

Oct 2, 2025

Mileage

46,000 mi

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. While the contact's wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the front passenger’s side air bag deployed unexpectedly. The contact stated that his twelve-year-old daughter was seated in the front passenger’s side seat during the failure. The daughter sustained a seat belt injury to the neck. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the unintended deployment of the passenger’s side air bag was confirmed. The contact was informed that the air bag needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that there was no recall coverage for the repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 73,682.

NHTSA ID

11682162

Incident

Aug 19, 2025

Mileage

73,682 mi

I was in a head on collision and my airbags did not deploy but my glove box separated from my dash by about 2 inches looking as if they tried to deploy

NHTSA ID

11606269

Incident

Jul 25, 2024

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the front passenger’s side seat belt buckle tension sensor needed to be replaced. The dealer stated that the failure code for the seat belt tension sensor had been actively showing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 62,935.

NHTSA ID

11600527

Incident

Jul 9, 2024

Mileage

62,935 mi

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving in the rain at 50 MPH, a vehicle hydroplaned and crashed into both the contact's vehicle and another vehicle. The contact stated that air bags did not deploy , the seat belts did not lock and no warning lights appeared upon impact. The contact and her daughter both sustained a headache and other aches to their neck and shoulders. A police report was filed. Despite the failure, the contact managed to drive the vehicle back home despite front end damage to the vehicle. The dealer and the manufacturer were both notified of the failure and both referred her to the NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 53,000.

NHTSA ID

11522091

Incident

May 14, 2023

Mileage

53,000 mi

I was traveling on the interstate when I was slowing down to get off an exit, got struck from behind at more than 80mph and rear ended a semi trailer that released the emergency brakes of his truck abruptly..my airbags did not deploy. suffered multiple lacerations through my body because of this double impact.

NHTSA ID

11499962

Incident

Sep 19, 2022