2017 Ford Explorer Seat belts Problems

My back seatbelts are not working and my family feels unsafe without being able to put the seatbelts on.

NHTSA ID

11752284

Incident

Apr 4, 2026

I’ve had three transmissions replaced from 2023 to 2026. Ford no longer makes 2017 Ford Explorer transmissions so I keep getting bad parts. In 2026 engine light came on , coolant leaking into cylinders, $11K to fix. This car has left me stranded on the side of the road , not to mention months at the dealership trying to find transmission parts. Ford Corporation refuses to buy back vehicle based on lemon law. Rear seatbelts defective.

NHTSA ID

11740383

Incident

Mar 17, 2023

Rear passenger side seat belt strap is twisted and stuck in fully extended position.

NHTSA ID

11703001

Incident

Nov 29, 2025

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while attempting to use the 2nd row seat belts, after further inspection, the 2nd row driver’s side seat belt buckle remained latched and failed to release from the buckle and the 2nd row passenger side seat belt failed to latch securely as intended. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer; however, parts were not yet available to repair the vehicle, and the warranty was not valid. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

NHTSA ID

11669211

Incident

Nov 15, 2024

Mileage

85,000 mi

Passenger side/right side second row bucket seat = seat belt broke. Called numerous dealerships and were on a waiting list of over 350 that need a seatbelt. No seat belts available. Unable to fix problem. Safety issue due to no seat belt. No warning lamps or messages.

NHTSA ID

11654028

Incident

Mar 24, 2025

Passenger seatbelt frayed, inside electrical goes haywire when cold weather, transmission slipping was rebuilt under warranty lasted one week and is slipping again shifting hard, B panels falling off A panel was recalled but panel wasn’t?

NHTSA ID

11647199

Incident

Feb 24, 2025

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the air bag warning light intermittently illuminated while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with air bag light row #2 inflatable found on higher wire circuit installed, and the was fuse replaced. Additionally, row #2 buckle, rear center row passengers seat, rear driver seat would not buckle, and that the passenger seat buckle was internally fractured, and the buckle assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer informed the contact that the parts were on backorder. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.

NHTSA ID

11645633

Incident

Sep 30, 2024

Mileage

104,000 mi

In a 2017 Ford Explorer Platinum the passenger 2nd row seatbelt malfunctions and will not extend. It is available for inspection. The seatbelt first binded (or became stuck) March 2024 and taken into Ford dealership and they reported "Upon inspection of seat belt, found to be internally binding at the retractor. Requires replacement." They ordered replacement but said it was on backorder, it took months before replacement arrived. When replacement arrived it was taken in to Ford dealership to replace but Ford reported "Replaced RR seat belt retractor. After installation, found a faulty part was sent. Reinstalled old seat belt and ordered new belt." Returned to Ford dealership for the second replacement seatbelt and it was installed and at time was working. Now for the third time (During the next several months after the third seatbelt is installed) it has gotten stuck (binded) and unable to extend several times and unusable. Resulting in having to relocate the passenger to another seat. Safety concern: users may not have a working and reliable seatbelt. Passenger may not be restrained with seatbelt or it may force a child from sitting in the rear seat to relocate to a more dangerous front seat due to lack of working seatbelts. This seems to show that the seatbelt mechanism must be defective in that 3 seatbelts are having similar problem in a 6-12 month window. Have also seen similar reports of this issue on Reddit.

NHTSA ID

11641514

Incident

Mar 5, 2024

2017 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE SEATBELT BUCKLE WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE CONSUMER STATED TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED THE DEALER LOST THE STEP PANEL AND ALSO NEED ADDITIONAL PARTS TO INSTALL THE NEW SEATBELT.

NHTSA ID

11501209

Incident

Jan 11, 2023

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle previously had the driver's side rear seat belt retainer replaced; however, the failure recurred with the passenger's side rear seat belt retainer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the passenger's side rear seat belt retainer had fractured inside the buckle assembly. The dealer informed the contact that the passenger's side rear seat belt retainer needed to be replaced; however, the part was on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.

NHTSA ID

11477725

Incident

Aug 5, 2022

Mileage

78,000 mi

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the driver’s side seat belt would not latch after multiple attempts. The seat belt chime sensor would active due to the seat belt not latching securely. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer nor an independent mechanic to be diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.

NHTSA ID

11424594

Incident

Jul 6, 2021

Mileage

104,000 mi

THE SRS WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH IS ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL FORD DEALER WHERE FAULT CODES INDICATE THAT TWO WIRE HARNESSES OR CONNECTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED. COST OF SERVICE WAS QUOTED AS $1600. HOWEVER, MILEAGE (46,500) AND AGE (4 YEARS) WOULD INDICATE THAT REPAIR SHOULD BE MADE UNDER 5 YR / 60,000 MI WARRANTY. FORD HAS DENIED WARRANTY. SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND FORD CUSTOMER CARE HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY PHONE AND EMAIL MULTIPLE TIMES WITHOUT RESOLUTION. THEY POINT TO THE WIRE HARNESS AS THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE SRS SYSTEM NOT WORKING AND CLAIM THAT THE WIRE HARNESS IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID

11362531

Incident

Sep 1, 2020

Mileage

46,500 mi

THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY BROKE WHEN MY PASSENGER WAS ATTEMPTING TO BUCKLE HERSELF. A SPRING POPPED OUT OF THE CENTER SEATBELT MECHANISM AND THE SEATBELT WOULD NO LONGER LATCH. THE CAR WAS PARKED AND OFF AT THE TIME. WE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR THE SEATBELT TO BE FIXED. THE PART # FOR THE SEATBELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY IS DB5Z-7860044-EB. THIS PART WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY DUE TO THE MILEAGE AND WAS NOT CONSIDERED A COVERED PART ON OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS CONSIDERED NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON OUR VEHICLE WHICH IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD.

NHTSA ID

11253782

Incident

Aug 5, 2019

Mileage

63,000 mi

THE SECOND ROW SEATBELT AIRBAGS CONTINUE TO SET OFF THE AIRBAG SENSOR ON THE CONTROL PANEL AND FORD TECHNICIANS CAN FIND NOTHING TO CORRECT. SENSOR SET OFF WHILE DRIVING AND PASSENGER BELTED INTO DRIVER SIDE SECOND ROW SEAT BELT THAT CONTAINS A SEATBELT AIRBAG.

NHTSA ID

11194491

Incident

Apr 7, 2019

Mileage

47,000 mi

SEATBELTS OVERLAP EACH OTHER IN THE BACK SEAT. CHILDREN SITTING NEXT TO EACH OTHER HAVE DIFFICULTY PUTTING SEAT BELTS ON BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11091118

Incident

May 1, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO LATCH THE SEAT BELT (OVER THE SAFETY SEAT) INTO THE ANCHOR ON THE REAR SEAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE SEAT BELT ANCHOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MUZI FORD (557 HIGHLAND AVE, NEEDHAM, MA) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ORDERED A SEAT BELT EXTENDER; HOWEVER, THE EXTENDER DID NOT WORK. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT NEWER MODEL FORD EXPLORERS WERE NOT MADE FOR SEAT BELT EXTENDERS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250.

NHTSA ID

11063612

Incident

Nov 30, 2017

Mileage

250 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT TOOK TOO LONG TO UNLATCH THE SEAT BELTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO REDLANDS FORD INC (1121 COLTON AVE, REDLANDS, CA, 92374) WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER. THE CONTACT MADE THE MANUFACTURER AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO FAIRVIEW FORD (292N G STREET, SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92410) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 400.

NHTSA ID

11058237

Incident

Apr 1, 2017

Mileage

400 mi

WE HAVE NEW AIRBAG TYPE REAR SEATBELTS, AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO BUCKLE THE PASSENGERS IN AS LONG AS WE HAVE A CHILD SEAT IN THE MIDDLE, WE ALWAYS HAVE A CHILD SEAT IN THE MIDDLE, LEFT PASSENGER CANNOT BUCKLE THEMSELVES IN,. I'VE BEEN TO 2 DEALERS AND CALLED FORD TWICE AND NO ONE WILL PURSUE FIXING THE PROBLEM, THIS IS A VERY STRESS FULL KNOWING ITS A 2017 AND WE CANNOT USE THIS AS A FAMILY CAR

NHTSA ID

11051140

Incident

May 5, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION WITH A WALL DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STRUCK THE STEERING COLUMN BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO PROPERLY RESTRAIN HER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TO THE GORNO FORD DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUFFERED FROM MODERATE CHEST PAIN FROM STRIKING THE STEERING COLUMN AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,694.

NHTSA ID

11003582

Incident

Jun 30, 2017

Mileage

3,694 mi

WITHIN THE FIRST 2 WEEKS OF GETTING MY VEHICLE THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH WOULD COME ON AND OFF RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING. RESTARTING THE CAR WOULD SOMETIMES FIX IT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TOOK 5 DAYS TO FIX IT. ENDED UP BEING THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT TENSIONER.

NHTSA ID

10958642

Incident

Dec 10, 2016

Mileage

150 mi

REAR SEAT BELT DOES NOT FASTEN PROPERLY WHEN A COSMETIC DOOR BECOMES JAMMED IN THE MECHANISM. SEAT BELT WAS RENDERED UNUSABLE AND COULD EFFECT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE REAR SEATS. DESIGN FLAW EXPECTED, NO ABUSE TO COMPONENTS AND BRAND NEW VEHICLE. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING OR NOT- THE SEATBELTS FAILED TO WORK (FASTEN). IN THE ATTACHED PICTURES YOU CAN SEE MY FINGER PUSHING ON THE DOOR THAT BECAME JAMMED- IN THE OTHER PICTURE YOU CAN SEE THE DOOR WAS REMOVED BY THE DEALER AFTER IT FAILED (CAUSING THE SEATBELT TO NO LONGER FUNCTION).

NHTSA ID

10924396

Incident

Oct 29, 2016

Mileage

1,300 mi