2020 Ford Explorer Seat Belts Problems
13 owner-reported seat belts complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Seat Belts Recalls (3)
SEAT BELTS: REAR/OTHER:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Explorer vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with second row center seat belt buckles that may not be properly secured to the seat.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the second row center seat assembly, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S50.
SEAT BELTS
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Explorer and Aviator vehicles. The seat belt buckle anchor bolts at one or more seating positions may be improperly secured. Additionally, vehicles may have an improperly secured seat belt retractor anchor bolt and/or seat belt anchor bolt at the second-row center seating position, if equipped.
Fix: Dealers will inspect seat belt buckle anchor bolts in all seating positions. Additionally, dealers will inspect the seat belt retractor anchor bolt and seat belt anchor bolt at the second-row center seating position, if equipped. If loose anchor bolts are found, the affected seat components will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 5, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S09.
SEAT BELTS
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer seating positions may be improperly secured.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the second-row outer seat belt lower anchor bolts and replace or repair them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 30, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C18. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 19, 2026.
Owner Complaints (13)
You've received recall notices (25S09) from Ford regarding your seat belts, but your dealer says Ford hasn't released the parts needed to fix the problem yet. The recall letter mentions an improperly torqued fastener, though it's unclear why replacement parts are needed for this issue. The fix will likely involve Ford releasing the necessary components so your dealer can properly torque or replace the seat belt fasteners.
Parts you may need:
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Your 2020 Ford Explorer is subject to a safety recall (NHTSA Campaign 25V093000) related to the seat belts, but the replacement part isn't available yet from Ford. You've been waiting longer than you feel is reasonable for the dealer to complete the repair, and you've contacted Ford about the delay. Your seat belts are still functioning normally.
Parts you may need:
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The middle row passenger side seatbelt randomly unbuckles when we drive. We have had ford dealership look at it and are going to fix it as there is not a spicific recall for this but it is a saftey concern as the seatbelt doesn't stay fastened when driving.
I am driving and the second row seat is disengaging randomly and folding/sliding forward. These are the bucket seats. It appears that the button on top of the seat to do this is stuck in the down position. There is a current recall for the 2020 explorer, but my vin is not currently included. However, the exact situation in ford recall 25S67 is happening to my vehicle.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V093000 (Seat Belts); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V093000 (SEAT BELTS); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V093000 (Seat Belts); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that 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 made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
We received a recall stating that one or more of our seat restraint fasteners may have been improperly secured which may not effectively restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. However, there are no parts or fix available.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V093000 (SEAT BELTS); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Passenger side seatbelt reactor is broken. Now I am unable to have a passenger safely due to faulty ford seatbelt. When I attempted to purchase seatbelt, ford had it on back order.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that upon exiting the vehicle, the driver's side seat belt failed to fully retract. Afterward, entering the vehicle to drive to the next destination, the contact became aware that upon fastening the seat belt, the seat belt hung loose, providing little to no restraining tension. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 49,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 62 MPH, the passenger’s side front seat belt was unlatched without passenger input. The occupant buckled the seat belt however, the failure recurred. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, and it was diagnosed that the seat latch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.
NO ACCIDENT AT THIS TIME. THIS IS REGARDING THE KNOB SHIFTER AND ITS ABILITY TO AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK WHEN DISCONNECTING THE SEAT BELT AND OPENING THE DRIVERS DOOR. THE SYSTEM WORKS GREAT UNLESS YOU ARE USING A SEATBELT EXTENDER. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. I DON'T THINK DRIVERS ARE MADE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. I CERTAINLY WAS NOT.