Seat complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 10% | — |
| 2025 | 6 | 16% | — |
| 2024 | 3 | 4% | — |
| 2023 | 1 | 2% | 1,000 miles |
| 2022 | 2 | 2% | — |
| 2021 | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2020 | 3 | 1% | 107,000 miles |
| 2019 | 6 | 1% | 5,000 miles |
| 2018 | 1 | 0% | 31,000 miles |
| 2017 | 4 | 1% | 60,000 miles |
| 2015 | 2 | 1% | 3,000 miles |
| 2014 | 2 | 3% | 12,000 miles |
| 2013 | 2 | 2% | 96,000 miles |
| 2012 | 2 | 2% | 31,000 miles |
| 2011 | 8 | 11% | 0 miles |
| 2010 | 6 | 10% | 0 miles |
| 2009 | 3 | 11% | 58,000 miles |
| 2008 | 2 | 1% | 59,000 miles |
| 2007 | 4 | 2% | 72,000 miles |
| 2006 | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2005 | 2 | 1% | 57,000 miles |
| 2004 | 4 | 1% | 24,000 miles |
| 2003 | 10 | 2% | 61,000 miles |
| 2002 | 1 | 0% | 29,000 miles |
| 2001 | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2000 | 4 | 0% | 145,000 miles |
| 1998 | 7 | 1% | 161,000 miles |
| 1997 | 8 | 1% | 65,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (seat frames, recliners, heated seats and seat tracks).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I own a 2025 Ford Expedition MAX Platinum Ultimate. The second-row passenger-side seat has repeatedly failed to latch securely to the floor after being moved/folded. This problem has occurred multiple times. The vehicle has previously been taken to the Ford dealer for the problem, and repairs have been attempted. I have also previously been charged approximately $500 for a repair related to this recurring seat-latching issue, when the dealership blamed trash from the kids causing the issue. The condition has now occurred again, and the vehicle is displaying a warning indicating that the second-row seat is not properly latched. I am concerned this is a serious occupant-safety issue. A passenger, including a child, could potentially occupy the second-row seat while the seat is not securely latched to the vehicle. …
Front seats have metal "Platinum" badges at about shoulder level. Badges have gap between badge and seat surface. Longer hair (below neck/ shoulder length or longer or hair in pony tail) gets trapped between badge and seat. This condition causes hair to be pulled and/or cut off. It's a painful distraction while driving and also when trapped, impairs head movement while vehicle is in motion. Tried to reach out to Ford, but being ignored. May cause a collision and it causing personal injury repeatedly. Date of incident recorded in this form is inaccurate in that it has not happened just once - rather it happens every day the vehicle is in use, repeatedly. We put this issue out on Facebook and it appears many consumers are having the same problem. Its not isolated. It's a design defect affecting all vehicles with this badge. …
The third row seats both have reachable access to the third-row PowerFold buttons even in car seats. My two toddlers can easily reach the fold buttons while strapped in to their seats and are able to recline and move their seats forward and backwards. This caused major safety hazard because their car seats become loose. The buttons are placed very close to the third row seat and are accessible to 35 lb children to press and play with them. While strapped into their car seats, my children easily reached and both touched the buttons and loosened their car seats while the car was in motion and I was driving. There is no software setting or built-in dashboard switch to disable the third-row PowerFold buttons in a Ford Expedition. …
I would like to report the seats. I bought my vehicle new. The seats has caused me to have medical issues. It has also caused one other person issues too, so it was not just me. I have never had any sort of back or leg issues before getting this vehicle. I now have severe Sciatica Nerve problems. Which, I have seen the Doctor for. It flares up so bad while I am driving my right leg goes into extreme pain then it goes numb. Which is not helpful since this is the foot I use the gas and brake with. This is my only transportation, so I do not have another vehicle to drive. I have had my son drive this vehicle when we went on a trip. I sat in the middle row captain chair and it was the same issue. This trip was when my daughter in-law (Which is an RN) starting having the same issues as myself.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while depressing the lock panel with the numbers on the driver's side door, the seat unintendedly moved forward, and the seat belt retracted, and the driver was squeezed in the seat. The contact turned off the vehicle and seat belt to returned to the original position. The contact stated that coolant was added to the coolant reservoir; however, the vehicle was leaking coolant. The contact was unsure if the cap was positioned correctly. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 26V344000 (Seat Belts) and 26V368000 (Structure). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and remained for five days. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the seat needed to be adjusted. …
The transmission seems to be missing gears and shifting violently at weird times, completely losing transmission engagement and randomly shifting into neutral when acceleration pedal is engaged at a higher speed on the highway and then the vehicle will all of the sudden try to shift back into gear violently at moments of high speed acceleration. It has issues finding the gear sometimes completely disengaging into neutral and a crackling popcorn sound coming from front passenger side under the car. The headrest in the third row, driver side is permanently, flipped down and gaged into the back of the head of the passenger, possibly resulting in a life-threatening injury during an accident The information screenshot of vehicle in the front, which displays all of the apps, air, music, sometimes randomly is blank, black screen with no power
The vehicle was parked when we heard a loud popping noise. I then saw white powder and smelled a horrible smell. Upon inspection the passenger seat side panel had popped open. It seemed like an airbag had deployed. I had a restraint indicator light on at that point. It was taken to a Ford dealership where they told me it couldn't have been an airbag it was just a faulty seatbelt sensor. Which by the way there was a recall for that exact thing on the 2020 but, not the 2019 so 750$ later.. they're going to fix it.
While driving my 2019 Ford Expedition the passenger airbag deployed unexpectedly. This resulted in the seat belt not retracting or extending. There were no warnings, messages or problems prior to this occurring. Yes, safety was put at risk by the airbag deploying unexpectedly and the seat belt quickly retracting , it was very startling. This also caused damage to my passenger seat
Related recalls (5)
Seats › Mid/rear assembly
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The attachment bracket for the driver's side second-row seat headrest may not have been sufficiently welded to the seat frame.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace it as needed, free of charge. This recall began July 8, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Seats › Mid/rear assembly
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.
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.
Seats › Mid/rear assembly
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Lincoln Navigator, and Ford Expedition vehicles. The second row center seat track assemblies may be missing one or both of the J-Channel reinforcement brackets, possibly allowing the seat to move in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the second row center seat for any missing J-channel reinforcement brackets, replacing the center seat frame assembly as necessary, free of charge.
Seats › Mid/rear assembly
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Expedition vehicles. The second row outboard seats may have excessive forward adjustment capability and/or may have an improperly installed bolt that secures the seat back to the seat base.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the second row outboard seats for proper seat adjustment travel, replacing the seat frame assembly if necessary.
Seats › Mid/rear assembly
Ford is recalling certain model year 2012 expedition and Lincoln navigator vehicles, manufactured from November 19, 2011, through December 2, 2011, for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the head restraints as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on February 21, 2012.
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Expedition years have seat problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2003 (10), 1997 (8), 2011 (8), 1998 (7) and 2010 (6) model years. Seat complaints make up 2% of all complaints for the 2003.
Is there a recall for Ford Expedition seat problems?
Yes — 5 recalls, including 20V-366 (mid/rear assembly, Jun 23, 2020); 19V-633 (mid/rear assembly, Aug 28, 2019); 18V-805 (mid/rear assembly, Nov 14, 2018). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Ford Expedition seat problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 47,000 miles; 63% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the mid/rear assembly (7 mentions), followed by the front assembly › head restraint (5).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.