The Recall Desk
ModerateNHTSA·23V420000·Announced 2023-09-06

Ford vehicles recalled for missing head restraint adjustment instructions

Ford recalls 2018-2023 Expedition, Navigator, and F-Series vehicles lacking head restraint adjustment instructions. Improper adjustment increases crash injury risk.

What this means for you

Minor labeling or packaging issue, or a voluntary precautionary recall. Risk of harm is low but real — follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Our severity reasoning: This is a documentation/labeling issue with no reported injuries or actual physical defects. The hazard is theoretical—improper head restraint adjustment poses potential crash-related injury risk, but the recall addresses missing manual instructions rather than a component failure.

Plain-English summary

Ford Motor Company is recalling certain 2018-2023 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with third-row seating, as well as 2019-2023 F-Series SuperCab vehicles (F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550). The owner's manual does not include instructions for adjusting or removing head restraints in the center seating positions.

These vehicles do not comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 202, which governs head restraints. Without proper adjustment instructions, head restraints may be positioned incorrectly, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Ford began notifying owners on July 21, 2023. The company will mail free addenda to the owner's manual that describe how to adjust and remove the head restraints for center seating positions. Owners can contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at 1-888-327-4236 for more information.

The recalled product

Product
2020 FORD EXPEDITION
Brand
FORD
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Hazard
  • head-restraint-misalignment
  • injury-risk
Affected units
691,133

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (6)

  • EXPEDITION
  • F-550 SD
  • NAVIGATOR
  • F-250 SD
  • F-350 SD
  • F-450 SD

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.