Ford Fusion, Lincoln MKZ Seat Belt Problems Result in Recall of 680K Vehicles

About 680,000 vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company have been recalled following at least two incidents where the seatbelt pretensioner cables separated during a collision, which may increase the risk of injury for drivers and passengers. 

A Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ recall was announced late last week, after the manufacturer determined that problems with the seatbelt pretensioner cables may allow them to separate during an auto accident. Ford indicates that at least two injuries have been reported in connection to the failing seatbelts.

Seatbelt pretensioners are a safety device designed to avoid excess slack in the belt during an accident, preventing the occupant from moving forward or sideways to mitigate injury. The recalled Ford vehicles are designed with locking cables that may separate under certain conditions, increasing the risk of injury to occupants, the manufacturer warns.

Ford announced the impacted vehicles are equipped with a specific seatbelt pretensioner design that, when exposed to increased temperatures generated during deployment of the seatbelt anchor pretensioner, could cause the pretensioner cables to separate. In this event, although the passenger is belted they could still be subject to ejection and dashboard impact injuries.

The recall includes certain 2013 through 2016 Ford Fusion vehicles and 2013 through 2015 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company at the Hermosillo Assembly Plant in Mexico and the Flat Rock Assembly Plant located in Michigan. For a full list of production dates please visit the official recall announcement.

Ford Motor Company has announced an estimated 680,872 vehicles are impacted by the recall and roughly 602,739 of the vehicles were sold throughout the U.S., 35,614 in Canada, 8,665 in Mexico, and another 653 were distributed for sale throughout federalized territories.

A recall repair schedule has not yet been provided, but Ford indicates that customers will be notified by the automaker with a detailed description of the issue and instructions on how to schedule a free repair at their local dealer. Dealers will be instructed to inject a conformal coating into the front driver and passenger seatbelt anchor to protect the cables from increased temperatures generated during deployment.

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