NHTSA safety recall National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Ford Navigator and Expedition recall: The passenger side air bag may have been manufactured incorrectly

Recall published 1+ years ago

The passenger side air bag may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the air bag to deploy with excessive force during a crash.

The hazard: Airbag or restraint defect

The supplementary restraint system is the subject of this campaign, so the car drives entirely normally with the fault present.

What the notice says: An air bag that deploys with excessive force can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

Why it matters: The airbag or its inflator may not deploy correctly, may deploy without a crash, or may send fragments into the cabin when it fires. The system is meant to be the last line of protection, so a fault in it is only discovered at the worst possible moment.

Recall details

Recall number
25V439000
Published
June 27, 2025
Risk level
NHTSA safety recall
Status
Open safety recall
Issued by
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Brand
Ford
Product type
Air Bags
Distribution
Nationwide
Vehicles
Ford Expedition · Lincoln Navigator
Lot / code info
NHTSA campaign number 25V439000

Products covered by this recall

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Navigator and Expedition vehicles. The passenger side air bag may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the air bag to deploy with excessive force during a crash.

Vehicles in this campaign

Check your product

The notice names 2 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

Vehicle

Match this against the make and model on your registration.

  • Navigator
  • Expedition

Codes are lifted verbatim from the NHTSA — Vehicle safety recalls notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about Airbag

Ford — The supplementary restraint system is the subject of this campaign, so the car drives entirely normally with the fault present.

  1. Treat this as a high-priority repair rather than something to fit around your next service.
  2. Call any franchised dealer for the brand, give them the campaign number from this page, and ask them to confirm parts are in stock before you book — part supply, not labour, is what delays a fresh recall.
  3. If the airbag warning light is on, say so when you book — it changes the diagnosis and sometimes the parts needed.
  4. Do not fit seat covers or dashboard accessories over an airbag module while the campaign is open.

Getting the repair booked and paid for

The money side of a vehicle recall is simple. The scheduling side is where people lose weeks.

  • Ask whether the parts are physically in stock before you accept a date. A booking without parts is a wasted morning.
  • If you get nowhere, file at nhtsa.gov. Complaints tied to an open campaign number carry weight.
  • If the dealer says the remedy is not yet available, ask to be put on their notification list and get that in writing by email.
  • Where the manufacturer has issued an interim measure — park outside, do not drive, a software limiter — follow it until the full remedy is done.

Remedy named in the notice: Dealers will replace the passenger side air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 8, 2025. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S51.

Company contact: Ford Motor Company

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the NHTSA — Vehicle safety recalls record National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Ford air bags recalled?

The passenger side air bag may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the air bag to deploy with excessive force during a crash. An air bag that deploys with excessive force can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

The notice does not publish package codes for this recall. Compare the product name, size and the purchase window against the official NHTSA — Vehicle safety recalls record, and contact the company if you are unsure.

What should I do with it right now?

Treat this as a high-priority repair rather than something to fit around your next service.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: Dealers will replace the passenger side air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 8, 2025. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S51.

Does the repair cost me anything?

No. Safety recall repairs are performed free of charge at a franchised dealer for as long as the campaign is open, whether or not the vehicle is still under warranty.

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