Ford recalls more than 240,000 vehicles over serious safety issues

In the United States, Ford has issued a recall affecting approximately 240,000 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator SUVs due to faulty seat belt assembly. This recall concerns model years 2020 and 2021 vehicles where seat belt anchor bolts might not be secure. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has highlighted that a loose seat belt could fail to restrain occupants properly during a crash, which significantly increases the risk of injury. Ford has not received any reports of accidents or injuries resulting from these defective seat belt assemblies. The company is set to notify owners of the affected vehicles by late March, instructing them to visit authorized Ford or Lincoln dealers for inspection of the seat belt systems. Should inspections reveal improperly secured anchor bolts, the affected components will be replaced free of charge. Additionally, another major automotive manufacturer, Rivian, has launched a separate recall involving 17,260 vehicles due to issues with headlight visibility. Rivian’s recall impacts certain 2025 R1S and R1T trucks that were improperly equipped with headlights. The headlight control module may not function correctly, specifically in cold weather conditions. Such functionality can be critical to road safety; therefore, Rivian is also offering free replacements for the defective parts while confirming it has no knowledge of crashes or injuries related to this issue. The recalls from both Ford and Rivian underline the commitment to vehicle safety but also highlight the risk factors present when automotive manufacturers face component assembly issues. While these recalls aim to minimize risks to consumers, the extensive scale and necessary repairs reflect broader industry challenges in production and quality assurance protocols.