Ford’s Seat Belt Issue Returns: 388,000 More Vehicles Recalled

Ford thought it had put a nagging seat problem to bed earlier this year. Instead, the automaker just announced another recall covering nearly 388,000 vehicles, this time for a seat belt sensor flaw that could stop airbags from deploying in a crash. The issue affects certain 2021 through 2024 models, including the Bronco Sport, Escape, and Maverick.

According to documents filed with federal safety regulators, the problem lies in a sensor inside the front passenger seat that detects whether someone is sitting there. Over time, the seat cushion can wear down and cause the sensor to malfunction, leading the airbag system to think the seat is empty.

That means the passenger-side airbag might not inflate when it should. Ford says it has received 177 reports of the issue, though no injuries or crashes have been linked to it yet.

This recall comes just months after Ford issued a separate fix for a similar seat-related issue in 2025 models. The company now says the earlier repair didn’t go far enough. Dealers will replace the seat cushion and sensor in affected vehicles at no cost, and owners can expect notification letters starting next month.

If you own one of these models and notice the passenger airbag warning light stays on, it’s worth getting checked out sooner rather than later.