Some 2021 Ford F-150 Super Cab pickups may not be safe to drive, according to a new warning from Ford. The company has issued a recall to fix a problem affecting some seatbelts. Ford dealers will repair the problem free of charge. But some owners should not drive their trucks until a Ford dealership has performed repairs.
Ford Sending Instructions to Owners
Ford explains:
“Owners will be notified by mail with instructions on how to perform a preliminary self-assessment of the vehicle’s seat belts. If the passenger-side seat belt fails inspection, owners should not use the passenger seat until the repair is performed. If the driver-side seat belt fails inspection, owners should not drive their vehicle until the repair is performed.”
That bolded portion is actually in the recall notice on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) site, emphasizing the importance of the situation for drivers of the popular truck.
The seatbelts may be routed incorrectly and may not properly restrain occupants in a crash. In some trucks, the belt may pass “only through the rubber trim sleeve, and not properly routed through the anchor,” Ford says.
Bring it in, Even if You Think it’s Fine
Even if you inspect your truck according to Ford’s instructions and believe the seatbelt is mounted properly, you should still bring the truck back to the dealership. The self-inspection simply helps you decide whether to drive the truck to the dealership or call them to pick it up.
The recall does not affect all 2021 F-150 Super Cabs. Only those manufactured from January 2 through May 27, 2021, are at risk. The Regular Cab and Crew Cab body styles use a different seat belt assembly and are not part of this recall.
Dealers will inspect the seatbelts and, if necessary, replace the seatbelt retractor and pretensioner free of charge.
Ford has also instructed dealers to inspect and repair trucks currently on their lots. Since the repair is relatively simple, we don’t anticipate a long pause in F-150 sales.
Recall repairs are always free. Check whether your car has ever been recalled at our recall center.
