There are recalls that make you nervous about climbing into your car, and then there are recalls that make you afraid to high-five your own dashboard. Ford just landed squarely in the second camp. The Blue Oval is calling back more than half a million Expeditions because the big SUV has developed an unfortunate habit of trying to fillet its occupants.
Chrome Trim Gone Rogue
The problem affects Expeditions from the 2018 through 2024 model years, and it comes down to the chrome trim wrapped around the center console. Over time, that shiny strip can bubble and peel away from the console, leaving behind sharp edges more than happy to slice open the hands of anyone who reaches for a cupholder, a phone, or whatever got dropped between the seats.
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If that sounds like a freak scenario, the numbers say otherwise. Ford has acknowledged it’s aware of 65 injuries tied to the defect. That’s 65 people who went looking for their sunglasses and came back with a fresh cut, all thanks to a piece of decorative trim that decided to go rogue.
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The Fix Is Free, but Worth Acting On
The good news, if you can call it that, is the fix won’t cost you anything. If you own one of the affected Expeditions, your dealer will repair the problem free of charge. So if your three-row family hauler has started showing some peeling chrome around the console, it’s probably worth getting on the phone before the interior draws blood.
Owners who want to confirm their specific vehicle is covered can plug their 17-digit VIN into NHTSA’s recall lookup tool at nhtsa.gov/recalls, which will show whether a remedy has already been assigned or is still pending parts availability. Ford typically mails owner notification letters once the fix is ready, but calling a dealer directly with the VIN in hand is usually the fastest way to get on the schedule.