Ford Recalls Almost 550,000 Expedition SUVs Because the Center Console Could Cut You

When a vehicle is recalled because of a safety risk, it’s usually something mechanical that can impact drivability and handling, but the latest problem for the Ford Expedition warns that the interior trim could hurt occupants. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 550,000 Ford Expedition SUVs from the 2018-2024 model years have center console chrome plating that may bubble and peel from the base material, and this could result in sharp edges that could cause minor cuts. “A customer may come in contact with the sharp edge of peeling chrome while driving, increasing the risk of injury,” reads the recall.

Chrome Trim in Ford Expedition SUVs Have Caused Injury

The recall report (NHTSA recall number 26V368 refers) notes that 548,463 Expedition SUVs are potentially involved, with 12.8 percent of them estimated to have the defect. Peeling center console trim may seem like a minor problem, but NHTSA Vehicle Owner Questionnaires revealed that numerous buyers had been injured after their hands came into contact with the sharp edge of the peeling trim. Ford noticed the trend in September last year, and in October, an investigation was opened on 2019-2021 models. At the time, Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group (CCRG) preliminarily concluded that a safety recall was unnecessary because the issue was “overt to the customer” and easily detectable. After reevaluating the severity of the injuries that could be caused, the CCRG conducted testing on center console pieces that initially exhibited no bubbling or peeling, and at the beginning of this month, Ford’s Field Review Committee approved a field action. Thus far, the global issue has been linked to one accident and 65 injuries, some of which involved lacerations severe enough to require professional medical attention.

Ford Expedition Owners Must Wait Until Next Year for a Fix

Dealers were informed of the recall action this week, and owners will receive interim notifications from June 29 to July 2, with VINs of impacted vehicles searchable on nhtsa.gov from June 10, but a remedy notification is only planned to be sent to affected Expedition owners between January 29 and February 2, 2027. When Ford’s suppliers finally have improved replacement components ready “with chrome plating that meets Ford specifications,” dealers will inspect and replace peeling or bubbling chrome center console trims at no cost to owners. It’s wild that what appears to be no more than a cosmetic problem can be responsible for injury, and it’s even crazier to think that a fix will take so long to be prepared, but hey, at least Ford is taking responsibility. In the meantime, you can always peel away the trim to minimize the chances of sharp edges cutting you.