Ford bulletin SSM 51907
What it saysSome 2015-2023 Transit vehicles may exhibit front seat safety belts that do not extend or retract properly or may exhibit an abnormal noise. NHTSA’s full summary ↓
Ford filed this with NHTSA as a service bulletin dated Sep 7, 2023, received Oct 4, 2023, about the seat belts. It names 8 model years (2016–2023). A service bulletin is not a safety recall: it is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a condition, and whether the work is paid for depends on the warranty in force. Quoting the number at a service desk can save a diagnosis.
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What the bulletin says
Source: NHTSA's summary of the manufacturer's communicationSome 2015-2023 Transit vehicles may exhibit front seat safety belts that do not extend or retract properly or may exhibit an abnormal noise. Verify if the vehicle has been modified, in particular if a bulkhead partition between the front seats and cargo area has been added to the vehicle. Fasteners or holes in the lower b-pillar are indicators that the seat belt retractor mechanism could have been compromised. If diagnostics lead to retractor replacement, inspect for drill or screw holes in the retractor housing. Damage to the seat belt retractor caused by a vehicle modifier is not warrantable.
Document filed under this number
| Document | Kind | Dated | NHTSA id | At NHTSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSM 51907 | Service bulletin | Sep 7, 2023 | 10243481 | PDF, 28 KB |
The summary is NHTSA’s abstract of the document, as filed under 49 CFR 579.5. One communication is usually filed as several documents — the bulletin, a dealer notice, an owner letter — and the number on any of them finds this page. A PDF link is shown only once NHTSA’s own server has been seen to serve that document; the rest are checked over the following nights. Quote the number at a service desk; it is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.
Model years it names
Source: as the manufacturer filed themA vehicle page’s bulletin list shows the newest few communications filed against that model year; the count there is every one.
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What owners reported
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseOwners of the 8 model years this bulletin names have filed 560 complaints with NHTSA since 2015.
The passenger side seat belt locks up at unusual times. Passenger can’t reach anything because they are locked in their seat. The seatbelt has locked up numerous times however the mechanic can’t repeat the problem in the shop. Yes is has been reported and investigated by TASCA Ford, 1300 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, RI.
2021 Ford Transit · Seat Belts · filed with NHTSA Jun 3, 2026 · ODI 11741881
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Transit van. The contact stated that the shoulder harness was improperly mounted to the seat an not to the a-pillar. The contact stated that design failed to allow the passenger to exit the vehicle quickly in the likelihood there was an emergency.
2018 Ford Transit · Seat Belts · filed with NHTSA Oct 19, 2020 · ODI 11365124
A complaint is one owner’s account, not a defect finding, and a bulletin is not a recall. Nothing here says this bulletin was issued because of these complaints, or that the repair it describes fixed them. Complaint files on this site begin in 2015.
More bulletins about the seat belts
Source: same model, same component group2 other manufacturer communications filed against the Ford Transit under the same component group (seat belts), newest first.
| Number | Kind | Dated | NHTSA’s summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSM 55135 | Service bulletin | Aug 29, 2026 | Some 2026-2027 Transit vehicles may exhibit a "Rear Belt Monitor Fault Service Required" message displayed in the instrument panel cluster… |
| RCM-26.4.2.1 | Over-the-air update | Jul 30, 2026 | Quality improvements include: -Updates the Restraint Control Module to prevent a potential internal fault that may cause a warning light to… |
Quote the number at the service desk. It is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.
Every manufacturer communication NHTSA holds for Ford, by the number printed on the letter.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR 579.5Is Ford SSM 51907 a recall?
No. A service bulletin is a manufacturer communication filed with NHTSA under 49 CFR 579.5; a safety recall carries an NHTSA campaign number (two digits, a letter, six digits) and a federal duty to repair for free. Check the vehicle’s recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or on its page here.
Is the SSM 51907 repair free?
Not automatically. A service bulletin describes how to diagnose or repair a condition; who pays depends on the warranty in force, any extension, and the dealer. Quoting the number can save a diagnosis either way.
Which vehicles does SSM 51907 cover?
The manufacturer filed it against 8 model years: 2023 Ford Transit, 2022 Ford Transit, 2021 Ford Transit, 2020 Ford Transit, 2019 Ford Transit, 2018 Ford Transit and more. Whether one particular vehicle is affected is a matter of its VIN and its build, not its model year alone.