Ford bulletin TSB 23-2396
What it saysThis article supersedes TSB 23-2036 to add 2024 vehicle model years. NHTSA’s full summary ↓
Ford filed this with NHTSA as a service bulletin dated Dec 5, 2023, received Jan 5, 2024, about the seats. It names 14 model years across Ford and Lincoln (2018–2024). 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.
One page for every brand it was filed under. Each brand’s bulletins: Ford · Lincoln.
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What the bulletin says
Source: NHTSA's summary of the manufacturer's communicationThis article supersedes TSB 23-2036 to add 2024 vehicle model years. Some 2018-2024 Navigator and Expedition vehicles may exhibit a concern where the second row seat back does not fold down or recline when the recline handle is pulled upward or the second row single seat easy entry seat fold switch is pressed. This concern may occur with vehicles equipped with two or three second row seats. This may be due to a broken recliner release lever. To correct this concern, replace the recliner release lever.
Document filed under this number
| Document | Kind | Dated | NHTSA id | At NHTSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TSB 23-2396 | Service bulletin | Dec 5, 2023 | 10248357 | not found |
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 themFord 7 model years
Lincoln 7 model years
A 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 14 model years this bulletin names have filed 2,086 complaints with NHTSA since 2015. 1 of them name Seats — the same broad component group this bulletin is filed under. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so that means the same area of the vehicle, not necessarily the same fault.
On May 26, 2024, I entered into a lease agreement for a Lincoln Navigator vehicle manufactured and warranted by Lincoln Motor Company. This vehicle subsequently developed multiple serious and dangerous safety defects, including uncontrolled and spontaneous seat inflation, failure of seat pump systems, infotainment system failure…
2024 Lincoln Navigator · Seats · filed with NHTSA Feb 24, 2026 · ODI 11720221
Vehicle was bought new from a dealership mid december, due to second set of twins due mid march. Attempted to have graco 4ever child car seats installed by safe kids (organization to keep kids safe) but inspection failed due to 3rd row seating headrest engineering design major defect.
2019 Ford Expedition · Seats · filed with NHTSA Mar 5, 2020 · ODI 11316215
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 seats
Source: same model, same component group25 other manufacturer communications filed against these Ford models under the same component group (seats), newest first. The eight newest are listed; the rest are on the Ford list.
| Number | Kind | Dated | NHTSA’s summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSM 55244 | Service bulletin | Oct 13, 2026 | Some 2025-2027 Expedition/Navigator vehicles built without multi-contour second row seats (without minor feature code BYBAL) may exhibit a c… |
| SSM 55226 | Service bulletin | Oct 7, 2026 | For 2020-2026 Aviator/Corsair and 2018-2026 Navigator vehicles, if diagnostics in Workshop Manual (WSM) Section 501-10A > Front Seats > Diag… |
| SSM 55100 | Service bulletin | Aug 22, 2026 | For Various Ford and Lincoln vehicles, if diagnostics lead to the replacement of the front seat cushion cover J-clips, lower-level service p… |
| SSM 55037 | Service bulletin | Jul 24, 2026 | Some 2018-2024 Expedition and 2018-2027 Navigator vehicles equipped with a rear seat entertainment system/Lincoln Play may experience variou… |
| SSM 54819 | Service bulletin | May 12, 2026 | Some 2025-2026 Navigator vehicles equipped with multi-contour seats (minor feature code BYBAL) may exhibit a condition where the second-row… |
| TSB 26-2147 | Service bulletin | Apr 20, 2026 | Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit a no crank/no start condition with a discharged battery in cold weather… |
| SSM 54711 | Service bulletin | Apr 1, 2026 | Some 2025-2026 Expedition/Navigator vehicles may experience a second row armrest pin that is loose or broken. Engineering is aware of this c… |
| DSM-26.5.71.DC | Over-the-air update | Mar 24, 2026 | 26-OTA DSM-26.5.71. DC Navigator |
Quote the number at the service desk. It is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.
Every manufacturer communication NHTSA holds for Ford and Lincoln, by the number printed on the letter.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR 579.5Is Ford TSB 23-2396 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 TSB 23-2396 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 TSB 23-2396 cover?
The manufacturer filed it against 14 model years across 2 brands (Ford and Lincoln): 2024 Ford Expedition, 2023 Ford Expedition, 2022 Ford Expedition, 2021 Ford Expedition, 2020 Ford Expedition, 2019 Ford Expedition and more. Whether one particular vehicle is affected is a matter of its VIN and its build, not its model year alone.