Investigations


NHTSA IDManufacturerDate openDate closeSubjectRecall campaign
SEAT BELTS
PE96027FORD MOTOR COMPANY04/16/199609/30/1996MAZDA RX7 AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT FAILURE96V173000
 Malfunction of the automatic seat belt system

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
SEAT BELTS
02/15/2003140032
 I purchased a driver side seat belt on 8/17/02. i paid 131.00 for the part .all ford parts are warranted for 12 months or 12,000 miles. including seat belts, even if they are defective after that warranty expires they keep my money and i have a defective seat belt that does not work properly. i decided to save money and install it myself. the seat belt worked for about a week and then it seized and would not pull down over my left shoulder. i got another under warranty, installed it myself and it happened again. i went back to peninsula ford of san bruno and paid them 198.00 to install my third warranted seat belt. i came back the next day and proved it was not working properly. they agreed and ordered me a new one. this is my fourth seat belt and the same thing happened. i was angry because i was losing hours (wages) at my workplace. i had a few words with the manager at the time and got my 198.00 back. they installed the seat belt and again it did not work. i talked to the service manager and he unprofessionally wrote down my info told me he'd order the part later that day and that it should arrive in 2 days. i called back 2 days later, spoke to him and he said he was hoping it would come today but it's not here yet. i reasonably called back 7 days later and asked for him. he no longer work's here sir was the answer. i was driving around with no seat belt. california highway patrol had become more strict about the seat belt law at that exact moment. i talked to the manager and demanded my money back and he told me to come back tomorrow. next day, i called and spoke to another manager who was extremely rude, unprofessional and confrontational. i wasn't getting anywhere on the phone so i immediately drove there with a seat belt that did not work. i argued for half hour to get my money back and they discreetly hinted no. the next day i was told all they could do was order me another seat belt. my warranty expires on aug 17, 2003. i am an unsatisfied customer.
06/24/1997
 Seat belt: drivier's side seat belt has stretched to the point where it will not lock in place. belts on recall, but this one is not included.
03/01/19977
 Passenger's and driver's automatic lap/shoulder belt red release button sticks, and the retractor does not function properly. also, will not release the belt when it is under tension, causing a person to become trapped into the seat. *ak
SEAT BELTS - FRONT - ANCHORAGE
08/01/2001102/01/1999
 Contacted ford and they said they had no recall information. i heard otherwise which is why i am contacting you. no safety defect listed. *ak
101/01/1989
 Seat belt retractors failed.
04/01/1996105/01/1989
 Driver's side seat belt defective.
SEAT BELTS - FRONT - BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
03/01/2001
 Consumer complained in regard to operation of driver's lap and shoulder belt. belt fails to extend and retract, resulting in failure to buckle belt. please provide any additional information/attachments.*ak
SEAT BELTS - FRONT - RETRACTOR
08/07/20031
 Driver side seat belt would not retract back to release for more room, causing the seat belt to be improperly worn or not worn at all. dealer has been notified. *ak
12/01/1999104/01/1996
 Drivers side seat belt will no longer retract. failure occured during normal use.*ak
04/16/19999904/01/1989
 After stopping the seat belt would not retract--it locked up. the problem has been intermittent since the seatbelt was replaced approximately 1994 by hollywood ford. car purchased at galpin but serviced at star now. called star and they said the vin didn't come up on the oasys database as ever having been recalled--so won't fix. new belt costs $107.01 plus labor. i replaced the engine, transmission, clutch, suspension, brakes etc, but feel safety components like a seatbelt should be designed to work for the life of the vehicle. would appreciate a contact to rectify.
 The seat belt on the driver's side does not retract. dealer is aware of the problem. the problem has not been corrected. the seat belt was corrected under warranty for the same problem in 1992. *ak
04/04/1997110/01/1989
 Seat belt retractor will not retract.
08/08/1996
 The seat belt on the driver's side does not retract. the belt is in the extended position. the problem has not been corrected. *ak
01/10/1994
 Driver's side front seat belt does not retract or secure you driver in place, had repaired once and the problem has reoccurred. *ak
04/12/1996103/01/1989
 The front driver's side seat belt will not retract while the seat belt is in use. *ak consumer states problem is not as bad during summer-warmer drier weather may have prevented further deterioration of retractor mechanism.*jb
01/01/1996
 Driver's side seat belt failure, seat belt would not retract from housing. tt
12/26/1995
 Driver's and passenger seat belt don't retract back into the housing. tt
06/01/1995106/01/1989
 Driver's side seat belt does not retract. passenger side seat belt does not retract on it's own. tt *slc
08/08/1995
 Driver seat belt does not retract ford offers no assistance. tt
02/28/19951
 Driver side seat belt retractor broke. tt
03/01/19951
 Drivers side seat belt retractor broke. tt
SEAT BELTS - FRONT - WEBBING
12/01/199605/01/1993
 Seat belt retractor sticks.
 Owner received a recall notice for the shoulder belts but has been unable to get work done because parts are not available. *ak
12/07/1995
 The driver side seat belt is broken.please describe details. tt