FaultScore

1991 Ford Explorer seat belt problems

28 of the 764 complaints about the 1991 Ford Explorer are about the seat belts — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 147,402 miles.

D

28

Complaints

4

Crashes

0

Fires

3

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Buckle Assembly 11 39.3%
Anchorage 8 28.6%
Seat Belts 5 17.9%
Front 2 7.1%
Retractor 1 3.6%
Rear/Other 1 3.6%

Seat Belts across every Ford Explorer year

1991 28 4.6%
1992 27 4.4%
1993 14 2.3%
1994 13 2.1%
1995 60 9.8%
1996 81 13.3%
1997 57 9.3%
1998 38 6.2%
1999 22 3.6%
2000 16 2.6%
2001 11 1.8%
2002 35 5.7%
2003 17 2.8%
2011 14 2.3%
2012 14 2.3%
2013 20 3.3%
2014 27 4.4%
2015 37 6.1%
2016 40 6.6%
2017 21 3.4%
2020 18 3.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 91,000 miles Indianapolis, IN

SEAT BELTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH WITH ANOTHER PASSENGER, THE SEAT BELTS DISENGAGED AND CAUSED THE PASSENGER SEAT TO OVERTURN BETWEEN THE SEATS. THE PASSENGER WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

NHTSA complaint #10715094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 113,804 miles Broderick, CA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED 4 OUT OF THE 5 SAFETY BELTS IN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT LATCH PROPERLY. IF THEY WERE SHAKEN, OR IF THERE WAS ANY FORCE APPLIED TO THEM THEY BECAME UNLATCHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 92V113000, PERTAINING TO THE FRONT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 10/04/06.

NHTSA complaint #10167153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW Bedford, MA

SEAT BELTS

I FOUND SEVERAL RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE. IT IS AN OLD VEHICLE, BUT I ONLY BOUGHT IT IN 2003. I KNOW SOME OF THEM EXPIRED, AND IT SAYS TO CONTACT FOD. I DID VIA WEB SITE. THEY DO NOT SHOW ANY RECALLS. BUT, YOU SHOWED ME OVER 5 RECALLS? CAN I STILL GET THEM FIXED? MY TIRES I GUESS, HAVE BEEN REPLACED BUT THEY DID NIT REPLACE THE SPARE TIRE. I STILL HAVE THE RECALLED SPARE TIRE?? WHAT DO I DO NOW? CAN I DO ANYTHING? BUT, I STILL HAVE BAD TIRES, THE 2001 TIRE RECALL DOES NOT SAY WHAT BRAND? I HAVE ATX AND APT FIRESTONE TIRES. CAMPAIN #92V113000,91V189000,00T005000 AND ANOTHER TIRE RECALL, I DID NOT GET THE #, BUT IT WAS IN 2001. THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #10116768 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 181,000 miles BEN Lomond, CA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

PENINSULA FORD, SUNNYVALE, CA REFUSED TO SERVICE EXISTING SAFETY RECALL, WITHOUT EXPLANATION. NHTSA CAMPAIGN 92V113000. THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION FITS ALL APPLICABILITY CRITIERIA LISTED IN RECALL DOCUMENTS. ONE OF THREE SYMPTOMS (UNEXPLAINED AND REPEATED, SUDDEN FRONT SEAT BELT RELEASE) DESCRIBED BY THIS RECALL OCCURS REGULARLY.

NHTSA complaint #10116035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 197,000 miles Colorado Springs, CO

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

SEAT BELTS ARE REQUIRED BY LAW. CHILD SAFETY RESTRAINT IS REQUIRED BY LAW. I OWN A 1991 FORD EXPLORER, OH YES, THE ONE SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED IN BECAUSE OF FIRESTONE TIRES?????, OR MAYBE IT WAS THE SEAT BELTS. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS OBSOLETED THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FOR THE CENTER REAR AND LEFT REAR, WHICH IS NOW BROKEN, BUT REQUIRED BY LAW IN ORDER TO SECURE MY CHILD RESTRAINT SEAT, WHICH IS ALSO REQUIRED BY LAW. THIS IS NOT A COLORED PART, IT IS A BLACK TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE USED IN MANY FORDS IN THE 1990'S. AUTO MANUFACTURERS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO HAVE AVAILABLE ANY SAFETY ITEM REQUIRED BY LAW THAT WAS ORGINALLY IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF ORIGINAL SALE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS CENTER, THEY DO NOT WANT TO DEAL WITH IT, TELL ME TO CONTACT DEALERSHIP, WHO HAS ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL OVER PART PHASE OUT. I KNOW FORDS SYSTEM, I WAS A PARTS AND SERVICE DIRECTOR FOR A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR 18 YEARS, UP UNTIL 2 YEARS AGO. I HAVE SEEN MANY FORD SEAT BELT BUCKLES BREAK OVER THE YEARS, AND LUCKY FOR THE CUSTOMER, I WAS ALWAYS ABLE TO GET THE PART FOR THEM. I AM NOT SO LUCKY. I DO NOT WANT TO GO TO A SALVAGE YARD AND BUY A USED BUCKLE TO SECURE MY 10 MONTH OLD SON. I SPENT $280 TO BUY A BRITAX CAR SEAT TO ENSURE HIS SAFETY. THEY SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE WHILE WE WERE REMOVING HIS INFANT SEAT TO INSTALL THE NEW CAR SEAT. THE MANUAL STATES TO INSTALL THE SEAT IN THE CENTER REAR POSITION FOR THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SAFETY. HOW CAN THE LAW REQUIRE ME TO USE SOMETHING THAT CAN NOT BE OBTAINED FROM THE AUTO MANUFACTURER, AT ANY PRICE? SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. I CAN'T GO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE FORD CAN'T SUPPLY A SAFETY ITEM. PLEASE REVIEW THIS, AND IF POSSIBLE, TAKE ACTION ON FORD FOR A POOR PRACTICE REGARDING SAFETY.

NHTSA complaint #10060413 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kirkland, WA Crash 2 injured

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

MVA, DAMAGE TO REAREND & DRIVETRAIN; DRIVERSEAT & SEATBELT POSS. COMPROMISED.

NHTSA complaint #10033059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Denver, CO

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT LOCK PROPERLY.*AK.

NHTSA complaint #8004100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Westminister, CO

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 92V113000. SEAT BUCKLE WILL NOT UNLATCH WHEN RELEASE BUTTON IS DEPRESSED, RESULTING FROM A MALFUNCTION WITHIN BUCKLE INJECTOR. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #891283 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Laurel, MD Crash

SEAT BELTS

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 65MPH ON HIGHWAY, AND DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS DID NOT PROTECT OCCUPANT; THEY DID NOT OPERATE.

NHTSA complaint #888658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Warwick, RI

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATBELT IN NOT OPERABLE. SEATBELT ITSELF, WHOLE COMPONENT IS DEFECTED. RETRACTOR IS OKAY. ALSO, WHEN FILLING UP FUEL TANK GAS NOZZLE CAN SMELL GASOLINE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEMS. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #885490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Warwick, RI

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATBELT IN NOT OPERABLE. SEATBELT ITSELF, WHOLE COMPONENT IS DEFECTED. RETRACTOR IS OKAY. ALSO, WHEN FILLING UP FUEL TANK GAS NOZZLE CAN SMELL GASOLINE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEMS. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #885490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Yukon, OK

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO LATCH SEATBELTS IN THE FRONT OF VEHICLE LATCH IS NOT SECURING SEATBELT. SOMETIMES IT SEEMS TO BE LATCHED AND WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE SEATBELT BUCKLE PULLS OUT OF THE LATCH.

NHTSA complaint #739763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wilton, CT

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

A PART WITHIN THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY HAS MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING SEAT BELTS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. *AK DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE WOULD NOT LATCH.

NHTSA complaint #873391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sarasota, FL

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

CONFIRMATION INFO...COLUMES DOESN'T MY INFO....BUT TO ADD TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACE, WAS INFORMED VEHICLE WAS REPAINTED BY AAA, BRAKES WENT OUT, REPLACED CABLE WIRES TO BATTRERY- WIRED COAT HANGER PIECES IN WITH CABLE WIRES...

NHTSA complaint #724839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Shalimar, FL 1 injured

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

WHILE HARD BRAKING JUMPED A CURB TO AVOID A CAR, REAR PASSENGER HIT FRONT SEAT. THE SEAT BELT BROKE FREE FROM THE BUCKLE. THE BUCKLE WAS MESSED UP WITH RED PLASTIC PARTS ALL OVER THE REAR SEATS. THE PASSENGER WAS AN ADULT ~ 150LBS. WE ALL WERE SEAT BLETS FOR SAFETY BUT THE BUCKLE IN THE EXPLORER BURSTED APART-- THIS IS NOT A SAFE SITUATION. IF THERE HAD BEEN A COLISION THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER COULD HAS SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURY. THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE SYSTEM NEED LOOKING INTO. I STILL HAVE THE PLASTIC PARTS IF ONE WANT TO SEE THEM. TERRY WADE.

NHTSA complaint #725150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Eugene, OR

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT LATCH WOULD NOT DISENGAGE FROM THE LATCH MECHANISM, CAUSING THE OCCUPANT TO BECOME TRAPPED IN THE SEAT. *AK.ET.

NHTSA complaint #857109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fort Lupton, CO

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 1997.MY BROTHER, WHO WORKS FOR A FORD DEALERSHIP, INFORMED ME, AFTER I MENTIONED THE FACT, THAT THE REAR SEAT BELTS HAD BEEN RECALLED. BUT HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE RECALL NOTICE HAD EXPIRED, THEREFORE, FORD WOULD NOT REPLACE MY SEATBELTS. NOW HOW CAN THIS BE? I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NOT KNOWING THAT THERE WAS A RECALL, SO HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO HAVE IT FIXED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION, IF I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE RECALL???? WE HAVE A 7 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHO RIDES IN THE REAR SEAT. AND THE SEATBELTS ARE DEFECTIVE???? HOW IS THAT GOING TO KEEP HER SAFE? WE BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD REPLACE THESE REAR SEAT BELTS, WITHOUT QUESTION. PLEASE HELP. RECALL 92V113000.

NHTSA complaint #704875 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mcgregor, TX Crash

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

DRIVER'S SEATBELT BECAME UNBUCKLED DURING AN ACCIDENT.THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJUIRES.

NHTSA complaint #830074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ADA, OK

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED TO LATCH PRIOR TO RECALL REPAIRS (92V-113).

NHTSA complaint #526310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Alberden, NC Crash 1 injured

SEAT BELTS

WHILE DRIVING VHEICLE OWNER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, IMACT SPEED WAS AT 35 MPH, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BROKE, CAUSING OWNER TO HAVE MULTIPLE INJURIES. CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED.

NHTSA complaint #815851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Newport Beach, CA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

FRONT SEAT BELT FAILED TO RELEASE WHEN IT SHOULD AND RELEASED WHEN IT SHOULDN'T PRIOR TO RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #513282 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lancing, MI

SEAT BELTS

REAR AUTOMATIC SAFETY BELTS HAVE BECOME INOPERATIVE.

NHTSA complaint #809228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa Clarita, CA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

SEAT BELT LATCH BUTTON CAME OFF.

NHTSA complaint #509126 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ridgewood, NJ

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

UNDER RECALL NOTIFICATION, HAD BELT BUCKLES REPAIRED, NOW THE LEFT REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLE DOES NOT WORK, CONSUMER STATES THE OTHER THREE TEND TO JAM UP MAKING THEM ALL UNSAFE TO USE. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #804257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ridgewood, NJ

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

UNDER RECALL NOTIFICATION, HAD BELT BUCKLES REPAIRED, NOW THE LEFT REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLE DOES NOT WORK, CONSUMER STATES THE OTHER THREE TEND TO JAM UP MAKING THEM ALL UNSAFE TO USE. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #804257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pleasant Hill, CA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

BACK SEAT MOUNTED SAFETY BELT BUCKLES DO NOT LATCH ALWAYS, TONGUE MAY BE RETAINED IN BUCKLE BUT DOES NOT LATCH, OCCUPANTS IN BACK SEAT CANNOT BE RESTRAINED.

NHTSA complaint #803127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW Kensin, PA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

SEAT BELT REPAIRED AFTER RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #505016 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Idaho Falls, ID

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT RELEASE.

NHTSA complaint #982425 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1991 Ford Explorer problems

← Full 1991 Ford Explorer report