14 of the
1,151 complaints about the 1993 Ford Explorer are about the
seat belts — 1% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
150,000 miles.
WHILE MY FAMILY WAS DRIVING IN THE CAR, WITH TWO CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS IN THE BACK SEAT, THE TWO YEAR OLD STARTED CRYING AND TOLD US THE BABY'S CAR SEAT WAS BROKEN. WE LOOKED BACK AND THE CAR SEAT WAS SIDEWAYS- THE SEAT BUCKLE THAT HELD IT IN PLACE HAD COMPLETELY GIVEN OUT! WE WERE DRIVING AND I HAD TO LEAN BACK FROM THE FRONT SEAT AND RIGHT THE BABY SEAT WHILE WE PULLED OVER AND MANAGED TO REBUCKLE THE BABY'S SEAT INTO THE MIDDLE. THE SEATS DO NOT ACTUALLY FIT THAT WAY FOR EVERYDAY USE AND OUR CAR HAS BEEN UNUSABLE TO US EVER SINCE BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS AND NO OTHER WAY TO ARRANGE THEM IN THE CAR. WE CALLED ABOUT A PART TO REPLACE THAT SEAT BUCKLE AND WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT AVAILABLE ANY MORE. I THINK THAT THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN- TO HAVE A SEAT BUCKLE GIVE OUT - WHILE DRIVING - WITH A BABY IN IT! WE HAVE TRADED CARS WITH OUR PARENTS IN THE MEANTIME AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND THE PART TO FIX IT. (THIS IS THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BUCKLE.)
NHTSA complaint #10231514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Allentown, PA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SAFETY BELT CAME UNLATCHED. THE SAFETY BELT NO LONGER WORKED. THE BUTTON ON THE BUCKLE WAS STUCK ALL THE WAY IN AND LOOSE TO THE TOUCH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A MECHANIC.*AK UPDATED 11/29/2005 - THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LOCK BROKE AND THERE ARE LOOSE PARTS MOVING AROUND INSIDE THE LOCK.
NHTSA complaint #10142188 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 125,000 milesNorth Hills, CACrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, THE DRIVER WAS INJURED. *JB PRIOR TO IMPACT THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO AVOID THE ACCIDENT. THE DRIVERS BODY WAS TOSSED TO THE LEFT ONTO THE DOOR AND THE SEAT BELT BECAME UNLATCHED. AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER WAS NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD. *SCC *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10012435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Nashua, NH
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #764445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dothan, AL
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE AND THE RETRACTOR WERE BROKEN. PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATBELT RETRACTOR WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, AND BUCKLE DOESN'T RESPOND TO THE BOTTOM. CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE HAD TO USE A KNIFE IN ORDER TO GET LOOSE OF THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATBELT. REAR MIDDLE SEATBELT WILL GO INSIDE OF THE RETRACTOR, BUT IT WLL NOT RELEASE PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #865682 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dothan, AL
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE AND THE RETRACTOR WERE BROKEN. PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATBELT RETRACTOR WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, AND BUCKLE DOESN'T RESPOND TO THE BOTTOM. CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE HAD TO USE A KNIFE IN ORDER TO GET LOOSE OF THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATBELT. REAR MIDDLE SEATBELT WILL GO INSIDE OF THE RETRACTOR, BUT IT WLL NOT RELEASE PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #865682 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Castro VAL, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
PASSSENGER SEAT FELL APART AND SEAT BELT UNLOCKED. YH
NHTSA complaint #549614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Leonard, MICrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELT BROKE AT TIME OF IMPACT WITH TREE, RESULTING IN SEVERE INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #704933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hannibal, MO
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT RELEASE WHEN NEEDED, CAUSING DRIVER TO BE UNABLE TO RELEASE SEAT BELT WHEN NEEDED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND WAS UNABLE TO GIVE A REPLY.
NHTSA complaint #829243 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Montgomery, AL
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVER'S SIDE LAP/SHOULDER BELT REATRACTOR WILL NOT RELEASE, ONCE FASTENED, IT WILL NOT UNLOCK. TO GET OUT, NEED TO OPEN THE DOOR AND SLIDE UNDER THE SEAT BELT.
NHTSA complaint #811828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fresno, CACrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVER BROADSIDED ONCOMING VEHICLE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT CAUSING DRIVER TO HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND REARVIEW MIRROR. TT
NHTSA complaint #978663 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Manhatten BE, CACrash2 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
WHEN INVOLVED IN A COLLISION THE SHOULDER PORTION OF THE SEATBELT DID NOT RESTRAIN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
NHTSA complaint #977506 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Silver Sprin, MD
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER SEATBELT BUCKLE PLASTIC CAME APART, RESULTING IN NO LATCHING ACTION. TT
NHTSA complaint #976934 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lincolnton, NC
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELTS ARE NOT THE RIGHT SIZE FOR A SHORT PERSON. TT
NHTSA complaint #959590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.