FaultScore

1988 Ford Taurus seat belt problems

34 of the 462 complaints about the 1988 Ford Taurus are about the seat belts — 7% of everything reported for this model year.

C

34

Complaints

3

Crashes

1

Fires

2

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Buckle Assembly 25 73.5%
Seat Belts 3 8.8%
Anchorage 2 5.9%
Retractor 2 5.9%
Webbing 2 5.9%

Seat Belts across every Ford Taurus year

1987 23 4.5%
1988 34 6.7%
1989 144 28.2%
1990 25 4.9%
1991 10 2.0%
1992 21 4.1%
1993 14 2.7%
1994 10 2.0%
1995 11 2.2%
1996 25 4.9%
1997 25 4.9%
1998 29 5.7%
1999 63 12.3%
2000 39 7.6%
2001 24 4.7%
2002 14 2.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Bronx, NY Fire

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

SEATBELT BUCKLES JUST CAME APART IN MY HANDS. BOTH FRONT SEATBELTS HAVE NO BUCKLES, BECAUSE OF THIS. REAR WIRING FOR RUNNING LIGHTS, DEVELOPED EXTREME CORROSION AND TAILLIGHTS CONTINUOUSLY BLEW OUT APPROXIMATELY EVERY TWO-THREE DAYS. A SMALL ELECTRICAL BURNOUT OCCURRED BURNING THE PLUGS AND LENSES. HOOD SHOCKS USED TO HOLD UP HOOD WHILE WORKING ON VEHICLE SUCH AS CHANGING/ CHECKING OIL...ETC...ARE NON FUNCTIONAL AND NO BAR IS PROVIDED , NOR IS THERE A SPACE FOR ONE. CAUSING EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITIONS BECAUSE HOOD DROPS DOWN SUDDENLY CAUSING INJURY.

NHTSA complaint #722340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tivertin, RI

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE IN HALF, CONSUMER CAN'T DRIVE WITHOUT SEATBELT, IT IS STATE LAW WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURY IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURED. *AK

NHTSA complaint #853893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sheboygan Falls, WI

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

THE METAL PORTION THE SEAT BELT, THAT CONNECTS IN BUCKLE BROKE, CAUSING LATCHING PROBLEMS IN THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #825583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Aitkin, MN

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

METAL PIECE OF LOCKING SYSTEM CAME OFF WHILE CONSUMER WAS GETTING OUT OF VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED SHOULER BELT TO FALL APART.

NHTSA complaint #834790 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Detriot, MI

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT AND SHOULDER BELT TONGUE ARE COMPLETELY BROKEN, WHICH MAKES SHOULDER BELTS INOPERABLE. MAY NOT PROTECT OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #834696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chamburg, IL

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE TOP CAME OFF. CLIP POPPED OUT. LOCKING MECHANISM NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. WILL NOT LOCK. TOOK TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK *SLC

NHTSA complaint #824962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ixonia, WI

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE DISLODGED WHICH DOES NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. RECALL FOR THE 1989 TAURUS NOT FOR THE 1988 TAURUS.

NHTSA complaint #823161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bryan, TX

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

SEAT BELTS ARE DESIGNED AS A LAMPSHADEE FEATURE, CAUSING THE SEAT BELTS TO BECOME LOOSE UNDER SLIGHTTEST MOVEMENT.

NHTSA complaint #513879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicago, IL

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE TO CONSUMER'S REQUESTS TO OBTAIN A REPLACEMENT SEAT BELT CLASP FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE. IN ADDITION, INTERMITTENT STALLING/HESITATION DUE TO ENGINE OVERHEATING WHEN A/C IS RUNNING.

NHTSA complaint #525191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Elberon, NJ

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

PROBLEM WITH SEATBELT.

NHTSA complaint #514056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Saint Louis, MO

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE.

NHTSA complaint #512595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Xenia, OH

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILS TO BUCKLE BECAUSE THE FEMALE END WILL NOT LATCH DUE TO FAILURE OF A SMALL SPRING TO ENGAGE THE LATCHING. 8AK

NHTSA complaint #512172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Everson, WA Crash

SEAT BELTS

DURING FRONTAL IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK/PASSENGER'S FRONT AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT DID LOCK.

NHTSA complaint #986285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Framingham, MA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

SEAT BELT BUCKLE CAME APART/SEPARATED FROM BELT STRAP. *DSH

NHTSA complaint #488813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Diego, CA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY HAS A PLASTIC COVER. ONCE COVER BREAKS, SEAT BELT BUCKLE FALLS APART. PLEASE DESCRIBED DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #981148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wyckoff, NJ

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

SEAT BELTS FAIL TO RETRACT TIGHTLY.

NHTSA complaint #485813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

East Greenbu, NY

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

SEAT BELT BUCKLE; FAILURE ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE, BUCKLE IS DETACHED FROM THE BELT.

NHTSA complaint #980395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

East Greenbu, NY

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

SEAT BELT BUCKLE; FAILURE ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE, BUCKLE IS DETACHED FROM THE BELT.

NHTSA complaint #980395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Elberon, NJ

SEAT BELTS

SEAT BELT CAUGHT IN DOOR LOCK, MAKING THE DOOR IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN. *DSH

NHTSA complaint #483170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kings Park, NY

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

DRIVER SEATBELT BUCKLE CASING FAILED, ALLOWING THE BUCKLE TO FALL OFF. TT

NHTSA complaint #977126 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Addyston, OH Crash 1 injured

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

DRIVER SHOULDER BELT DID NOT LOCKUP ON REAREND COLLISION. TT

NHTSA complaint #972276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Redding, CT

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE OFF THE STRAP . TT

NHTSA complaint #971902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Redding, CT

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH CAME OFF THE STRAP . TT

NHTSA complaint #970924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Richmond, VA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE, UNABLE TO LATCH THE SEAT BELT. TT

NHTSA complaint #969171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

N. Babylon, NY

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FELL APART WITH NO WARNING WHILE IN USE. TT

NHTSA complaint #968994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fremont, CA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

THE DRIVERS SEATBELT BUCKLE THE PLASTIC CAME OFF AND IS BROKEN. TT *SLC

NHTSA complaint #967626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Catonsvill, MD

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE FELL APART/UNBUCKLED. *SKD

NHTSA complaint #482076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bloomington, MN

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

THE DRIVERS AND FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELTS DO NOT LATCH. TT

NHTSA complaint #966367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Highland PAR, 00

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT CAME APART WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO BUCKLE IT. TT

NHTSA complaint #965812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Woodbridge, NJ Crash 1 injured

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED, SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN, HIT WINDSHIELD. TT

NHTSA complaint #964909 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1988 Ford Taurus problems

← Full 1988 Ford Taurus report