19 of the
176 complaints about the 1988 Ford Tempo are about the
seat belts — 11% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
34,790 miles.
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED SHE IS HAVING RETRACTION PROBLEMS WITH HER SEAT BELT. THE SEAT BELT IS NOT RETRACTING CORRECTLY FROM THE LAP BELT, FROM THE BUCKLE TO THE DOOR POST. THIS IS HAPPENING ON THE DRIVERS SIDE ONLY. THE SEAT BELT IS ALLOWING TOO MUCH WEBBING AND NOT RETRACTING ALL THE WAY BACK INTO THE HOLDER ON THE DOOR POST. WHEN THE DRIVER IS APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE, THE SEAT BELT IS NOT HOLDING THE DRIVER SECURELY AND SAFELY IN THE SEAT. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE SHE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM HAS NOW GONE OUT OF BUSINESS AND SHE HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE. SHE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELT FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. SPEED IS NOT A FACTOR WITH THE SEAT BELT FAILURE. EVEN SITTING STILL THE SEAT BELT IS NOT WORKING.
NHTSA complaint #10127897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Libby, MT
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THE LAP BELT ON PASSENAGER SIDE FRONT WILL NOT STAY CLASPED. DRIVERS SHOULDER STRAP (AUTOMATIC) WILL NOT SLIDE OPEN. THE MOTOR CAN BE HEARD INSIDE, BUT WILL NOT MOVE.
NHTSA complaint #9005921 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palmdale, CA
SEAT BELTS
I WAS DRIVING, WIFE IN PASSENGER SEAT WITH LAP BELT ENGAGED. UPON STOPPING, LAP BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE. IMPOSSIBLE FOR HER TO EXIT CAR BECAUSE OF AUTOMATIC RETRACTOR INSTALLED ON BELT ASSEMBLY. THIS IS A MOJOR SAFETY ITEM AND FORD WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY. HAD WE BEEN IN AN ACCIDNET AND CAR WAS BURING, WIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN BURNED TO DEATH. THE ONLY WAY I COULD GET WIFE OUT OF THE CAR WAS TO CUT THE BELT AND THERE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN TIME TO DO THIS IN A BURNING CAR! EVEN WITH THE LAP BELT CUT, I AM STILL UNABLE TO RELEASE THE BUCKLE. THE LAW REQUIRES THAT BELTS BE USED YET FORD WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SAFE AND NORMAL OPERATION OF THE LAP BELT THAT THEY INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. NO PREVIOUS INDICATIONS OF ANYTHING WRONG WITH LAP BELT SYSTEM ON EITHER SIDE OF VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #754264 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lemon Grove, CA
SEAT BELTS
SEAT BELTS MALFUNCTIONED. AUTOMATIC BELTS REALEASED & UNRELEASED WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER TRIED TO FIND MANUEL TO OVERRIDE . TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. DEALER FOUND OUT THAT MOTOR & TRACK HAD TO BE REPLACED AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.
NHTSA complaint #860298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hawley, PA
SEAT BELTS
SEAT BELT MOTOR FAILED. MJS
NHTSA complaint #546423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hawley, PA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
WHEN TRYING TO PULL OUT, VEHICLE WILL STALL AND SOUND LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO CUT OFF. ALSO,DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WON'T WORK PROPERLY. WHEN DRIVING THE CONSUMER CAN HEAR THE MOTOR RUNNING, BUT THE SEAT BELT GOES OVER THE CONSUMER AND LOCKS RIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #833339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Houston, TX
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
DURING VEHICLE COLLISION SEAT BELTS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #507083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Frederick, MD
SEAT BELTS
PASSENGER'S MOTOR BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. (1ST VEHICLE ON #603313)
NHTSA complaint #516580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Frederick, MD
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES
THE FIRST CAR IN THIS DOCUMENT, SEAT BELT WARNING LAMP ON.
NHTSA complaint #516580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Alexander, VA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT UNBUCKLE.
NHTSA complaint #987268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lima, OH
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
A MALFUNCTION OF THE LAP SEAT BELT, CLASP IS BROKEN WHERE IT CANNOT BE USED. PLEASE DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM
NHTSA complaint #801521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Erie, PA
SEAT BELTS
DRIVER'S AUTOMATIC RESTRAINT BELT WAS INOPERATIVE, EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT FAILURE, WON'T GO REARWARD ON TRACK.
NHTSA complaint #800269 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Minot, ND
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER'S SIDE FEMALE END BELT BUCKLE IS BROKEN. WILL NOT LOCK TOGETHER. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #986207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Alexander, VA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT UNBUCKLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #987268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dunedin, FL
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
PLASTIC SLEEVE THAT SUPPORTS FEMALE PORTION CRACKS. THIS CAUSES BELT TO FALL WITHIN SEAT NOT ABLE TO LATCH BELTS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
NHTSA complaint #979007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columbia, OHCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTING TO TIGHT . TT
NHTSA complaint #973829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Richmond, VA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT BUCKLE DRIVER SEAT BUCKLE FAILED. TT DEALER CHARGED TO REPLACE SEAT BELT.
NHTSA complaint #973113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Richmond, VA
SEAT BELTS
SEAT BELT BUCKLE DRIVER SEAT BUCKLE FAILED. TT DEALER CHARGED TO REPLACE SEAT BELT.
NHTSA complaint #973113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Jose, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEATBELT RETRACTOR DOES NOT RETRACT. TT
NHTSA complaint #965742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.