Owner-reported complaints naming the seat belt system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Ford Explorer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
THE PROBLEM THE SEAT BELTS DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH TENSION TO RETRACT CONSEQUENTLY GETTING ON THE DOOR LOCK MECHANISM, CAUSING THE DOOR NOT TO LOCK, TO STAY OPEN UNSECURED ALSO DAMAGING THE SEAT BELT, IT DOES NO HAVE A WAY TO INCREASE THE TENSION WHICH IT SHOULD HAVE. IT DAMAGED MY DOOR SEAL, MY LOCK MECHANISM AND THE BELT TOO.
CHAT CONVERSATION START 5:57PM GREETINGS, I SAW YOU COMMENTARY ABOUT THE FORD EXPLORER EXHAUST FUMES INSIDE THE CABIN, WELL I HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPLORER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, I AM A MECHANIC I FIGURED MAY BE THE FILTER WAS CLOGGED WELL IT WAS NO FILTER, WHAT I FOUND THE VENT DOOR FELL OFF FROM THE PLACE WHERE IT SUPPOSE TO OPEN AND CLOSE LAYING DOWN ON THE FAN, SO I REINSTALLED BACK AND THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED, IT IS A POOR DESIGN FROM THE FORD COMPANY. I WAS LOOSING HEAT DURING WINTER AND NOT BE COOL AT THE SUMMER LOOSING THE THRU VENT OUT PLACE. FORD NEEDS TO FIX ALL THIS PROBLEMS ALONG WITH SEAT BELTS, REAR WINDOW QUARTER PANEL CRACKED NO ONE IS GETTING FORD TO DO RECALLS ON THIS ITEMS VERY POOR CONSTRUCTION.
THE PROBLEM WITH SEAT BELTS DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH TENSION TO RETRACT THE HARNESS CAUSING TO STAY BY THE DOOR AND NOT CLOSING GOOD, IT MEANS THE BELTS IT IS BY THE DOOR MECHANISM JAMMING THE LOCK AND NOT LOCKING PROPERLY ON DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE, I HAD THE DOOR OPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING, ALSO DESTROYED MY DOOR SEAL TEARING UP, THE MANUFACTURE FORD DOES NOT WANT TO REPLACE IT FOR FREE SINCE IT IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT, THEY WANT TO CHARGE FOR THE REPLACEMENT AND EVEN THE NEW ONES ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I CHECK ALL THIS STUFF SINCE I WAS A FLEET MAINTENANCE MECHANIC, CAR INSPECTOR. GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO STEP IN AND FIX THE SAFETY HARNESS FOR GOOD TENSION. THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS DRIVING, ALSO PARKED THE DOOR DID NOT CLOSE PROPERLY DUE THE HARNESS DID NOT RETRACTED.
THE PROBLEM THE SEAT BELTS DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH SPRING ACTION TO RETRACT CAUSING TO BE LAYING DOWN AND IT IS GETTING CAUGHT BY THE DOOR LOCK MECHANISM MESSING THE BELT PLUS CAUSING THE DOOR NOT TO LOCK PROPERLY, EITHER THE DRIVER OR THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE DOOR CAME UNLOCK SINCE THE HARNESS DID NOT RETRACT. IT NEEDS ATTENTION AND BEING REPLACE BY THE DEALER OR BEING RECALL TO MAKE SURE IT IS REPLACE. THE BELT IS GETTING DAMAGE.
THE PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELTS DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH RETRACTION FORCE LIKE IT USED TO BE, THEY HANG OUT, DAMAGING THE DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM AND DOOR SEAL, DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. IT HAS BEING A PROBLEM NOT RETRACING THE BELT LIKE IT SUPPOSE TO. *TR
THE PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELTS THAT IT DOES NOT RETRACT, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT SYSTEM WOULD NOT HOLD ANY TENSION TO BE SAFE ON THE ROAD AND BESIDE THAT IT DOES NOT RETRACT, IT TORN THE SEAL BECAUSE METAL HOOK WAS STILL STICKING OUT AND IT GOT CAUGHT ON THE DOOR CONSEQUENTLY TEARING THE SEAL, THEY ARE THE SAME WAY ON BOTH SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, DRIVER AND PASSENGER. I BROUGHT TO THE DEALER AND IT SEEMS LIKE THEY DON'T CARE TO REPLACE IT. *TR
WATER RUNS DOWN FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT APPERATUS, INSIDE THE CAR. WATER DAMAGE SEEN ON INTERIOR ROOF FROM WATER LEAKING INSIDE THE ROOF OF THE TRUCK.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECOND ROW MIDDLE SEAT BELT WAS NOT WORKING. THE SEAT BELT CANNOT BE PULLED OUT TO HOOK INTO THE CHILD SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO A CHILD SEAT TECHNICIAN AND THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
THE SEAT BELT IS CUTTING THROUGH THE PLASTIC ON THE HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT WHERE THE BELT COMES OUT OF THE HOLE, WHICH POTENTIALLY COULD WEAR OUT THE BELT AND CAUSE IT BREAK IN AN ACCIDENT. *NM
I WAS FOLLOWING UP ON THE DEATH OF A 1 MONTH THAT WAS EJECTED FROM A COSCO CHILD SEAT IN A MOTOR VEHICLE TRAIN ACCIDENT. WHILE FOLLOWING UP ON THE DEATH, I WAS LOOKING AT PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE INVESTIGATING AGENCY. I NOTICED THERE WERE NO PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE CAR SEAT OR THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHERE THE TRAIN HAD STRUCK THE VEHICLE. I WENT TO THE IMPOUND LOT WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS STORED AND MET THE FATHER OF THE DECEASED CHILD. HE WAS COLLECTING PROPERTY FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. HE SHOWED ME A STROLLER AND THE CAR SEAT. THE STROLLER HAD BEEN EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND WAS DAMAGED AND THE CAR SEAT WAS STILL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THIS CAR SEAT AND STROLLER ARE SOLD AS A SET FROM K-MART AND HAD BEEN PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER OF 2005 IN HUTCHINSON KANSAS. UPON LOOKING AT THE CAR SEAT WHICH WAS REAR FACING IN THE VEHICLE AND STILL STRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE BY THE SEAT BELT. I WAS INFORMED BY THE CAPTAIN OF THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT THAT ONE OF THEIR OFFICERS TRAINED TO INSTALL CHILD SAFETY SEATS SAID THE SEAT WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY. MY CONCERN OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THAT THE STRAP THAT WOULD HAVE GONE OVER THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE CHILD WAS COMPLETELY UNDONE FROM THE LATCH ON THE BACK OF THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT. THE STRAP ON THE LEFT SHOULDER WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY UNDONE AND I PHOTOGRAPHED THE ROUTING OF THE STRAP BEFORE REMOVING THE SEAT FROM THE VEHICLE. THE OWNER OF THE SEAT GAVE ME THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION OFF OF THE SEAT. MODEL # 22-300-SWB; 11/10/04 GBIB. REG NO PA-25334(CN) PERMIT # 1780-333 DOREL JUVENILE GROUP INC. FROM THE IMPACT OF THE TRAIN TO THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR 1/4 PANEL OF THE 20-03 EXPLORER, THE CHILD WAS EJECTED FROM THE CHILD SEAT AND DIED 3 HRS LATER FROM HEAD INJURIES. FROM THE INVESTIGATION, I BELIEVE THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH THE LATCHING AND HOLDING ABILITY ON THE BACK OF THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT. *JB
MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER HAS HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH SEATBELTS AND THE REMOTE ENTRY. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. FORD REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS.THE SEATBELTS DO NOT RETRACT PROPERLY AND THEY CUT INTO THE PLASTIC. I AM AFRAID THAT THESE SEATBELTS ARE DEFECTIVE AND I WORRY THAT THEY WILL NOT WORK IN A CRASH. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THESE SEATBELTS BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. THE REMOTE ENTRY DOES NOT WORK ALL OF THE TIME. IT DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US TO REPLACE THE BATTERIES WHICH WE DID BUT THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE THE REMOTES.
REF: ODI ID NUMBER : 10016221. I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 2003 EXPLORER AS THE REFERENCED PROBLEM. WHEN I GET OUT OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT, THE SEAT BELT DOES NOT FULLY RETRACT. UNLESS I PHYSICALLY "THROW" THE EXCESS BACK INTO THE VEHICLE, THE DOOR GETS SHUT ON THE BELT. I HAD TO HAVE THE PLASTIC BUTTON ON THE BELT REPLACED BECAUSE THE DOOR BROKE THE ORIGINAL ONE.*AK
THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT BACK, AND THE SEAT BELT WOULD BE TO LOOSE FOR THE CONSUMER TO WEAR. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NUMEROUS PROBLEM: BRAKES, REAR WINDOW OPENING, SEAT BELT RETRACTION, HEATER, REAR DEFROST, BODY WORK, ETC.. *PH WHILE BRAKING THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE REAR WINDOW HINGE FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE WINDOW TO OPEN WHILE THE CONSUMER WENT THROUGH A CAR WASH. THE SEAT BELT RETRACTED SLOWLY WHICH CAUSED THE BELT TO BECOME HOOKED ONTO THE DOOR LOCK SYSTEM. AS A RESULT THE PASSENGER COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE LEFT WIPER WAS NOT CLEARING THE WINDSHIELD. THE LEFT REAR DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE ALL THE WAY UNLESS IT WAS SLAMMED HARD. *NM
WHEN THE FRONT SEAT BELT WAS USED IT WOULD SLIP OUT OF THE PILLAR MOLDING. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE SEAT BELT CUT INTO THE MOLDING AND FRAYED THE WEBBING. THE MOLDING AND THE BELT HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *NM
DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT DID NOT NOT RETRACT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE SEAT BELT TWICE ALREADY DUE TO WORN OUT PARTS.*AK
RE: SECOND (MID-SECTION) SEAT - DRIVER'S SIDE 1. SEAT BELT BECAME LODGED BEHIND SEAT RELEASE CAUSING BACK OF SEAT TO JERK FORWARD AND STRIKE MY CHILD IN BACK OF NECK. 2. FACTS: A) WHEN MY DAUGHTER (12 YEARS; 89 LBS.) LEANED FORWARD IN HER SEAT, PRESSURE WAS PLACED ON SEAT BELT CAUSING RELEASE TO ENGAGE AND JERK FORWARD; B) MY DAUGHTER WAS STILL IN SEAT BELT WHEN I PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF ROAD TO CHECK ON HER; C) I WAS REPEATEDLY UNABLE TO GET THE BACK OF HER SEAT TO "LOCK IN" PLACE; D) UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND SEAT BELT TO BE LODGED SECURELY BEHIND SEAT RELEASE AND EACH TIME MY DAUGHTER MOVED FORWARD AND PLACED PRESSURE ON SEAT BELT, THE RELEASE WAS ENGAGED; E) THIS INCIDENT WASN'T THE RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT; E) BRAKES WEREN'T BEING USED AT TIME; F) SHE WAS SEEN IN EMERGENCY ROOM DUE TO PAIN IN HER NECK. BACK AND HEAD; SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A CERVICAL STRAIN AND HAD TO WEAR A NECK COLLAR FOR FIVE DAYS. 3. CONTRIBUTING REASONS FOR OCCURRENCE: A) SEAT BELT IS SECURED TO SIDE OF VEHICLE; B) WHEN A PERSON GETS INTO THIRD ROW SEAT, IT'S EASY TO GET CAUGHT ON THE SEAT BELT CAUSING IT TO HANG BEHIND SEAT RELEASE; (C) IF SEAT BELT DOESN'T RETRACT PROPERLY, IT CATCHES BEHIND SEAT RELEASE; D) IT CAN ALSO CATCH ON FRONT OF RELEASE. 4. ADDITIONAL CONCERNS: A) SECOND SEAT RELEASE IS A TWO STEP RELEASE: IF THIS WAS A SITUATION WHERE THE BRAKES HAD TO BE APPLIED QUICKLY AND FIRMLY, SECOND PART OF RELEASE COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY ENGAGED CAUSING MY DAUGHTER TO BE STRUCK FROM BEHIND AND THROWING HER FORWARD CAUSING HER TO STRIKE THE FRONT OF HER HEAD ON THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT WHICH IMPACT COULD HAVE QUITE LIKELY CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. 5. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION WHICH COULD CAUSE CATASTROPHIC RESULTS IF NOT CORRECTED IN ALL EXPLORERS EQUIPPED WITH THIS TYPE OF SEAT BELT AND SEATING ARRANGEMENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. I LOOK FORWARD TO A RESPONSE IN THIS REGARD. *NLM
THE SEAT BELTS DO NOT FULLY RETRACT CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO JAM THE DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM, RESULTING IN THE DOOR NOT CLOSING PROPERLY AND OPENING AT ANY GIVEN TIME! *JB
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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