2016 Ford Fusion Seat belts Problems

Driver side seat belt suddenly stopped working. Initially it was stuck and would not deploy. Eventually it released and was able to be drawn and buckled, but does not restrain passenger when tested manually; driver was not restrained when the car was braked quickly. rom 35 mph to a full stop. There is a December 5, 2016 NHSTA recall on front seat belts May not restrain Occupants (NHSTA Campaign number 16V875000) and and a Ford Recall number 16S42. Car was purchased from a Ford dealer in 2018-2019 as a used vehicle. Current dealer indicates it may cost from $400-1200 to replace the seat belt.

NHTSA ID

11669911

Incident

Jun 27, 2025

Rear passenger seat belt will not release lock/tension/broken. Will not allow rear occupants to buckle in. Safety issue. Seems to happen on most 2013+ ford vehicles specifically trims like titanium with a 'inflatable belt" This issue should be recalled free of charge, It is a major safety issue not to be able to use a seatbelt. The best remedy would be inspect and replacement of broken components. Both occurred over 80k miles one being a truck (entirely different vehicle)

NHTSA ID

11666666

Incident

Jun 11, 2025

After the car has been sitting in the sun with the sun shining on the drivers side door, on a warm day, the seatbelt on the driver side cannot not be extracted until the car cools down. This has happened several times. I have talked to the dealer and he says that he has not seen this problem before. I have googled the issue and it appears that I am not the only one who has had this problem. I’ve had to drive several times without using my seatbelt as I cannot use the seatbelt.

NHTSA ID

11595076

Incident

Jun 18, 2024

The Airbags lights showing it is off and not functioning.

NHTSA ID

11568695

Incident

Jul 11, 2023

The drivers seatbelt is stuck and will not release to allow me to buckle myself in.

NHTSA ID

11530353

Incident

Jul 4, 2023

seatbelt and airbag lights won’t go off, constantly dinging. code reader says there’s an issue with my restraint system

NHTSA ID

11458889

Incident

Mar 29, 2022

A number of times last summer when really hot with the car out in the sun, the driver side seat belt would not pull open enough to allow buckling. One time I had just enough room to buckle, but it was a very tight and uncomfortable restraint. Must be the spring retracting mechanism? Was fine all fall and winter, but can’t risk not being repaired/replaced.

NHTSA ID

11456100

Incident

Jul 17, 2021

WHEN TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT 60MPH AND I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT DOWN SHIFT OR SLOW DOWN. A STRANGE SOUND CAN BE HEARD UNTIL I PRESS ON THE BRAKES. THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT SOMETIMES.. THERE IS A STRANGE SOUND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA ID

11399126

Incident

Aug 17, 2017

Mileage

30,000 mi

WHEN I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE OR FINANCED IT FROM THE DEALERSHIP I ASKED FOR THE CAR FAX AND NOTICED THERE WERE TWO SAFETY RECALLS AND ASKED IF THEY HAD BEEN FIXED AND THEY GAVE ME TWO COMPUTER PIECES OF PLAIN WHITE PRINT OUT PAPERWORK THAT ONLY SAID SERVICED RECALL AND THAT THEY DID ALL THEIR SERVICE PAPERWORK LIKE THAT NOW ! I WAS DOUBTFUL UNTIL I JUST CHECKED YOUR SITE AND FOUND 8 UNREPAIRED RECALLS TO MY CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

11329224

Incident

Oct 30, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STOPPED, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PORTSMOUTH FORD (400 SPAULDING TURNPIKE, PORTSMOUTH, NH 03801, (603) 433-1221) WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

NHTSA ID

11328569

Incident

May 1, 2020

Mileage

63,000 mi

FIRST EPISODE: DRIVER'S SEAT BELT LOCKED PREMATURELY WHILE IN MOTION ~35MPH, NO SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, NOT BRAKING RAPIDLY. AT NEXT RED LIGHT, I UNBUCKLED BUT COULD NOT DRAW BELT OUT MORE THAN A FEW INCHES. PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT, OPENED AND CLOSED DOOR A FEW TIMES AND FINALLY GOT BELT TO PULL OUT FAR ENOUGH TO REBUCKLE AND DRIVE HOME. SINCE THEN, SEAT BELT ALSO LOCKS INTERMITTENTLY AFTER FEW INCHES OF EXTENSION UPON INITIAL CAR ENTRY AND FIRST BUCKLE-IN. OPENING AND CLOSING DOOR AND MULTIPLE PULLS EVENTUALLY RELEASES BELT ENOUGH TO BUCKLE, BUT THEN IT BECOMES SLACK WHILE DRIVING. PROBLEM FIRST STARTED LATE FEB-EARLY MARCH, BUT DEFINITELY BEFORE MARCH 16, 2020 WHEN SANTA CLARA COUNTY SHELTER-IN-PLACE ORDER STARTED. IT HAS ESCALATED SINCE THEN...WARMING WEATHER? I DRIVE TO MY PEDIATRIC PRACTICE AND THE NEWBORN UNIT AT OUR LOCAL HOSPITAL 4-5 TIMES/WEEK DESPITE PANDEMIC. I'M CONCERNED THAT IF BELT IS LOCKING INAPPROPRIATELY AT VEHICLE STARTUP AND SLACKENING DURING NORMAL DRIVING, IT MAY FAIL TO LOCK IN A CRASH.

NHTSA ID

11322749

Incident

Mar 11, 2020

Mileage

25,000 mi

SEAT BELTS IN BACK SEAT ON BOTH SIDES DO NOT COME OUT . WHILE TRYING TO PULL OUT THE BELTS THEY KEEP LOCKING UP AS IF IT WAS PULLED OUT TO FAST, BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER THE SPEED YOU PULL THEM OUT. I CAN NOT HAVE PEOPLE IN THE BACKSEATS. IT IS NOT SAFE. *TR

NHTSA ID

11321352

Incident

Jan 5, 2020

Mileage

59,540 mi

I AM INFORMED BY FORD, THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THEM TO REPAIR THE PARTS? THE CAR STEERS INCORRECTLY, PULLS TO THE SIDE. WAS HAPPENING ON HIGHWAY AS WELL AS CITY DRIVING, AND I-95

NHTSA ID

11232883

Incident

Jul 1, 2019

Mileage

11,000 mi

DRIVER SEAT BELT WON'T RETRACT. MY DRIVER SEAT BELT HAS GOTTEN STUCK MULTIPLE TIMES. I'D PULL ON IT AND IT WOULDN'T RETRACT. IT WOULD JUST KEEP ROLLING OUT BUT NEVER ROLL BACK IN.

NHTSA ID

11155411

Incident

Nov 26, 2018

Mileage

26,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD FUSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT SEIZED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V875000 (SEAT BELTS). WORTHINGTON FORD (2950 N BELLFLOWER BLVD, LONG BEACH, CA 90815) DIAGNOSED THAT A SEAT BELT SAFETY BOLT WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000.

NHTSA ID

11101247

Incident

Apr 16, 2018

Mileage

45,000 mi

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT KEEPS LOCKING UP AND WILL NOT LET YOU USE THE SEAT BELT, IT WILL WORK A DAY OR TWO THEN YOU WILL GO A FEW DAYS WITH IT NOT LETTING YOU USE THE SEAT BELT BECAUSE IT WILL NOT COME OUT.

NHTSA ID

10979932

Incident

Apr 1, 2017

Mileage

35,200 mi

SEAT BELT ON DRIVER SIDE IS LOCKED UP, UNABLE TO BUCKLE INTO CAR, OR ABLE TO GET THE SEAT BELT TO MOVE AT ALL, THIS CAR HAS UNDER 9000 MILES ON IT, PURCHASED LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AGO. PULLING ON THE SEAT BELT ONLY MADE IT WORSE, I ASSUME IT IS AN ISSUE WITH THE TENSIONER.

NHTSA ID

10933821

Incident

Dec 2, 2016

Mileage

8,600 mi