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 2001 Ford Mustang submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 22 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
1. THERE IS A DREADFUL GAS FUME ODOR INSIDE THE CAR EVERY TIME I PUT FUEL IN THE CAR ESPECIALLY WHEN I FILL THE TANK. 2.THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. WHEN ENGAGED MY CAR STILL ROLLS A LITTLE. 3. THE SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT PROPERLY AND TEND TO TWIST AND TANGLE WHEN I TRY TO DO IT MANUALLY.
THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS RARELY BEEN USED IN THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE WEEK THE SEATBELT FAILED (BECAME JAMMED IN PANEL AS THOUGH I HAD HIT BRAKES AND WOULD NOT RELEASE) I WAS THE DRIVER FOR AN 88 YEAR OLD FEMALE FRIEND RUNNING HER ERRANDS WHILE HER CAREGIVER WAS OUT OF TOWN., THE SEAT BELT WAS USED FOR SEVERAL DAYS. I WENT ON LINE AND FOUND NUMEROUS ARTICLES AND RECALLS. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL FORD DEALER. THEY IMPLIED ON THE PHONE IT WOULD BE REPAIRED AT NO CHARGE BECAUSE, ONCE I WAS ON SITE, RENT CAR ARRANGED I WAS TOLD MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE WAS NOT A SPECIFIC RECALL AND INDICATED I MUST PAY. NOW AFTER 5 DAYS OF PAYING FOR A RENT CAR. I WAS INFORMED REPLACEMENT SEATBELT HAD NOT BEEN ORDERED PENDING MY APPROVAL. (PREVIOUSLY IT WAS NOT EXPLAINED TO IT WOULD HAVE TO BE ENTIRELY REPLACED. COST OF SEATBELT $260.42 TOTAL COST TO INSTALL $584.63. MY VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION AS THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I FEEL I HAVE BEEN MISLEAD AND RIPPED OFF BY DEALER. AT THIS POINT I AM PICKING UP THE PART ONLY, TURNING IN THE RENT CAR AND SEEKING A LESS EXPENSIVE INSTALL. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED DEFECT WITH THIS VEHICLE AND COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT WITH NO RESTRAINT FOR MY PASSENGER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT SENSOR BROKE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER ANY WARRANTY FOR THE FAILURE TO BE REPAIRED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,530 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,570.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT BELT WAS STUCK IN A PARTIALLY RETRACTED POSITION. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT PULL OUT ANY FURTHER OR RETRACT ANY FURTHER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.
THE FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTORS ARE DEFECTIVE IN DESIGN. THE SEAT BELT TWISTS INSIDE THE RETRACTOR, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO USE FOR ITS INTENDED PURPOSE. THE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT PROPERLY AND GET STUCK CAUSING PASSENGERS NOT TO BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR WARRANTY REPAIR, HOWEVER THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE BEGAN APPROXIMATELY 1-2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE AND HAS WORSENED OVER TIME. PROBLEM HAS GONE UNREMEDIED BY MANUFACTURER OR DEALER. *TR
MY WIFE AND I WERE INVOLVED IN A HIT AND RUN INCIDENT WHILE TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON I-75 JUST SOUTH OF DELK ROAD IN MARIETTA GA. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER CAR CAUSED US TO BEGIN A SERIES OF OVERSTEER CORRECTIONS WHICH ULTIMATELY LED TO THE CAR LOOSING COMPLETE TRACTION AND MAKING TWO COMPLETE REVOLUTIONS WHILE EXITING THE ROAD TOWARDS THE GRASS SHOULDER. WE EXITED THE ROAD GOING BACKWARDS AND PROCEEDED TO HIT A 6' DEEP CULVERT AND CAUSE THE CAR TO BECOME AIRBORNE. UPON THE INITIAL IMPACT MY WIFE'S SAFETY BELT WHICH HAD BEEN PROPERLY SECURED UNTIL THE IMPACT, RELEASED AND CAUSED HER TO COME OUT OF HER SEAT. AFTER LANDING AND THEN COMING TO REST VIOLENTLY I IMMEDIATELY CHECKED TO MAKE SURE SHE WAS ALRIGHT AND WAS IN QUESTION OF WHY HER BELT HAD DETACHED FROM THE RECEIVER. THE WAS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE TO THE MECHANISM, HOWEVER UPON INITIAL IMPACT I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER HEARING A METALLIC "CLINK" NOISE FOLLOWED BY MY WIFE COMING OUT OF HER PASSENGER SEAT. THIS WAS NOTED IN THE ACCIDENT REPORT AND WAS DESCRIBED TO ALL FIRST RESPONDERS ON SITE. *TR
I RECENTLY BOUGHT A 01 MUSTANG WITH 103K MILES ON IT. NOT 2 DAYS LATER THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK IT DOWN TO OUR LOCAL FORD HOUSE AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS JUST ODD THAT IT HAPPENED TO BREAK AND WOULD COST 300 DOLLARS TO CHANGE THE SEAT BELT. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FIND THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM. EITHER THE SEAT BELT LOCKS UP AND TAKES A WHILE TO STRAITEN BACK OUT OR LIKE MINE IT JUST STOPS WORKING. ONE POST ON A FORUMS SAID THAT HIS 2003 MUSTANG'S WENT OUT BEFORE 50000 MILES. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE CHANGED BY THE DEALER BECAUSE IF IT IS HAPPENING SO MUCH IT IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT. I HAVE A 95 THUNDERBIRD AND 01 ALERO THAT STILL HAVE THEIR SEAT BELTS WORKING PERFECTLY. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME ON THIS MATTER. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FILLER TUBE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON THE FUEL SYSTEM. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, SHE SMELLED GASOLINE ON HER DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,410 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 10/14/08 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE MATERIAL USED FOR THE PARTS THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED HAD ROTTED OVER TIME. THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT WAS NOT RETRACTING AND RELEASING. THE HEADLAMPS HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE A HAZE FILE HAD FORMED ON THE INSIDE. UPDATED 10/16/08. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD MUSTANG. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT OR RELEASE. THE FAILURE BEGAN APPROXIMATELY 5-6 MONTHS AGO AND HAS WORSENED OVER TIME. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,500 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
SET BELTS IN THE 2001 MUSTANG NEVER WORKED THE BEST NOW THE PASSANGER'S SIDE SET BELT WON'T WORK AT ALL, IT WON'T COME OUT SO YOU CAN LOCK YOURSELF IN.THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT.*AK
TL*-THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2001 FORD MUSTANG PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DIDN'T RELEASE. ON JANUARY 1, 2007 THE SEAT BELT WOULDN'T COME OUT OF THE HOLDER. THE CONTACT NEVER NOTICED THIS BECAUSE NO ONE EVER SAT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT COULD NOT BE WORN BY ANYONE ON PASSENGER'S SIDE, IT WILL NOT WORK. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT RETRACTOR ONLY WORKED IF ONE PLAYED WITH IT. THE DRIVER'S SIDE BELT WILL NOT RETRACT INTO THE HOLDER ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP HAS INFORMED HER THAT SHE WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS FOR THE SEAT BELT. THERE WAS A RECALL 99V250000 ON FORD MUSTANGS FROM 1999-2000 FOR SEAT BELT FAILURE SHE THOUGHT THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD COMPENSATE THE CONSUMER IN SOME WAY FOR THE SEAT BELT FAILURES. *AK
I OWN A 2001 FORD MUSTANG AND THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM FOR MORE THAN 3 YEARS. THEY DO NOT RETRACT DUE TO THE CHEAP COMPONENTS USED TO KEEP THEM FROM TWISTING. THIS ALSO CAUSES THEM TO BE LOOSE WHEN WEARING THEM. I HAVE BEEN TO MANY MESSAGE BOARDS ON MUSTANG WEBSITES AND HAVE FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I RECENTLY HAD A CONVERSATION WITH A LOCAL DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. MANAGER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD 2 MUSTANGS IN THAT MONTH FOR THIS REPAIR. MY CAR WAS BEYOND ITS MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST $652 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. THEREFORE I HAVE DECIDED NOT TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED AND WILL CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM, FIXING THEM TO THE BEST OF WHAT I CAN DO TO MAKE THEM SOMEWHAT FUNCTIONAL. MY OPINION IS THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THIS CAR THAT FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS BUT WILL NOT DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS THEIR #1 VEHICLE AND RECALL COSTS WOULD BE TO MUCH. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. *AK
THE FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILD. AS A RESULT, THE OCCUPANTS WERE NOT BEING RESTRAINED. CONSUMER STATED THAT WARRANTY ENTITLED HER TO ANY SAFETY RESTRAINT PROBLEMS, FIVE YEARS OR 50,000 MILES. HOWEVER THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY. IAK
SEAT BELTS WERE TWISTED INSIDE THE RETRACTOR, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO USE. THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED THEN TWO DAY LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. *AK WHEN THE SEAT BELT WERE NOT TWISTED THEY HAD TO BE RETRACTED MANUALLY. *NM
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT AN EMBANKMENT. DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BECAME DETACHED. HOWEVER, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO A HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
COMPLAINT REGARDING SAFETY ISSUES WITH MUSTANG SEAT BELTS. *MR THERE WERE CONSISTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAT BELTS. THE DEALER PROVIDED TWO SEAT BELT EXTENSIONS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. NO FIX WOULD REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *SC
SEAT BELT PROBLEMS WITH A 2001 FORD MUSTANG. FAXED A LETTER TO DOT DECEMBER 17, 2003 RELATIVE TO THE SEAT BELTS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. INQUIRING IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE FAXED LETTER AND IF THERE WAS RESPONSE TO THE PROBLEM? INCIDENT DATE DOES NOT APPLY DUE TO THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CONSTANT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. *LA THANK YOU, EDWARD GLIHA
THE FRONTAL SEAT BELT HAS A LOOP AND WILL NOT RETRACT BACK TO THE SPACE AND WILL GET STUCK. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS
VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD ON WHILE DRIVING 5-10 MPH, SEATBELT DID NOT RESTRAIN DRIVER, SHE HIT HER HEAD ON WINDSHIELD. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.*AKI
RESTRAINT RETRACTED AND LOCKED NEARLY CHOKING THE OCCUPANT. OWNER HAD TO CUT RESTRAINT TO FREE PASSENGER. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
SEAT BELT ACTIVATES UNEXPECTEDLY AND IS GROSSLY OVER-SENSITIVE. FOR EXAMPLE, REPEATEDLY LOCKS-UP AND PREVENTS DRIVER FROM TURNING UPPER BODY TO OBTAIN REASONABLE VIEW FROM REAR OF APPROACHING TRAFFIC WHEN EXITING FREEWAY. *AK
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
Data on this page last refreshed .