Owner-reported complaints naming the seat belt system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Seat belts reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Jun 13, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 411 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
5
What this page shows
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Ford Ranger submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 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.
Owner reports naming seat belt
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
AirbagsFuel systemSeat belts
Filed Jun 13, 2015
AIR BAGS.. DEFLATING, UNSERVICEABLE, DEMAND USELESS, ONLY ON PASSENGER SIDE, DRIVERS SIDE DISLODGED HORN FUEL/PROPULSION.. WITH FUEL TANK FILLED, FIRST HALF(1/2) TANK HAVING EXCESSIVE FUEL CONSUMED. SECOND (1/2) OF FUEL CONSUMED AT OWNERS MANUAL SPECIFICATIONS OF CITY AND HIGHWAY MILES PER GALLON. THROTTLE PEDAL STIFF, STICKS, AFTER NORMAL DAILY WARM UP, EXTRA FOOT PRESSURE NEEDED TO DISLODGE PEDAL AND CABLE, REAL SLUGGISH AS IF NOT RECEIVING ENOUGH FUEL TO INJECTORS, EVEN AFTER REGULAR MAINTENANCE COMPLETED.. SEAT BELTS.. DRIVERS SIDE HOOKUP RETAINING LATCH MALFUNCTIONS AND " WILL NOT REMAIN LATCHED", SEVERAL ATTEMPTS NEED TO BE MADE BEFORE GETTING A STRONG SEATBELT CLIP TO LATCH LOCKED ON
NHTSA ID
10725116
Incident
Apr 14, 2013
Mileage
106,243 mi
Seat belts
Filed Dec 28, 2012
UNDER HARD BRAKING TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT THE SEAT BELT DISENGAGED FROM THE BUCKLE. I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE NOT "BUCKLING" WITH THE SEAT BELT FOR YEARS. LOOKING ONLINE I SEE NUMEROUS PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM. COMPLAINTS OF A SPRING IS MISSING OR BROKEN, COINS ARE STUCK DOWN INSIDE THE MECHANISM, ETC. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN! I CAN ONLY WONDER HOW MANY INJURIES OR DEATHS HAVE OCCURRED FROM SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE. EVERY DAY I GET IN MY TRUCK I HAVE TO WIGGLE THE BELT BACK AND FORTH TO GET IT TO ENGAGE. SOMETIMES I JUST CHECK AFTER IT HAS ALREADY ENGAGED AND IT COMES LOOSE. THE DEALER SOLUTION IS TO PAY THEM FOR A "REPLACEMENT" ITEM, THE COST OF WHICH IS AROUND $250-300... I'LL BE PURCHASING A REPLACEMENT. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT THE REPLACEMENT IS OF THE SAME DESIGN. I'M ASKING FOR HELP TO REMEDY A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. *TR
NHTSA ID
10490400
Incident
Nov 15, 2007
Mileage
86,001 mi
Seat belts
Filed Aug 16, 2008
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BUCKLE SEAT BELT, BUCKLE LATCH DID NOT LOCK FIRMLY. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE LATCH WOULD DISENGAGE WITH A LIGHT TUG. THERE APPEAR TO BE BROKEN PARTS OR FOREIGN OBJECTS IN THE MECHANISM PREVENTING PROPER FUNCTION. DUE TO THE MANNER OF CONSTRUCTION, THE ACTUAL CAUSE OF THE DEFECT IS NOT READILY VISIBLE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10238501
Incident
Aug 4, 2008
Mileage
303,600 mi
Seat belts
Filed Nov 29, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE BECAME DISENGAGED ON A FREQUENT BASIS. THE CONTACT CHECKED FOR DEBRIS AND DIRT IN THE BUCKLE AND STATED THERE WAS NONE. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THE CONTACT WOULD NEED TO BUY A NEW SEAT BELT, WHICH WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PRESSURE SPRING ASSEMBLT BECOMES WEAK OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. UPDATED 12/28/06. *JB
NHTSA ID
10174723
Incident
Nov 1, 2006
Mileage
72,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Oct 12, 2001
A METAL PLATE/BAR WHICH HELPED TO SUPPORT HEAD RESTRAINT ON DRIVER'S SEAT WOULD HIT BACK OF DRIVER'S HEAD, AND COULD LEAD TO HEAD INJURY IF INVOLVED IN A CRASH. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. MANUFACTURER INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF IS WARRANTY, AND UNWILLING TO ASSIST IN THIS MATTER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ID
897662
Incident
Oct 10, 2001
Seat belts
Filed Sep 14, 2001
Crash reported2 injuries reported
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE . UPON IMPACT, BOTH SEATBELTS FAILED, RESULTING IN INJURIES; BROKEN RIB/ NECK INJURY, CUTS, AND BRUISES. DRIVER HIT STEERING WHEEL WHILE PASSENGER HIT WINDSHIELD. FRONT IMPACT, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK
NHTSA ID
896352
Incident
Jul 27, 2001
Seat belts
Filed Sep 13, 2001
WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS SEAT BELTS UNLOCK, LEAVING OCCUPANTS UNRESTRAINED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ID
896289
Seat belts
Filed Jun 24, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported
HEADRESTS TO SHORT TO PREVENT HEAD AND NECK INJURY FOR A LARGE MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION. *AK
NHTSA ID
747328
Incident
Feb 7, 2001
Seat belts
Filed May 8, 2001
Crash reported
WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AT 35MPH AND SIDE SWIPED A FENCE NEAR AN EMBANKMENT. DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BROKE , AND FAILED TO RESTRAIN DRIVER. THIS CAUSED DRIVER TO LURCH SIDEWAYS. *AK THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED. *YH
NHTSA ID
887731
Incident
Apr 28, 2001
Driver assistanceSeat beltsTransmission
Filed Mar 25, 1999
TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE. YH
NHTSA ID
784562
Incident
May 1, 1998
Seat belts
Filed Nov 26, 1997
2 injuries reported
REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RESTRAIN CHILDREN FROM INJURIES . EVERY STOP OR TURN CAUSED CHILDREN TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS, CAUSING THEM TO CRASH AGAINST FRONT PASSENERS SEATS AND THEN BOUNCE OFF AND HIT REAR WINDOW.
NHTSA ID
526946
Seat belts
Filed Oct 17, 1997
THE HEAD RESTS ARE TOO SMALL FOR PASSENGERS. OWNER HAS MADE A SUDDEN STOP AND BUMPED HIS HEAD ON THE BACK WINDOW. *K
NHTSA ID
817190
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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own