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 1999 Ford Taurus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 63 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.
The 25 most recent of 63, in the owner's own words
I WOULD SAY 7 TIMES OUT OF 10 WHILE DRIVING IN MY CAR THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RANDOMLY POPS UNBUCKLED OR IF I REACH FOR SOMETHING IT UNBUCKLES. IT IS A LITTLE SCARY TO BE HONEST. SOMETIMES WHEN I BREAK THE SLIGHTEST PRESSURE CAUSE IT TO FAIL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR ROW SEAT BELTS ON THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.
PASSENGER SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT OUT OF HOLDER TO BE PUT ON PASSENGER. DRIVERS SEATBELT STAYING OUT, NOT RETRACTING BACK IN AS TO WORK PROPERLY.
MY SON IS 22 YRS OLD HE BOUGHT THIS 1999 FORD TAURUS FROM A USED CAR DEALER IN MARCH 2013,HIM AND HIS GIRLFRIEND WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN,THE CAR JERKED TO THE LEFT REALLY HARD HE COULD NOT CONTROL IT NO STEERING CONTROL,NEEDLESS TO SAY HE WENT DOWN A DITCH THRU A YARD AND HIT THIS LADYS PARKED CAR IN HER DRIVE WAY TOTALING IT,AND HIT THE SIDE OF HER HOUSE,HIS GIRL FRIEND WAS CRITICALLY INJURED HAVING TO BE AIRLIFTED,THIS ACCIDENT RESULTED IN A SERIOUS INJURY AND SERIOUS PROPERTY DAMAGE,HIS GIRL FRIENDS SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK CAUSING HER TO GO FORWARD THE AIRBAGS DID DEPLOY BUT BECAUSE SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK HER HEAD ENDED UP HITTING WINDSHIELD WHEN SHE GOT JERKED FORWARD.,,,AFTER ACCIDENT HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC,THE SUB FRAME HAD RUSTED OUT AND BROKEN AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD SNAPPED CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK TO THE LEFT AND CAUSING THIS SEVERE ACCIDENT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE INTERMITTENTLY. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V250000 (SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE), THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
I HAVE A 1999 FORD TAURUS. THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SEAT BELT HAS RECENTLY LOCKED AND IS UNFUNCTIONAL. I LOOKED UP ON YOUR RECALL LIST TO SEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ID 99V250000. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AT THE NUMBER YOU PROVIDED 1-800-392-3573. I WAS TOLD THAT YOUR SITE GENERALIZES MAKES AND MODELS AND THAT MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THEY OPENED A CASE UNDER #401980970 ; HOWEVER, SAID THEY WOULD NOT FIX MY CAR. *TR
THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT, 2ND SEAT SEATBELTS HAVE NOT RETRACKED PROPERLY SINCE PURCHASE OF OUR USED FORD TAURUS WAGON. BACK SEAT BELTS ALSO TWIST THEMSELVES AND ARE CONSTANT PROBLEMS. I HAVE GRANDCHILDREN THAT NEED TO BE RESTRAINED AND THIS CAUSES BIG PROBLEMS. SINCE THIS APPEARS TO BE A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM AND COMPLAINT WHY HASN'T A RECALL BEEN ISSUED BEFORE A DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY HAS OCCURRED?? ACCORDING TO MY OLD INSURANCE SITE-THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED FOR THE SEATBELT PROBLEM BUT THE FORD SITE DOESN'T LIST IT UNDER MY VIN #. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT. SHE WAS ABLE TO BUCKLE THE SEAT BELT, BUT THERE WAS NO RESISTANCE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HER SAFETY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V250000, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 59,000.
ON FEBRUARY 10TH, 2008, MY FRONT WINDSHIELD SUDDENLY SHATTERED, LEAVING A HOLE IN IT'S CENTER AND "CRACKLING" THE REMAINING PART OF THE WINDOW, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO SEE THROUGH IT. I IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES (THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME) CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK VIOLENTLY TO THE RIGHT 90 DEGREES AND SLAM HEAD FIRST INTO AN ELECTRICAL UTILITY BOX. THE CAR CONTINUED TO SPIN AROUND WHICH DROVE IT OVER AN ISLAND IN THE CENTER OF THE ROAD AND INTO A ROAD SIGN AND WHILE STILL SPINNING, SMASHED INTO A UTILITY POLE NEXT TO THE UTILITY BOX. DURING THIS ENTIRE INCIDENT, I COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD AND WAS NOT AWARE WHAT THE CAR WAS HITTING OR WHAT DIRECTION IT WAS MOVING. WHEN THE CAR HIT THE UTILITY BOX, I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH. AFTER REBOUNDING FROM THE UTILITY BOX INTO THE CENTER ISLAND AND SPINNING TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE I HIT THE UTILITY POLE, THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO REST. DURING THE SPINNING AND HITTING AND BOUNCING (A LIGHT WORD FOR WHAT WAS HAPPENING) THE SHOULDER HARNESS ON MY 1999 FORD TAURUS SE FAILED TO HOLD ME SECURELY AGAINST MY SEAT AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. IT HAS NOW BEEN 49 WEEKS SINCE THIS HAPPENED AND AFTER MANY COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN MYSELF AND ANTELOPE VALLEY FORD IN LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA, WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN MARCH 2005 AS A PRE-OWNED VEHICLE WITH 52,000 MILES ON IT, AND CORRESPONDENCE WITH FORD MOTOR CO. IN DEARBORNE, MICHIGAN, TO WHOM I SENT ALL REQUESTED DOCUMENTS AND COPIES OF LETTERS TO AV FORD RE: THE 4 TIMES I TRIED TO GET THEM TO FIX AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM CAUSING IT TO PULL RIGHT, ESPECIALLY WHEN BRAKING. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER "CAR WILL ALWAYS PULL TO RIGHT DUE TO FRONT WHEEL DRIVE TORQUE". I ASKED FOR MY $5,000.00 DOWN PAYMENT AND RELEASE FROM THE CONTRACT. I WAS IGNORED. FORD MOTOR CO. SAID NOT ENOUGH IMPACT FOR AIRBAGS. THE CAR HAS BEEN REPAIRED. I NOW KNOW THE COMPUTER MODULE FOR AIRBAG USE WAS NEVER SET, BUT NO DASH WARNING LIGHT. *TR
I HAVE A 1999 FORD TAURUS STATION WAGON. IN 2003 THE RLEFT REAR SEAT BELT WOULD SOMETIMES GET STUCK AND NOT RETRACT. I WOULD HAVE TO FEED THE BELT BACK INTO THE MECHANISM IN ORDER FOR THE BELT TO FINALLY WORK. AFTER DOING THIS FOR SOME TIME, I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER IN DECEMBER, 2003 AND PAID TO HAVE THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY REPLACED. IN 2006, I AGAIN HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT AND RIGHT REAR SEAT BELTS AND THE LEFT FRONT SEAT BELT. I AGAIN TOOK THE CAR TO THE FORD DEALER IN DECEMBER 2006 AND HAD ALL THREE OF THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES REPLACED. AT THE TIME I ASKED THE PERSON AT THE DEALER IF THERE WAS A RECALL OR ANYTHING ON THE SEAT BELTS SINCE THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IN 3 YEARS THAT I HAD THE PROBLEM. THEY PRETTY MUCH IGNORED MY QUESTION. NOW I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON SEAT BELT MECHANISMS AND OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED BEGINNING IN 1999. WE DID NOT PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE UNTIL 2001. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH SOMETHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND SHATTERED IT. THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO OBJECTS THAT SHE COULD NOT IDENTIFY. THE CRASH OCCURRED ON FEBRUARY 10, 2008. THE SEAT BELTS DIDN'T ENGAGE TO KEEP HER FROM HITTIN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WAS 67,473. UPDATED 04/22/08. *LJ
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTORS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED. THE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT PULL OUT TO BE USED, THEREFORE SHE CANNOT RESTRAIN ANYONE IN THE REAR SEATS. BOTH SEAT BELTS FAILED WITHIN ONE MONTH OF EACH OTHER. SHE STATED THAT THE REAR SEATS ARE RARELY USED, THEREFORE THE FAILURE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE OR IMPROPER USE. THE DEALER STATED THAT SHE IS BEYOND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE BELTS AND THE REPAIR WOULD COST $476. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NUMBER 99V250000 (SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILS TO RETRACT. THE FORD DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS NEEDING A NEW RETRACTOR. THE DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR IT FOR FREE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 108,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE RETRACTOR SEIZED AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE SEAT BELT TO EXTEND FOR USE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. UPDATED 10/31/2006 - THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHO INDICATED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYTHING AFTER 5 YEARS. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT LOCKING MECHANISM FAILED TO RETRACT THE SEAT BELT WEBBING ON 07/07/06. THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE TOOK THE MECHANISM APART, RETRACTED THE WEBBING, AND THEN THE WEBBING WOULD NOT EXTRACT AT ALL. THE OCCUPANT CAN NOT USE THE SEAT BELT AND THERE ARE NO PICTURES OR REPAIR INVOICES AVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED ON 07/25/06 TO ORDER A REPLACEMENT LOCKING MECHANISM BUT IT WAS NOT PURCHASE DUE TO THE COST.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT RETRACT OR IT WILL LOCK BEFORE IT IS FASTENED INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 99V250000 REGARDING THE SEATBELTS FRONT: ANCHORAGE. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
1999 FORD TAURUS REAR CENTER SEAT LAP/SHOULDER BELT ASSEMBLY. CHILD WAS TAKING SEAT BELT OFF AND THE ATTACHMENT FELL APART. THE LATCH PLATE COMPLETELY FELL APART AND THE BELT IS NOT USABLE. LUCKILY I WAS NOT IN A CRASH OR THIS BELT WOULD HAVE FAILED ALLOWING MY CHILD TO BE INJURED. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT OWNS A COSCO HIGH-RISE/AMBASSADOR BACKLESS BELT POSITIONING BOOSTER SEAT, MODEL #22-297-FLP BUILT ON JANUARY 25, 2006. WHILE THE BOOSTER SEAT WAS BEING INSPECTED, THE INSPECTOR DETERMINED THERE WAS A CLIP MISSING FROM THE SEAT. THE CLIP THAT PREVENTS THE SHOULDER STRAP FROM PUSHING ON THE OCCUPANT'S NECK WAS MISSING. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE BOOSTER SEAT INFORMED THE CONTACT THE CLIP IS NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED; THEREFORE THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT CLIP. *AK
REAR PASSENGER SEAT 3-POUNT SAFETY BELT FAILURE. BELT LOCKED AND WOULD NOT RETRACT AND FUNCTION AS A USABLE SAFETY DEVICE. THE REPLACEMENT COST WAS $69.07 FOR THE BELT AND $145.00 LABOR. THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE. IN 2004, THE REAR DRIVER SEAT 3-POINT BELT ALSO FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK
SEAT BELT BECAME UNUSABLE. TWO OTHER SEAT BELTS IN SAME CAR WERE REPLACED WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY FOR SAME PROBLEM. A FOURTH SEAT BELT WORKS, BUT WITH DIFFICULTY. PAID DEALER TO REPLACE UNUSABLE SEAT BELT. INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS PROBLEMS AND SOME RECALLS WITH SAME MODEL CAR BUT DIFFERENT RELEASE. *JB
DT: CONTACT STATES HER SEAT BELTS IN 1999 FORD TAURUS KEPT RETRACTING AND JAMMING. SHE NOTICED THIS IN OCTOBER 2000. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP 7 TIMES, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. THE DEALER HAS NOT TOLD HER WHAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT STATED SEAT BELTS WERE VERY SHORT, AND WERE NOT PULLING OUT PROPERLY. *AK
1. NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE. 2. REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTION MECHANISMS FAIL. REPLACED 1, UNIT FAILED AGAIN. NOW NEITHER OF THE 2 UNITS WORK. UNABLE TO USE THE VEHICLE WITH MORE THAN 2 PASSENGERS. 3. 1 PART REPLACED, FAILED AGAIN WITHIN 1 YEAR.
FORD TAURUS 1999, BOTH REAR SEAT BELTS SEIZED UP. *BF THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED BOTH REAR SEAT BELTS, THE CAUSE WAS THE PLASTIC SPOOL THAT THE SEAT BELT WRAPPED AROUND HAD CRACKED AND BROKE INTO PIECES, THE PIECES BECAME JAMMED IN THE SEAT BELTS AS THEY WERE RETRACTED OR EXTENDED. THE HUB OF THE SPOOL THAT THE SEAT BELT WRAPPED AROUND WAS ALSO SEVERELY CRACKED IN MANY PLACES . *JB
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT ON ITS ON. THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT MOVE WHILE ADJUSTING. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *ER *JB
REAR SEAT SEATBELTS QUIT WORKING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *BF NONE OF THE SEAT BELTS IN THE VEHICLE WILL NOT RETRACT. *TC *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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