NHTSA Investigation PE96030

SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE SEPARATION

ODI'S DATABASE CONTAINS ONE COMPLAINT ALLEGING THE CENTER FRONT SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE WAS NOT BOLTED TO THE FLOOR.FORD SUBMITTED 28 ADDITIONAL FIELD REPORTS AND WARRANT CLAIMS ALLEGING THAT A SEAT BELT WAS NOT BOLTED TO THE FLOOR, NOT ATTACHED, NOT HOOKED UP, OR THE OWNER COMPLAINTED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS LOOSE.THE CAUSES HAVE INCLUDED A MISSING BOLT, MISSING NUT, BOLT HOLE NOT THREADED, WELD NUT MISSING, OR BOLT NOT COMPLETELY TIGHTENED INTO MOUNTING HOLE.FORD STATES THAT FACTORS THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE NON-ATTACHMENT OF THE SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE INCLUDE IMPROPER ASSEMBLY OF OR MISSING COMPONENTS.FORD HAS MADE NO MODIFICATIONS OR CHANGES TO THE INSTALLATION PROCEDURES OF THE SEAT BELTS AT THE FACTORY. HOWEVER, FORD STATES THAT THE MANUFACTURING PLANT HAS ADDED A REDUNDANT INSPECTION FOR THIS ALLEGED CONDITION.OVER 95% OF THE VEHICLES INVOLVED WERE BUILT ON OR BEFORE MAY 1, 1996 AND OVER 80% OF THE VEHICLES INVOLVED WERE BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY AND MARCH OR 1996.THE ALLEGED CONDITIONS HAVE OCCURRED IN ALL POTENTIAL SEATING POSITIONS IN THE FRONT AND REAR SEATS IN BOTH THE REGULAR AND SUPER CAB MODELS.FORD BELIEVES THAT THERE IS NO INDICATION OF A PATTERN WITH REGARD TO ANY PARTICULAR BELT LOCATION.ODI IS UPGRADIG THIS INVESTIGATION TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE REPORTS GATHERED TO DATE AND TO ASSESS THE IMPACT THAT THE ALLEGED DEFECT HAS ON HIGHWAY SAFETY.

An investigation is a separate record from a recall and from a manufacturer communication. A manufacturer campaign to repair a safety defect or a failure to meet a federal safety standard.