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 Mercury Sable submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT OR PROPERLY SECURE THE PASSENGER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V250000 SEAT BELTS: FRONT: ANCHORAGE); THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS STUCK IN THE ANCHORAGE AND WOULD NOT PULL OUT OR RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V250000 (SEAT BELTS: FRONT: ANCHORAGE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 98,000. UPDATED 10/27/10. *LJ
IN MY 1999 MERCURY SABLE VEHICLE THE SEAT BELTS ARE NOT WORKING RIGHT. KEEPS ON COMING ATTACHED FROM THE MECHANISM THAT HOLD THE BELT ACROSS YOUR BODY. PLEASE HELP ME . *TR
REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT RESTRAINTS DO NOT WORK. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO EXTEND THE SEAT BELT ACROSS THE LAP AND SHOULDER OF THE PASSENGER. THUS IT IS UNSAFE FOR ALL PASSENGERS RIDING IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, AND PREVENTS PROPER INSTALLATION OF ANY AND ALL CHILD SAFETY SEATS.*CN
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT IMPACT COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALTHOUGH BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING SEATBELTS, THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY DID NOT LOCK RESULTING IN FORWARD MOTION, WHICH CAUSED THE OCCUPANTS TO STRIKE THE DASH PANEL AREA. MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE HAD MODERATE DAMAGE. THE POLICE WERE ON THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER.
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DOES NOT LATCH SECURELY EVERYTIME. SEAT BELT BECOMES UNLATCHED WHILE DRIVING FOR NO APPARANT REASON. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MANY TIMES SINCE THE PURCHASE TWO YEARS AGO. I RARELY HAVE PASSENGERS SO IT IS UNKNOWN IF PROBLEM EXTENDS TO THE OTHER SEAT BELTS. *AK
REAR RIGHT PASSENGER SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA RECALL 99V25000. ALSO, RACK AND PINION STEERING HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF A SEAL LEAK.*AK *TC
FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS INSTALLED BACKWARDS. AS A RESULT SEAT BELT TWISTED ACROSS THE DRIVER'S CHEST INSTEAD OF LYING FLAT. *AK DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR DEFECT DUE TO WARRANTY ISSUES. *LA
THE REAR SEAT BELTS SHOULDER BELTS DO NOT RETRACT AT ALL. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. AFTER TALKING TO DEALERSHIP THE WARRANTY IS ONLY FOR 5 YEARS 50000 MILES. SO IS FORD SAYING THAT AFTER THIS WARRANTY IS UP ON MY 1999 SABLE THAT MY FAMILIES LIFE IS WORTHLESS.. ALL SEAT BELTS SHOULD BE WARRANTED FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR, NOT 5 YEARS 50000 MILES..SHOULDN'T ALL SATEY RELATED EQUIPMENT IN VEHICLES BE WARRANTED FOR LIFE? THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FRONT SHOULDER BELTS ON THIS VEHICLE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THE REAR SEATBELTS ALSO. THEY BOTH HAVE STOPPED WORKING AT THE SAME TIME AND THAT SHOULD SAY SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THEM. THESE SEATBELTS HAVE NOT BEEN ABUSED OR WEAR AND TEAR IS A BAD CALL ON THIS ONE.. THIS CAR IS ONLY IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD AND WEAR AND TEAR DOES NOT PLAY INTO THIS AT ALL..THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO..*AK
THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT ON MY 99 MERCURY SABLE DOES NOT LATCH AND LOCK ALL THE TIME. IT GOES IN AND ACTS LIKE IT LATCHES (SEAT BELT LIGHT GOES OUT) UNTIL A FAIR AMOUNT OF FORCE IS APPLIED TO THE SEAT BELT AND IT RELEASE'S FROM THE SEAT BELT LATCH. I'VE HAD THIS HAPPEN MULTITUDES OF TIMES EVEN THOUGHT I TRY AND REMEMBER TO DOUBLE CHECK THAT THE SEAT BELT IS SECURE.*AK
SEAT BELT RETRACTORS ARE FAILING IN ORDER OF MOST FREQUENT USE (E.G. DRIVER, FRONT PASSENGER, REAR PASSENGERS). THE DRIVER'S BELT RETRACTOR FAILS TO PULL THE SEAT BELT BACK INTO THE COLUMNAR STORAGE AREA 100% OF THE TIME (FRONT PASSENGER BELT 50% AND REAR PASSENGERS ~10%). THIS PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE BELTS WILL NOT PROVIDE THE LIFE SAVING TENSION REQUIRED DURING AN ACCIDENT. THE BELT HANGS LIMP OVER THE WEARER. SEAT BELTS ARE REQUIRED TO BE WORN BY LAW. YET, AUTO MANUFACTURERS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO WARRANTY THESE PARTS FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THE GREAT MAJORITY OF MANUFACTURERS ONLY WARRANT SEAT BELTS FOR 3 YEARS OR 36000 MILES. AS CONSUMERS, ARE WE TO BELIEVE THAT THIS MEANS MANUFACTURERS ONLY EXPECT THE SEAT BELTS TO FUNCTION DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. THIS IS ABSURD AND SHOULD BE CHANGED VIA LEGISLATION REQUIRING AUTO MAKERS TO WARRANTY LEGALLY REQUIRED SAFETY DEVICES FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR. IT WOULD FORCE MANUFACTURERS TO MAKE THESE PARTS TO LAST INSTEAD OF ENGINEERING THEM TO LAST UNTIL JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD IS OVER.*AK
I PURCHASED THE USED VEHICLE APRIL 03. EARLY AUGUST, I WENT OUT TO LUNCH WITH A FRIEND-WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO PUT ON THE VEHICLE SEAT BELT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IT WOULD NOT WORK. WE DROVE HIS CAR INSTEAD. I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE. I DECIDED TO CHECK THE INTERNET AND LOCATED THIS PROBLEM AS A MANUFACTURER RECALL AND FIGURED IT WOULD BE NO PROBLEM FOR THE DEALER TO TAKE CARE OF IT. THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED TO HAPPEN BUT BECAUSE OF MY WORK SCHEDULE I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE OF THE HOURS OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. FROM AUGUST TO DATE NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO RIDE IN THE FRONT SEAT. I WAS ON VACATION AND I CONTACTED THE DEALER TO SCHEDULE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. I TOOK THE CAR IN ON 12/30/03 AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO PAY A $75 DIAGNOSTIC FEE AS NO INFORMATION CAME UP FOR THIS VEHICLE INDICATING A RECALL OR A WARRANTY. THE WARRANTY SITUATION WAS CORRECTED BUT I RECEIVED A MESSAGE FROM TONIA COOPER (SERVICE DEPARTMENT) AFTER I FAXED OVER THE RECALL INFORMATION FROM NHTSA THAT MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. I THOUGHT THIS WAS ABSURD; I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT IS NOTED ON ALL OF THE DOCUMENTATION OF THE RECALL BUT BECAUSE FORD NEGLECTED TO INCLUDE MY VIN NUMBER NO ONE WOULD HELP ME. WHAT'S WORSE IS THAT I CALLED FORDS' CUSTOMER RELATIONS ON 12/30/03 AND SPOKE WITH SYED WHO REFUSED TO GIVE ME A LAST NAME OR AN ID# AND HE TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO AND NO ONE OUTSIDE OF CUSTOMER RELATIONS AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT I COULD CONTACT TO GET THIS MATTER RESOLVED. I FIND IT MOST IRRITATIONG THAT NO ONE COULD CONCEIVE THE NOTION THAT THIS VIN# (& PERHAPS OTHERS) WERE ERRONEOUSLY OMITTED FROM THE RECALL. I LOOKED AT THE 3 COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS & ONE HAS A VIN# VERY SIMILIAR TO MINE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER, I ONLY WISH THAT I COULD HAVE RESOLVED THIS MATTER WITH FORD DIRECTLY. PASSENGER SAFETY & MICHIGAN'S "CLICK IT OR TICKET IT" LAW HAS MAKES THIS AN EXTREMEMLY IMPORTANT ISSUE!*AK
PROBLEMS WITH SAFETY BELT BECOMING UNDONE AFTER BEING SECURED. *MR WHEN THE SEAT BELT LATCH WAS PUSHED INTO THE SOCKET FIRMLY IT OCCASIONALLY POPPED OUT. IT HAD TO BE PUSHED INTO POSITION THEN JUGGLED IN ORDER FOR IT TO LATCH CORRECTLY. THE BELT WOULD ALSO TIGHTEN SO SNUGLY ON THE OCCUPANT THAT THEY COULD NOT LEAN FORWARD TO ADJUST THE DASH CONTROLS OR SEE THROUGH THE MIRRORS. *SCC *NLM
VEHICLE'S DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DEFECTIVE. *MR WHEN PUSHED INTO THE SOCKET TO SECURE THE DRIVER, IT WOULD POP OUT AND WOULD NOT REMAIN UNLESS FORCED. THE BELT WOULD ALSO TIGHTEN AND FIT SNUG TO THE POINT WHERE THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO LEAN FORWARD. (THE CONSUMER WOULD BE UNABLE TO SEE IF ANYONE WAS COMING) THE DEALER WOULD NOT FIX THE VEHICLE. *SCC *JB
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT DOES NOT RELEASE FROM RETRACTING MECHANISM, CAUSING SEAT BELT TO BECOME INOPERABLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
DRIVER'S REAR SEAT BELT WAS RETRACING AND CHOKING A FIVE YEAR OLD CHILD. WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE THE BELT, FIREMAN HAD TO CUT THE BELT TO FREE THE CHILD. DEALER NOTIFIED AND WILL REPLACE BELT WITHOUT COST. *AK THE CONSUMER SAYS THAT THE SEAT BELT SHOULD BE DESIGNED WITH A RELEASE ON THE RETRACTORS TO AVOID THIS KIND OF HORIFYING ACCIDENT. *YH
THE DEALER TRIED 3 TIMES TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUT TWICE THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS ALSO BROKEN. *AK
THE REAR CENTER SHOULDER BELT HOOKS OVER A PIN ON THE BUCKLE. THERE IS NO POSITIVE LOCK OR UNLOCK MECHANISM. WE FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL ABOUT HOW TO CONNECT THE REAR CENTER SHOULDER BELT. THE SHOULDER BELT SUDDENLY DISCONNECTS WHEN THE PASSENGER HAPPENS TO MOVE A CERTAIN WAY. THE BELT RAPIDLY RETRACTS AND THE METAL BUCKLE HITS THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER IN THE FACE OR EYE. A POSITVE LOCK SHOULD BE INSTALLED SO THE REAR CENTER SHOULDER BELT WILL STAY LATCHED UNTIL IT IS INTENTIONALLY RELEASED. THIS CAR WAS RENTED FROM HERTZ COMPANY IN MAUI, HAWAII, SO I DO NOT KNOW DETAILS SUCH AS VIN NUMBER. *AK
DRIVER'S SIDE LAP AND SHOULDER BELTS LOCK UP WITHOUT APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES. DEALER SAYS IT'S NORMAL. *AK
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT RETRACTORS DO NOT RETRACT IN COLD WEATHER; TEMPERATURES OF MINUS FIVE DEGREES OR LESS. HAS TO BE BROUGHT INSIDE TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY. DEALER CAN'T FIX. *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 .