1998 Toyota Camry Seat belts Problems

STARTING IN 2015, THREE OF THE 5 SEAT BELTS IN MY 1998 CAMRY DO NOT REMAIN LATCHED, OR FAIL TO INITIALLY LATCH. AS A (RETIRED) MECHANICAL ENGINEER, I DISASSEMBLED THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM. THE DEFECT IS IN THE ANCHOR MECHANISM WITH THE "PRESS" BUTTON ON IT. THE "PRESS" BUTTON HAS A METAL SPRING MOUNTED ON THE RED PLASTIC PART, AND THE PLASTIC HAS GRADUALLY CRACKED AT THE SPRING MOUNT. THIS METAL SPRING IS WHAT PUSHES THE METAL BLOCK THROUGH THE RECTANGULAR HOLE IN THE SHOULDER BELT COUPLER, WHEN IT IS PLUGGED INTO THE SEAT BELT ANCHOR AND LATCHED PROPERLY. EVENTUALLY, THE CRACK GROWS TO THE POINT THAT THE METAL SPRING CANNOT EXERT ENOUGH FORCE TO RELIABLY LATCH TO THE SHOULDER BELT. IT MAY INITIALLY LATCH AND FEEL SECURE, BUT CAN THEN COME LOOSE SEVERAL MINUTES LATER WHEN DRIVING THE CAR. I PLAN TO INCLUDE 3 PHOTOS OF THE PROBLEM PART, ONE SHOWING THE CRACK IN THE PLASTIC. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS, SO THE SEAT BELT PROBLEM HAS NOT RESULTED IN ANY INJURIES TO MYSELF OR MY PASSENGERS. THE LOCAL TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NO EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR SEAT BELTS, SO I BOUGHT NEW TOYOTA REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THE DEFECTIVE BELT ANCHORS. WE LIVE IN THE DESERT, SO LONG-TERM HEAT AND COLD CYCLES COULD BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. THE SPRING HAS ITS HEAVIEST LOAD ON THE PLASTIC MOUNT WHEN THE SEAT BELT IS NOT ENGAGED, SO THE CRACK COULD POSSIBLY START, OR GROW, EVEN WHEN THE SEAT BELT IS NOT BEING USED.

NHTSA ID

10861255

Incident

Feb 17, 2016

Mileage

167,000 mi

BACK SEAT CENTER SEAT BELT WON'T RETRACT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10664156

Incident

Dec 14, 2014

Mileage

200,750 mi

REAR, RIGHT SEAT BELT WAS FULLY EXTENDED AND WILL NOT RETRACT; EVEN AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO RETRACT IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10456565

Incident

Oct 7, 2011

Mileage

130,000 mi

I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO INSTALL THE EDDIE BAUER EB ADJ BOOSTER CAR SEAT (MODEL 22880-MTTA) IN 3 DIFFERENT CARS AND IT SIMPLY WILL NOT TIGHTEN INTO PLACE. IT'S AS IF THE SHAPE OF THE CAR SEAT IS AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE AND THUS WILL NOT FIT INTO THE SEAT OF THE CAR. IF THE BASE SITS FLAT ON THE SEAT OF THE CAR, THE HEAD SITS STRAIGHT UP, LEANING FORWARD FROM THE SEAT OF THE CAR ABOUT 6 INCHES. TIGHTENING IT WITH A BELT DOES NO GOOD BECAUSE IT CONTINUES TO WOBBLE BACK AND FORTH SEVERAL INCHES FROM FRONT TO BACK OR EVEN FROM SIDE TO SIDE. EVEN THE LATCH SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK BECAUSE IT ONLY PULLS THE CARSEAT BACKWARDS, LEAVING A GAP OF SEVERAL INCHES BETWEEN THE BASE AND SEAT OF THE CAR. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS DESIGN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10294300

Incident

Dec 2, 2009

REAR PASSENGER BELT STUCK AND WILL NOT MOVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10281913

Incident

Nov 6, 2008

Mileage

120,000 mi

THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT SUDDENLY WILL NOT RETRACT. THE REAR SIDE SEATBELTS SEEM TO GET STUCK EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE. MY BROTHER PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM OUR MOM (WHO HAS BEEN THE ONLY OWNER) LAST YEAR, AND WERE WONDERING IF SHE MISSED A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10239837

Incident

Aug 26, 2008

Mileage

97,127 mi

WE PURCHASED OUR 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY FROM MY HUSBAND'S 70 YEAR OLD PARENTS LAST YEAR. THERE ARE 82,000 MILES AS OF 1/08. THERE ARE TWO BROKEN SEATBELTS IN THE BACK SEAT(PASSENGER SIDE AND MIDDLE), AND BOTH FRONT SEATBELTS EITHER DO NOT RETRACT OR HAVE TO BE MANUALLY FED BACK INTO THE RETRACTOR. IS THERE ANY KIND OF RECALL REGARDING THIS ISSUE? *TR

NHTSA ID

10216816

Incident

Jun 27, 2007

Mileage

73,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AS NOTED IN RECALL # 99V307000 (STEERING:WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR). THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, HE LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND FEARS THAT A CRASH MAY OCCUR IF HE DRIVES ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TWO REAR PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELTS FAIL TO RETRACT PROPERLY. HE IS UNABLE TO PULL THEM BACK INTO THEIR REGULAR POSITION OR PUSH THEM IN ANYMORE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 135,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10196480

Incident

Mar 1, 2007

Mileage

130,000 mi

SEAT BELT ON MY 98 TOYOTA CAMRY MALFUNCTIONED WILL NOT RETRACT. MY 5 YEAR OLD WAS PULLING ON THE SEAT BELT AND PULLED IT OUT ALL THE WAY. DEALER SAID HE WOULD FIX FOR $200.00 I ASKED HIM WHY THEY DON'T FIX IT FOR FREE SINCE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT'S WHAT THEY CHARGE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10161935

Incident

Jun 28, 2005

Mileage

68,000 mi

ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE DRIVER-SIDE REAR SHOULDER BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. I CHOSE NOT TO GET IT REPLACED, BECAUSE MY CHILD RIDES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. NOW THE PASSENGER-SIDE REAR SHOULDER BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. MY CHILD IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO SIT IN A BOOSTER SEAT IN THE BACK, AND IT IS VERY AWKWARD TO USE THE CENTER SEAT WITH THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF HIS BOOSTER. I WILL BE SPENDING NEARLY $600 TO GET THE SHOULDER BELTS REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10139975

Incident

Oct 15, 2005

DT: THE SEAT BELTS IN THE BACK ON THE LEFT LOCKED ABOUT A YEAR AND HALF AGO, COULDN'T DO ANYTHING WITH IT. ABOUT 6 WEEKS LATER THE RIGHT ONE WOULD NOT RETRACT. TOOK VEHICLE TO TOYOTA, AND WAS TOLD IT NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER , DID HAVE THEM REPLACED, BUT THEY WERE HARDLY EVER USED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10127017

Incident

May 1, 2005

REAR SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. I NOTICED SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS FROM CONSUMERS. I BELIEVE IT IS TIME THE MANUFACTURER TOOK NOTE OF THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10122316

Incident

Mar 6, 2003

WHILE MAKING A SLIGHT TURN, THE STEERING CONTINUED TO TURN RIGHT AND THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COLLIDED INTO A STONE WALL. THE DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE CONSUMERS SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED CHEST AND BACK PAIN DUE TO HITTING HER CHEST ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10113509

Incident

Jan 22, 2005

Mileage

54,000 mi

THE CHILD WAS FASTENED IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT. THE CHILD LEANED OVER TO LAY IN THE SEAT AND SLIPPED HER HEAD AND SHOULDER IN THE CENTER RETRACTABLE SEAT BELT. WHEN THE CHILD MOVED SUDDENLY TO LOOK OUT THE WINDOW THE SEAT BELT TIGHTENED AROUND HER NECK, STRANGLING HER. THE MORE THE CHILD MOVED TO FREE HERSELF THE TIGHTER THE BELT BECAME. THE CONSUMER HAD TO USE SCISSORS TO CUT THE BELT OFF THE CHILD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP WHO REPLACED THE BELT AND RETRACTOR. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THIS REPAIR. *AK UPDATED 11/29/2005. *NM

NHTSA ID

10099302

Incident

Nov 2, 2004

CONSUMER NOTICED REAR LEFT PASSENGER SEAT BELTS DID NOT RETRACT. AFTER RELEASING BUCKETS LOCK MECHANISM BROKE. DEALER INDICATED SORRY YOU DON'T HAVE NO LONGER WARRANTY, WOULD COST YOU $300.00 AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10081446

Incident

Jul 7, 2004

2 OF MY 3 REAR SEAT BELTS WOULDN'T RETRACT. THEY BROKE WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF EACH OTHER. HAD TO HAVE THE WHOLE SYSTEM REPLACED. *J B

NHTSA ID

10080457

Incident

Jun 20, 2004

WHEN THE CONSUMER UNLATCHED THE SEAT BELT, IT DID NOT RETRACT. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS ISSUE. *AK BOTH THE FRONT SEAT BELTS DID NOT RETRACT AND THERE WAS A VIBRATION WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND WAS FELT MORE WHEN BRAKING. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10073475

Incident

Feb 11, 2004

Mileage

87,844 mi

IN DECEMBER STARTING ON THE 5TH MY REAR SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. A FEW WEEKS LATER A SECOND SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. *CB

NHTSA ID

10054452

Incident

Dec 5, 2003

Mileage

90,000 mi

WATER PUMP BURST AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, CONSUMER WAS AWAITING A REPLACEMENT PART FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT MECHANISM. *PH CC COPY TO NHTSA

NHTSA ID

10056099

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

CENTER REAR SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT. *AK THE FAILURE WAS UNEXPECTED AND SEEMED TO BE A DEFECT. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO USE THE CENTER BELT IN THE REAR SEAT. THE DEALER REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIR COST. *SC

NHTSA ID

10049838

Incident

Oct 5, 2003

Mileage

81,250 mi

REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT. THE DEALER SAID IT'S NOT COVERED BECAUSE OF MILEAGE OVER 60,000. SEAT BELTS TOO LARGE NOW TO PROVIDE PROTECTION TO KIDS. *LA

NHTSA ID

10042941

Incident

Aug 24, 2003

Mileage

90,000 mi

BACK SEAT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. OCCURRED JUST AFTER 60,000 MILES AND DEALER SAID NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. NOW 109,672. *JB

NHTSA ID

10019045

Incident

Apr 10, 2001

Mileage

61,000 mi

THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELTS BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10019588

Incident

May 7, 2003

SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE DOES NOT RETRACT PROPERLY WHEN VEHICLE IS EXITED. IT GETS CAUGHT IN DOOR AND IS DAMAGED AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME BY THE DOOR BEING SLAMMED AGAINST IT.

NHTSA ID

10004951

Incident

Jan 30, 2003

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE TRAVELING THE CONSUMER HAD NO WAY OF BELTING IN THE CHILDERN DUE TO THE LATCHES IN THE REAR SEAT NOT WORKING. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. NLM

NHTSA ID

8019800

Incident

Sep 26, 2002