1991 Ford Explorer Air Bags & Restraints Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH WITH ANOTHER PASSENGER, THE SEAT BELTS DISENGAGED AND CAUSED THE PASSENGER SEAT TO OVERTURN BETWEEN THE SEATS. THE PASSENGER WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED 4 OUT OF THE 5 SAFETY BELTS IN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT LATCH PROPERLY. IF THEY WERE SHAKEN, OR IF THERE WAS ANY FORCE APPLIED TO THEM THEY BECAME UNLATCHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 92V113000, PERTAINING TO THE FRONT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 10/04/06. *JB

PENINSULA FORD, SUNNYVALE, CA REFUSED TO SERVICE EXISTING SAFETY RECALL, WITHOUT EXPLANATION. NHTSA CAMPAIGN 92V113000. THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION FITS ALL APPLICABILITY CRITIERIA LISTED IN RECALL DOCUMENTS. ONE OF THREE SYMPTOMS (UNEXPLAINED AND REPEATED, SUDDEN FRONT SEAT BELT RELEASE) DESCRIBED BY THIS RECALL OCCURS REGULARLY.

SEAT BELTS ARE REQUIRED BY LAW. CHILD SAFETY RESTRAINT IS REQUIRED BY LAW. I OWN A 1991 FORD EXPLORER, OH YES, THE ONE SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED IN BECAUSE OF FIRESTONE TIRES?????, OR MAYBE IT WAS THE SEAT BELTS. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS OBSOLETED THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FOR THE CENTER REAR AND LEFT REAR, WHICH IS NOW BROKEN, BUT REQUIRED BY LAW IN ORDER TO SECURE MY CHILD RESTRAINT SEAT, WHICH IS ALSO REQUIRED BY LAW. THIS IS NOT A COLORED PART, IT IS A BLACK TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE USED IN MANY FORDS IN THE 1990'S. AUTO MANUFACTURERS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO HAVE AVAILABLE ANY SAFETY ITEM REQUIRED BY LAW THAT WAS ORGINALLY IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF ORIGINAL SALE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS CENTER, THEY DO NOT WANT TO DEAL WITH IT, TELL ME TO CONTACT DEALERSHIP, WHO HAS ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL OVER PART PHASE OUT. I KNOW FORDS SYSTEM, I WAS A PARTS AND SERVICE DIRECTOR FOR A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR 18 YEARS, UP UNTIL 2 YEARS AGO. I HAVE SEEN MANY FORD SEAT BELT BUCKLES BREAK OVER THE YEARS, AND LUCKY FOR THE CUSTOMER, I WAS ALWAYS ABLE TO GET THE PART FOR THEM. I AM NOT SO LUCKY. I DO NOT WANT TO GO TO A SALVAGE YARD AND BUY A USED BUCKLE TO SECURE MY 10 MONTH OLD SON. I SPENT $280 TO BUY A BRITAX CAR SEAT TO ENSURE HIS SAFETY. THEY SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE WHILE WE WERE REMOVING HIS INFANT SEAT TO INSTALL THE NEW CAR SEAT. THE MANUAL STATES TO INSTALL THE SEAT IN THE CENTER REAR POSITION FOR THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SAFETY. HOW CAN THE LAW REQUIRE ME TO USE SOMETHING THAT CAN NOT BE OBTAINED FROM THE AUTO MANUFACTURER, AT ANY PRICE? SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. I CAN'T GO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE FORD CAN'T SUPPLY A SAFETY ITEM. PLEASE REVIEW THIS, AND IF POSSIBLE, TAKE ACTION ON FORD FOR A POOR PRACTICE REGARDING SAFETY.

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH VEHICLE HIT A POLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE AND ROLLED OVER. DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPOLY. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO LATCH SEATBELTS IN THE FRONT OF VEHICLE LATCH IS NOT SECURING SEATBELT. SOMETIMES IT SEEMS TO BE LATCHED AND WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE SEATBELT BUCKLE PULLS OUT OF THE LATCH.*AK

A PART WITHIN THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY HAS MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING SEAT BELTS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. *AK DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE WOULD NOT LATCH. *YH

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT LATCH WOULD NOT DISENGAGE FROM THE LATCH MECHANISM, CAUSING THE OCCUPANT TO BECOME TRAPPED IN THE SEAT. *AK.ET.

WHIL ECONSUMER WAS DRIVING ANOTHER CAR HIT HER FROM BEHIND AND PUSHED HER INTO THE CURB, AND THEN INTO A TREE. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK

WHILE HARD BRAKING JUMPED A CURB TO AVOID A CAR, REAR PASSENGER HIT FRONT SEAT. THE SEAT BELT BROKE FREE FROM THE BUCKLE. THE BUCKLE WAS MESSED UP WITH RED PLASTIC PARTS ALL OVER THE REAR SEATS. THE PASSENGER WAS AN ADULT ~ 150LBS. WE ALL WERE SEAT BLETS FOR SAFETY BUT THE BUCKLE IN THE EXPLORER BURSTED APART-- THIS IS NOT A SAFE SITUATION. IF THERE HAD BEEN A COLISION THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER COULD HAS SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURY. THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE SYSTEM NEED LOOKING INTO. I STILL HAVE THE PLASTIC PARTS IF ONE WANT TO SEE THEM. TERRY WADE. *AK

DRIVER'S SEATBELT BECAME UNBUCKLED DURING AN ACCIDENT.THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJUIRES. *AK

FRONT SEAT BELT FAILED TO RELEASE WHEN IT SHOULD AND RELEASED WHEN IT SHOULDN'T PRIOR TO RECALL.

UNDER RECALL NOTIFICATION, HAD BELT BUCKLES REPAIRED, NOW THE LEFT REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLE DOES NOT WORK, CONSUMER STATES THE OTHER THREE TEND TO JAM UP MAKING THEM ALL UNSAFE TO USE. *SLC

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 65MPH ON HIGHWAY, AND DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS DID NOT PROTECT OCCUPANT; THEY DID NOT OPERATE. *AK

SEAT BELT LATCH BUTTON CAME OFF.

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT RELEASE. *AK

BACK SEAT MOUNTED SAFETY BELT BUCKLES DO NOT LATCH ALWAYS, TONGUE MAY BE RETAINED IN BUCKLE BUT DOES NOT LATCH, OCCUPANTS IN BACK SEAT CANNOT BE RESTRAINED.*AK

SEAT BELT REPAIRED AFTER RECALL. *SD

LETTER REGARDING RECALL 03S04 SEAT RECLINER BOLT..*MR (NAR) *CB THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A NEW WIRING HARNESS WAS NEEDED. *JB

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 1997.MY BROTHER, WHO WORKS FOR A FORD DEALERSHIP, INFORMED ME, AFTER I MENTIONED THE FACT, THAT THE REAR SEAT BELTS HAD BEEN RECALLED. BUT HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE RECALL NOTICE HAD EXPIRED, THEREFORE, FORD WOULD NOT REPLACE MY SEATBELTS. NOW HOW CAN THIS BE? I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NOT KNOWING THAT THERE WAS A RECALL, SO HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO HAVE IT FIXED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION, IF I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE RECALL???? WE HAVE A 7 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHO RIDES IN THE REAR SEAT. AND THE SEATBELTS ARE DEFECTIVE???? HOW IS THAT GOING TO KEEP HER SAFE? WE BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD REPLACE THESE REAR SEAT BELTS, WITHOUT QUESTION. PLEASE HELP. RECALL 92V113000. *AK