NHTSA Complaint #10056392 — 1999 MERCURY SABLE

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