NHTSA Complaint #10200550 — 2001 FORD RANGER

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS HAVE FAILED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. WITHIN TEN MINUTES OF USE, THE SEAT BELTS LOOSEN AND FAIL TO REMAIN FASTENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, BUT COULD NOT FIGURE OUT HOW TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. AS TIME PROGRESSED, THE FAILURE BECAME MORE FREQUENT. THE CONTACT RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THE SEAT BELTS NEEDED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. HE DISCOVERED NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 01V227001 (SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY), BUT THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THE RECALL WAS REPAIRED WHEN THE ORIGINAL OWNER HAD THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT HE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE SEAT BELTS REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.