NHTSA Complaint #10435692 — 2006 FORD FREESTYLE

WHEN MY WIFE ARRIVED AT HER DESTINATION, SHE COULD NOT RELEASE HER SEATBELT. THIS WAS THE DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT LATCH MECHANISM THAT HAD FAILED. SHE WAS ABLE TO FINALLY WORK HER WAY OUT FROM UNDER THE SEATBELT BY GETTING SOME EXTRA SLACK IN THE BELT. WE FINALLY WERE ABLE TO GET THE MECHANISM TO RELEASE. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND WITHOUT THINKING, I PUT THE SEATBELT ON. WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE DEALER, I WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE THE SEATBELT! I HONKED THE HORN UNTIL THE SERVICE MANAGER CAME OUT TO SEE WHAT ALL THE NOISE WAS. THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET THE BELT RELEASED. THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. WE ORDERED A NEW LATCHING MECHANISM ($ 195.00 /W/ LABOR) MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY ITEM. THIS WAS THE LATCH MECHANISM END THAT THE BELT CLICKS INTO. VEHICLE HAS 55,000 MILES. IT WAS MOST CERTAINLY A SAFETY DEFECT! *TR