NHTSA Complaint #10458479 — 2006 LINCOLN TOWN CAR

THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT INDICATOR LIGHT (SHOWS AN AIRBAG AND SEATBELT), ALSO CALLED SEATBELT RETRACTOR, CAME ON AND REMAINED ON WITH AN AUDIBLE ALARM (5 BEEPS, 5 TIMES) REPEATING EVERY 30 MINUTES. THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS WAS FOR THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER (PASSENGER SIDE). A LINCOLN DEALER SERVICE EMPLOYEE SAID THE AIRBAG WILL NOT WORK WITH THIS PROBLEM. AT ANOTHER LINCOLN DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD MANY 2006 TOWNCARS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT ON THE DRIVER? SIDE, MINE IS ON THE PASSENGER. THE PROBLEM STARTED AROUND 114,000 MILES, MY CAR IS NOW ABOUT 117,000 MILES. AND I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A CRASH. A FORD EMPLOYEE TOLD ME LAST YEAR?S SUPPLIER WENT OUT OF BUSINESS, SO THEY HAD TO CHANGE THE MANUFACTURER FOR THE NEW PART. THE PRICE WENT FROM $150.00 FOR THE PRETENSIONER TO $360.00 FOR THE KIT (FROM THE NEW MANUFACTURER), THE ONLY THING YOU CAN GET TO FIX THE PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH YOU DON?T NEED A NEW SEAT BELT, BUCKLE, ETC?. BECAUSE OF THE ADDITIONAL INSTALLATION COSTS ($200.00 TO $330.00), MANY PEOPLE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE FIX. IN MY SITUATION, NEITHER LINCOLN, NOR FORD WERE ABLE TO GET MY PART. IT IS NOT BECAUSE MY PART WAS THE WRONG NUMBER, IT IS BECAUSE THE PART IN THE BOX WAS THE WRONG PART. WE ARE SUPPOSED TO GET NUMBER FIVE, I BELIEVE, TOMORROW, 5/15/12. *JS