NHTSA Complaint #10462858 — 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 LEFT FRONT SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER ( DRIVER'S 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. IT STARTED BEEPING AT 122,000 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), WHICH IS 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, PUTTING THEIR LIVES AT RISK AS WELL AS THEIR PASSENGER'S. *TT