NHTSA Complaint #10846248 — 2016 FORD TRANSIT

SEAT BELT LATCH FAILURE. THE PLASTIC COVER ON THE SEAT BELT LATCH RECEIVER DETACHES FROM THE ASSEMBLY DURING NORMAL USE. THIS RENDERS THE SEAT BELT UNABLE TO LATCH COMPLETELY, AND RENDERS THE SEAT BELT INOPERABLE. THE PASSENGER MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THE LATCH IS NOT SECURED. THIS WAS NOTED ON TWO SEPARATE BELTS IN THE REAR SEATS OF A RENTED 12-PASSENGER TRANSIT. BASED ON MY INTERVIEW WITH THE PASSENGER, IT MOST LIKELY OCCURRED BY SITTING ON THE LOWER RECEIVER WHILE HAVING A MOBILE PHONE IN THEIR BACK PANTS POCKET. ON ONE OCCASION, THE PASSENGER STATED SHE HEARD A "CRACK" OR "POP." IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE LESS THAN 150 LBS. THE PLASTIC COVERS DID NOT COMPLETELY FAIL, BUT WERE SHIFTED TOWARDS THE ANCHOR OF THE LOWER ASSEMBLY. THIS DID CREATE A SITUATION WHERE THE PASSENGER WAS UNPROTECTED.