NHTSA Complaint #11157125 — 2014 AUDI A4 ALLROAD

I RELEASED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT PUSHING THE RED RELEASE MECHANISM AFTER I PARKED MY CAR AND TURNED IT OFF. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE I DISCOVERED THE SEAT BELT HAD, IN FACT, NOT RETRACTED BUT HAD TWISTED ITSELF INTO THE HOLDER. I WAS UNABLE TO FREE IT. IT WOULD NOT PULL OUT OR REWIND. AUDI CHARGED ME THE REPAIR. WHEN I OBJECTED STATING IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE PRODUCT AND AS IT IS A SAFETY ITEM THAT IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO BE USABLE, THE SAFETY BELT SHOULD HAVE BEEN WARRANTED FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD AUDI DOESN'T DO THAT. AS THEY DID NOT QUOTE ME OR TELL ME THE ITEM WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, THEY REDUCED THE CHARGE TO HALF THE AMOUNT THEY WANTED TO BE PAID. IT SHOULD BE THAT ALL SEAT BELTS ARE UNDER WARRANTY FOR THE LIFE OF ALL VEHICLES EXCEPT WHEN IT HAS BEEN OBVIOUSLY CUT OFF/VANDALIZED. YEARS AGO I HAD A HONDA THAT HAD A SEAT BELT ISSUE AND HONDA REPAIRED IT AT NO CHARGE. THANK YOU.