NHTSA Complaint #11405109 — 2015 FORD EXPLORER

MY FAMILY AND I PLANNED TO GO TO TOWN ONE DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AT THE TIME AND ALL SEAT BELTS WERE WORKING THE NIGHT BEFORE AS MY FAMILY AND I HAD WENT TO TOWN THE NIGHT BEFORE FOR DINNER WITH OUT ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE SEATBELTS. WHEN MY DAUGHTER GOT IN THE BACK DRIVER SEAT AND ATTEMPTED TO PUT ON HER SEAT BELT IT WAS IN A LOCKED POSITION. MY WIFE AND I ATTEMPTED TO GET THE SEATBELT TO UNLOCK BUT IT WOULD NOT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BILL TALLEY FORD IN MECHANICSVILLE VIRGINIA. THEY LOOKED IT OVER AND SAID THAT THE MECHANISM HAD BECAME LOCKED UP (SOMETHING I WAS ALREADY AWARE OF). AND ACCORDING TO THEM IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT IS THE ONLY WAY TO UNLOCK IT. I WAS NOT IN ANY ACCIDENTS AND THE REAR SEAT BELTS THAT ARE INSTALLED ON MY FORD EXPLORER ALSO HAVE BUILT-IN AIRBAGS. MY PERSONAL BELIEF IS IT HAS TO DO WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM BUILT INTO THE SEATBELT WHY IT HAS BECOME LOCKED. THE DEALERSHIP EXPLAIN TO ME IT WOULD COST ME $700 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. WHICH I RESPONDED I DIDN'T BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING CONSIDERING THAT IT IS A SAFETY DEVICE AND THE VEHICLE HADN'T BEEN ANY ACCIDENTS. MY PERSONAL OPINION IS A CAR MANUFACTURER/DEALERSHIP SHOULD REPLACE ANY BROKEN SAFETY DEVICES WITHOUT QUESTION AND WITHOUT CHARGING. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT WASN'T THE OWNER'S FAULT. TO THIS DAY THE SEAT BELT STAYS IN A LOCKED UNUSABLE POSITION WHICH LUCKILY I HAVE THIRD ROW SEATING IN MY EXPLORER SO MY CHILDREN CAN SIT IN THE THIRD ROW REAR SEATS WHERE THE SEAT BELTS WORK BUT IT WOULD BE VERY UNFORTUNATE IF MY FAMILY OF FOUR OR ANY FAMILY OF FOUR WHO DIDN'T HAVE THE THIRD ROW SEATING. IF SOMEONE COULD PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND GET BACK TO ME IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HELP. I ALSO DID SOME RESEARCH ON A FEW FORD ONLINE FORUMS AND SEEN THAT THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT/PROBLEM.