NHTSA Complaint #712535 — 1989 PLYMOUTH SUNDANCE

WE WERE NOTIFIED OF A RECALL INVOLVING THE AUTOMATIC SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLY. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WERE GIVEN A SMALL TUBE OF LUBRICANT TO USE ON THE TRACKS. LATER, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER HARNESS FAILED AND IT WAS NECESSARY TO MANUALLY MOVE IT TO THE POINT AT WHICH IT WOULD NORMALLY BE WHEN THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED AND THE SHOULDER BELT WAS IN USE. WE HAVE BEEN OPERATING THIS BELT IN THIS MANUAL MANNER FOR OVER FOUR YEARS. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE TO REPLACE THE PARTS INVOLVED IF THE VEHICLE HAD EXCEEDED ITS "ECONOMIC LIFE". WHEN ASKED WHAT THAT "LIFE" EXPECTANCY WAS, I WAS TOLD "ANYTHING OVER 100,000 MILES". THE PARTS WERE NOT REPLACED. I WAS ADVISED THAT I COULD PURCHASE REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR A COST IN EXCESS OF $200 PER ASSEMBLY. I DID NOT REPLACE THE PARTS, NOR DID THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN USE AND THE BELTS ARE LAWFULLY SUPPOSED TO BE FUNCTIONING AS "AUTOMATIC" BUT THEY DO NOT. THE SHOULDER HARNESS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE RECEIVES LESS USE, BUT IS ALSO SUBJECT TO THE RECALL. HOW DO WE GET THE DEALER TO COMPLY AND REPAIR THIS VEHICLE? NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 92V053000L COMPONENT: INTEIOR SYSTEMS PASSIVE RESTRAINT BELTS; MANUFACTURER: CHRYSLER CORPORATION; POTENTIONAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 115000. OUR VEHICLE APPEARS TO BE ONE OF THOSE AFFECTED. NOW WHAT?