NHTSA Complaint #751201 — 2001 TOYOTA PREVIA

THE PASSENGER SEATBELT IN THE MIDDLE SEAT RATCHETS TIGHT AND LOCKS FOR NO REASON AND WILL NOT RELEASE UNLESS THE BELT IS UNBUCKLED AND RETUNED TO THE RESTING POSITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED BOTH DURING HIGHWAY AND LOCAL DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER HAS REPLACED THE BELT AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. THE VEHICLE WAS LOOKED AT BE THEIR FIELD REP. WHO COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE BELT AGAIN, AS THEY DEEMED IT FUNCTIONING. THE BELT LOCKED AGAIN ON MY CHILD AND I DROVE STRAIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SHOW THEM THE PROBLEM, WHICH THEY AGREED WAS A PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER IS SENDING ANOTHER TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE TO LOOK AT THE BELT, BUT WILL NOT REPLACE THE BELT UNTIL THEY CAN FIND THE PROBLEM. I WILL NO LONGER ALLOW MY CHILD TO SIT IN THE SEAT. TOYOTA'S OFFICE IN CALIFORNIA HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM (CASE # 200108070617) BUT THEY HAVE NOT SENT FOR THE ORIGINAL DEFECTIVE BELT AS OF 8.27.01. IT REMAINS IN FAIRLAWN, NJ. THE REPRESENTATIVE ASKED ME WHAT I WOULD LIKE THEM TO DO. I WANT IS A RELIABLE SEATBELT THAT DOES NOT STRANGLE MY CHILD (WHO IS 9 YEARS OLD).*AK