1997 Ford Explorer: seat belt won't latch or retract

Filed Aug 30, 2017 · Acceleration, Seat belts · 285,000 miles · CA

The drivers side seatbelt will not engage to the lock position.

Filed Apr 23, 2015 · Seat belts · 144,000 miles · MS

Driver side seat belt buckle will no longer securely latch.

Filed Nov 4, 2013 · Seat belts · 140,000 miles · CA

1997 ford explorer driver's seat belt latch receiver failure. After owning the car for 12 to 13 years, the latch/receiver would not engage the strap. I replaced it with one from a salvage yard and after three years this replacement latch/receiver has failed also.

Filed May 7, 2012 · Seat belts · 223,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford explorer . The contact stated that the driver side rear seat belt buckle failed. The contact was able to disengage the seat belt without depressing the buckle. The dealer was made aware of the failure and offered no assistance to the contact. The contact does not feel safe having his child's safety restraint seat installed in the rear seat due to the malfunction. The vehicle was neither diagnosed nor repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 223,000 and the current mileage was 224,500.

Filed Apr 27, 2011 · Seat belts, Seats · 100,000 miles · AK · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford explorer. The contact stated that a vehicle crashed into the rear of his vehicle and the driver side seat belt failed to restrain. The contact received injuries to the shoulder and neck. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis and the failure was located at the driver seat. The dealer advised that the seat was detached from the base and caused the seat belt buckle to fail. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 100,000. Updated 06/01/11*lj updated 1/19/2012 *ln

Filed Sep 15, 2009 · Seat belts · 213,000 miles · LA

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 ford explorer. The contact stated the drivers side seat belt locked and she was unable to unlock it. The highway patrol had to cut the seat belt in order for her to get out of it. The manufacturer was notified and stated that there were no related recalls. They also stated that they would not be liable for replacing the seat belt. The failure mileage was 213,000. Updated 10/21/09. *lj updated 10/20/09

Filed Nov 5, 2007 · Seat belts · 186,000 miles · WA

I own a 1997 ford explorer awd 5.0 liter. The seat belt latch on the driver's side no longer holds the seat belt in place after I buckle up. In order to drive, I have to insert the seat belt into the latch on the passenger's side. When I do this the seat belt now crosses my neck, and I am very concerned. It also means I cannot safely drive the auto with a passenger because the driver's side seat belt won't work. On a normal latch, I can push down the red release button and can feel the spring action. On my driver's side, there is no spring tension on the red release button.

Filed Mar 2, 2007 · Seat belts · 134,800 miles · MD

Tl*- the contact stated that while attempting to drive the 1997 ford explorer with 134800 failure mileage the driver's front seat belt failed. The seat beltwas difficult to buckle and would unlatch while driving . The vehicle has not been taken to a dealer ,and the vehicle had not been repaired. The current mileage was 135000.

Filed Oct 26, 2006 · Seat belts · 10,000 miles · MA

Dt*: the contact stated all 5 seatbelt buckles failed to release properly. The front left and front right buckles failed to release and the belts had to be cut to release the occupants. An independent service dealer replaced the seatbelts. The service dealer and manufacturer were contacted. The consumer stated the seat belts do not disengage. Updated 12/01/06.

Filed Jul 25, 2005 · Electrical, Lights · NV

Several problems with this auto, it seems to be falling apart. The driver side seat belt no longer latches. We have to loop the driver side through the passenger side. It appears this is an issue with several of these models. This is a serious safety hazard and seat belts are mandatory by law. Is there anything being done? The left turn indicator has had electrical issues for years. It makes a zzzz sound and no longer works. I am also down to only one door that the key works on. That is the back lift. The door key had not worked on the driver side for years, then the passenger side went. I have the same heat problem the others are having. You either get full on heat and have to turn it on and off when it gets too hot or you get partial AC, always a little warm. Both the AC and heat has been serviced, the problem is in the switch somewhere. And now the reason I'm writing is I have major electrical problems. Fuses and solinoids have been looked at, there are no longer lights in the dash area. The lights on alarm (ding ding ding ding) remains on when the car is off, the keys out and the door shut which has drained my battery completly. I have jumped started it twice and now it sits in my driveway because it will cost a fortune to have the electrical looked at. If this is an issue with anyone else it should be reported to ford. Not only can I no longer drive this car, it would be totally unsafe to use it. I need 4wheel drive just to get out of my driveway in winter and have no idea how I'm going to come up with the money for all these repairs. Please advise if there are any recalls that address these issues. The incident date I listed below is for the time the seatbelt started to fail completly. We were on a vacation trip!

Filed Jul 15, 2005 · Seat belts · 144,160 miles · CA

Seat belt buckle latch mechanism has failed for the drivers seat in my 1997 ford 4 door 4x4 explorer

Filed Jul 12, 2005 · Seat belts · 161,500 miles · WY

Driver side seat belt fails to stay latched, or sometimes becomes unlatched with drivers forward body motion (extend line of sight, change radio/climate settings, turn on lights, etc.). As a result, the seat belt is not a reliable safety restraint. I am having problems find a replacement part.