2002 Ford Explorer: seat belt won't latch or retract

Filed Dec 29, 2011 · Airbags · 70,000 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The dealer made four attempts to duplicate the failure by replacing the driver and passenger side seat belt pretensioners however, the failure continued to occur. The manufacturer had not been notified. The current mileage was 165,000 and the failure mileage was 70,000. The VIN was unavailable. Updated 01/10/12

Filed Jul 27, 2011 · Seat belts · 120,400 miles · ME

2002 ford explorer lf seatbelt buckle pretensioner bad. Airbag light continued to illuminate after two replacements of over 300.00 ea. Safety issue?

Filed Nov 5, 2010 · Seats · TX · crash

On 8/15/09, [xxx]was operating his 2002 ford explorer in houston, tx when the explorer was struck from the rear by a pickup truck. During the collision, [xxx]seat back collapsed and, although he had been wearing his seat belt, he was ejected through broken-out rear window glazing. [xxx] sustained multiple blunt force injuries from which he died. The seat back in the 2002 explorer is attached to a recliner mechanism on each side of the seat. The recliner mechanisms are attached to the seat cushion frame by spiral coil pins. When the explorer was struck from the rear, the vehicle moved forward in relation to [xxx] body, causing his body to load the driver's seat back. As this occurred, the force of the seat back being moved rearward by [xxx] body caused the recliner mechanisms on both sides of the seats to move forward; as they did so, they contacted the spiral coil pins, and fractured those pins on both sides of the seat. When the spiral coil pins failed, the seat back collapsed onto the rear seat cushion, and [xxx] was ejected into the cargo area of the explorer and then out of the rear window glazing. [xxx] suffered mutliple blunt force trauma injuries, which took his life. Upon investigation, including comparison of a number of other, exemplar driiver's seats from 2002 explorers, it has become clear that the spiral coil pins are defectively installed in many explorer seats. This manufacturing defect is manifested by the spiral coil pins being inserted through mating holes on the seat cushion frame to inconsistent depths, which can cause the pins not to seat properly in those holes. In the case of [xxx], because the spiral coil pins were not inserted far enough into the mating holes when manufactured, the pins on his seat were fractured by the recliner mechanisms and failed to hold his seat back upright in the collision. This failure mechanism in the pins allowed for [xxx]ejection. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Oct 22, 2010 · Seat belts · 24,963 miles · PA

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated that the air bag light continued to illuminate. The dealer stated that it was the seat belt pretensioner. The first the failure occurred, the vehicle was repaired under warranty; yet, the failure recurred. The seat belt pretensioner was replaced three times. The contact was concerned about the safety risk. The failure mileage was 24963 and the current mileage was 80000.

Filed Jul 16, 2010 · Seat belts · 80,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated her child was seated and properly seated in a child restraint. The contact noticed the child restraint began tipping forward. She found that the rear driver side seat belt would not latch. The contact then inspected the remaining seat belts and found that all of the seat belts in the vehicle would not lock into place. The manufacturer advised there was not a recall for the failure and did not provide any assistance. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileages were approximately 80,000.

Filed Oct 31, 2008 · Airbags, Seat belts · 60,000 miles · FL

We have a 2002 ford explorer. The airbag warning light is on and stays on. It's been like this for a while now. I never thought much of it until I got online researching it and found that not only that it is a common problem, but a very dangerous situation. Apparently the airbags will not even work. From what I found the problem has to do with a cable that connects the seatbelt locking mechanism to the SRS system is to short also a possible problem with a clockspring. By doing something as little as moving the drivers seat all the way back can trigger the warning light because the cable is to short. I learned this mostly through people over the internet who took there vehicles to ford dealerships and was told that was the problem. I called ford to see if there was a recall on it or if they would fix it. No recall and won't pay to fix. Ford knows about the problem and knows what the problem is. I read that ford sent a memo out to it's dealerships telling them about the problem had a memo number forgot to write it down. This vehicle is a family vehicle and that's the primary reason we bought it. I would think that this being such a serious safety issue that ford would fix no problem, but at the very lest somebody should be able to make them fix this. I don't know what are the parameters for a recall to be issued, but I do know that if this does not call for one then who or what is the federal safety agency for. I guess it takes a lot of people getting hurt or dyeing for something to be done.

Filed Oct 28, 2008 · Airbags, Seat belts · 47,600 miles · PA

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated that the air bag indicator remained illuminated. The dealer stated that the seat belt latch system does not work and they are charging him to diagnose and repair the failure. The contact stated that it is a safety hazard that the seat belt does not work. The failure and current mileages were 47,600. Updated 12/10/08 *cn both of the rear springs broke and the rear axle bearing was bad. Updated 12/16/08.

Filed Apr 28, 2008 · Airbags, Brakes · 40,000 miles · OH

On my 2002 ford explorer SUV I have had to replace 3 of the 4 wheel bearings and hub assemblies(approx $250 each), with the 4th not far behind. I have also had to replace the 4-wheel drive module(approx $400-$500). I have had problems with the rear window motors going bad and having to replace these too. The air conditioning unit has stopped working. The passenger air bag dummy light has come on for no reason. The seat belt warning chime often comes on and will not go off, even though you have buckled your seat belt. You have to slam the buckle into place for it to go off and sometimes this does not work either. The transmission is now making a lovely clunking sound when shifting from park to drive and when you try to put it back into park, it does not want to. You have to put it up to park as far as it will go then go back to neutral and then into park from there. We have replaced the emergency brake shoes on both sides because they were completely worn off even though we do not use the e-brakes. These problems are just piling up one after another. I went to an internet site that has complaints about vehicles and found that there are hundreds of others with the same problems on their 2002 ford explorers of all kinds (xl, eddie bauer, special edition, etc.). Why hasn't ford done any recalls for these problems? Does it require multiple injuries or even death for them to take responsibility???

Filed Jan 22, 2008 · Seats · 45,000 miles · OH · crash · 1 injury

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. While driving 25 MPH, the vehicle slid on a patch of ice and struck a hard surface. The vehicle flipped over. The rear center seat belt buckle became undone and the child was thrown around and injured inside the passenger compartment. A police report was filed. The failure and current mileages were 45,000. Updated 02-14-08 *bf the consumer stated the rear middle seat belt broke open when the explorer flipped upside down. Updated 02/14/08

Filed Jul 3, 2007 · Seat belts · GU

The ford dealership in guam said I needed a new seat belt retractor and ordered it. That was in march 2007. It is now july 2007. If this is a safety issue then why is it so slow.

Filed Jan 31, 2007 · Airbags, Seat belts · 54,000 miles · MD

Recently the air bag warning light came on indicating a problem with the air bag system. Also, the driver's seat belt would not retract when the driver exited the vehicle. The onboard computer indicated a code of 33 in memory. This indicated that the mechanism under both front seats was faulty. This problem would have caused the air bags to deploy unnecessarily or not deploy at all. The faulty seat belt retractor would not have prevented the driver from being thrown forward in the event of a collision. The warning light was intermittent at first and eventually stayed on so there was 55,000 miles recorded when I finally took the vehicle to our dealership. The owner's manual revealed that the supplemental restraint system (SRS) is warranted for 5years/50,000 miles, so I realize that it was beyond the warranty period. However, this is my concern and complaint. The SRS is probably the most important safety system in a vehicle and should not require these types of repairs just 6 months and 5,000 miles after the warranty expires. This system should last for the life of a vehicle unless the vehicle is involved in a collision. No one should have to be concerned that their SRS system will fail after the warranty expires. I am not a mechanical engineer, but these parts must not have been manufactured properly. If they were, they would not have failed. As was stated above, this explorer was totally redesigned and sent to the dealer showrooms prior to the start of the 2002 model year. Were things overlooked or not done properly just to rush this totally redesigned explorer to the dealer showrooms? If this was the case, should there be a recall for this model year in order to check this problem and ensure there are no safety concerns? The cost of these repairs is the minor issue of my complaint. The major issue is the safety of the driver and passengers. Safety problems with a vehicle will cause serious repercussions for the company.

Filed Nov 9, 2006 · Seat belts · 60,000 miles · KS

Dt*: the contact stated the airbag light illuminated without incident. The vehicle was taken to the dealership, where it was determined the front seat belt retractors needed to be replaced.