2015 Ford Explorer: seat belt won't latch or retract

Filed Jun 5, 2025 · Seat belts · KY

Second row drivers side seat belt failed to retract and is unusable

Filed Jun 28, 2024 · Seat belts · NC

The passenger seat belt (behind the driver) has locked up and we are unable to lock the seat belt in place. It locked up from the top side - not the bottom side. Since it is locked up, it will not allow anyone to sit in the seat since it can not be locked in place. Due to the electronics in the seat belt, a body shop owner advised we contact Ford directly. There are no recalls on this issue and we were advised from Ford to report this to the National Highway Safety traffic division.

Filed Mar 11, 2024 · Seat belts · 119,811 miles · VA

2nd row seat belts, outer right and left have broken buckle. Part is on national back order and is not available. Ford does not have a recall or TSB active on this problem. Parts guy said this is a common problem, reflects on why part is on back order and not available. Cant put kids in vehicle due to defective seat belt. No have not contacted insurance or contacted police, I am a certified State Safety Inspector in Virginia and a Fleet mechanic for PWC GOV [XXX] ,-. Seat belt broke and will not lock buckle in place. Left side is starting to not latching anymore also. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Mar 11, 2024 · Seat belts, Seats · 126,000 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that there was an abnormal grinding noise detected while making a turn. There was a crunching noise detected while entering the driveway. The contact stated that the passenger's front seat was not moving. The driver’s side rear inflator seat belt failed to latch. The rear seat belt warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who informed the contact the seat belt buckle needed to be replaced. The track on the seat needed to be replaced. The dealer was unable to determine the cause of the steering failure. The vehicle was not repaired. While driving at unknown speeds, the steering wheel seized. While making a turn, the driver had to pull the steering wheel to correct the steering. The steering power assist fault message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the seat failure was due to the motor. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000.

Filed Mar 5, 2024 · Seat belts · 145,547 miles · MD

The left rear seat belt buckle/receptacle broke in early 2023. Ford told me the part is on backorder. Every time I have checked with Ford, they continue to say the part is on backorder. I can't use the vehicle as intended while Ford refuses to supply the safety parts necessary.

Filed Oct 16, 2023 · Airbags, Seat belts · 125,000 miles · KS

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the second-row driver’s and passenger's side seat belt buckle covers had detached, causing the air bag warning light to illuminate. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21B11 (2nd Row Inflatable Seat Belt); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

Filed Jun 23, 2023 · Seat belts · 68,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the rear passenger's side seat belt buckle retractor was stuck and failed to release as needed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.

Filed Apr 19, 2023 · Seat belts · 28,000 miles · ID

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while his daughter was seated in the rear passenger’s side seat, the seat belt failed to latch securely. The contact stated that the seat belt casing had fractured. The contact then stated that the failure reoccurred while his daughter was seated in the driver's side rear seat. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the rear passenger’s and driver’s side seat belts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and the contact was advised to file a complaint with the federal safety agency Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 28,000.

Filed Mar 27, 2021 · Seat belts · 87,000 miles · VA

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.

Filed Jun 11, 2019 · Seat belts · OR

The seat belt locks and will not release unless the belt is completely brought back in.

Filed Apr 10, 2019 · Body, Seat belts · 115,000 miles · MD

At around 100,000 miles drivers seat belt would not lock or unlock...started sticking around 95,000 miles. Never had to replace a seatbelt before especially in a car that was only three years old. Also, at around the same time the drivers side windshield pillar broke off and flew off while driving on the highway at around 65 MPH. The passenger side flew off at 115,000 miles while driving on the highway as well. Neither is covered by warranty and owner will have to come out of pocket to cover the damages ($500+). How can ford put on such cheap finishes to the car? Noise level in the cab is affected due to wind noise. Passenger pillarpopped loose and would not pop back in. Appeared that a clip had broken.

Filed Mar 6, 2019 · Airbags · IA

I own a 2015 ford explorer. While driving my airbag light is continuously on and from what I understand the airbags will not deploy. This causes me concern not only for my own safety but for my children's safety. My vehicle is currently with stivers ford in waukee, ia, where it was diagnosed that the wiring harness for the second row driver side inflatable seat belt deployment control failed and needs to be replaced. I am replacing as I feel I need to for my families and I safety, but it is very expensive. It is not covered under warranty, but should be considered a recall because there is no wear and tear. There is faulty wiring. The approximate failure mileage of my car is 52,000.