1997 Ford F-150 seat belts problems

Filed Jan 6, 2020 · Airbags, Brakes · 104,000 miles · FL · crash · 1 injury

I was on my way to work the morning before thanksgiving. I shifted from 2nd to 3rd gear and the back tires hit a patch of water and I started fishtailing. I went off the road and hit a patch of oak trees. One head on. On impact, the seatbelt did not retract and I hit the steering wheel, the dash broke apart and the entire steering column moved with me and I hit the windshield. After hitting the windshield, then the airbag deployed. When the dash broke apart from the steering column moving, it cut my shin which required stitches. My knee hit around the emergency brake release which drove my femur into my hip fracturing it in 3 places which required 3 titanium plates and screws. I had an open fracture on my arm which was the head of my radius (elbow) broken off which had to be replaced with more titanium plates and screws. I broke the orbit over my left eye and sinus cavities behind it. I had stitches and staples in my forehead that will now leave me a scar for life. I spent 15 days in the hospital, I've missed a month and a half from work and don't know when I can go back, accumulated over$80,000.00 in medical bills, and I'm still in a wheelchair. All of these injuries are due to faulty seatbelts and airbags in a ford motor company's vehicle. The vehicle was bought brand new by my father and has been garage kept since it was bought in 1997. I work as a receptionist and office manager for a doctor's office. My face is the first one seen when patients come through the door. Now, it's mangled and scarred for life.

Filed Oct 23, 2012 · Acceleration, Airbags · 35 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford f150. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 MPH the air bag warning light illuminated. Within a couple of weeks the cruise control was not operating while driving at approximately 65 MPH. The dealer was contact who stated that the vehicle was not under a recall. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000 and the current mileage was 122,000. Updated 12/5/12 *cn the manufacturer was contacted but, did not offer any assistance.

Filed Jun 9, 2011 · Seat belts · 166,000 miles · IN

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 ford f-150. The contact stated while he was driving, another vehicle cut him off which caused him to apply extreme pressure to the brakes in order to stop the vehicle. Upon depressing the brakes, he noticed that the seat belt latch was very loose, and caused him to lunge forward into the steering wheel. The manufacturer stated they were unable to offer any assistance. The failure mileage was 166,000 and the current mileage was 168,000. Updated 08/31/2011 *ln

Filed Oct 1, 2005 · Seat belts · 100,325 miles · NM

The latch for the driver side seat belt quit working. There was no trauma or accidents. It just quit latching.

Filed May 18, 2005 · Seat belts · 100,004 miles · MD

1997 ford f-150 truck where seat belt in the front/passenger vehicle will not clasp any more. There is no debree in the mechanisms that would prohibit the seat belt from clasping together. Have rec'd estimate for $200+ to fix the "one" seat belt. Can I trust the other 3 seat belts (one of which is around a baby seat in the back). I called the ford motor vehicle consumer service line at 800‑392‑3673 and spoke to a gentleman named carson. Carson looked up warranties on my vehicle, which I kind of found comical. On a vehicle of almost 9 years old, there does not exist a warranty. He asked if I had an extended warranty and promptly let him know that that would have expired a couple of years ago and yes, I did have that. He said that the warranty on seat belts is listed as 5 years or 50,000 miles. What happens after that? Are air bags the same? I have just over 100,000 miles on my truck. He also stated that there have been no recalls on seat belts for the ford f150, according to the records under my VIN number. Should there be a full scale recall of all ford vehicles in and around the year 1997 that installed the same make/model/year of seat belt? I am very concerned about the other 3 seat belts (and one being over the baby seat in the back) and about all the other folks who are in danger of their seat belts just giving way during an accident. Dont' wait for an accident to happen and kill someone. When this happened to my seat belt, I was shocked. That is the one part of the car, besides my air bag, that better not ever go bad. The part has been ordered from my shell mechanic from ford and hopefully I will be able to get the new seat belt installed on tuesday/wednesday (5/23, 5/24) but do I trust the other three seat belts? I see from the questions following this description, you want to know if there was an accident -- no, thank god. But there could have been.

Filed May 7, 2005 · Seat belts · 198,000 miles · PA

1997 ford f 150 pick up, 4x4 extended cab driver's seat nylon fabric is worn and frayed. I called local ford dealership and they said this was my responsibility to replace. I have never seen a seat belt get frayed and worn out in such a manner. I have 18 years as a fire fighter and have cut dozens of people out out cars and never come across a worn out seat belt before. If this belt fails in a crash it could lead to serious injury or death. I will get it replaced but I thinks this is a manufacture defect not operator's responsibilty.

Filed Dec 3, 2003 · Seat belts · 53,000 miles · NH

The passenger seat belt does not work right.

Filed Sep 26, 2003 · Seat belts · AR · crash · 1 injury

Driver fell asleep while driving 60 MPH, vehicle crossed one lane, bumper got caught on embankment, and vehicle rolled over . Seat belt did not restrain driver, his head shattered the passenger window. Driver sustained head injuries, and vehicle was totaled.

Filed Jul 8, 2003 · Airbags, Locks · 98,000 miles · MI · 1 injury

Hood pops unlocked while driving.seat belts on front seats do not retract fully when unbuckled, hang on floor between seat and door. Upon opening of door, the loose belt loop falls past the door seal area and upon door closure becomes lodged between door and jamb. When vehicle re-entry is made by driver or passenger, and belt is put on, a false tension is achieved by door jamb seal. This leaves up to 10 to 14 inches of loose belt that feels like it is actually tensioned as to protect the occupant. This loose belt slack continues as the belt extends and retracts in normal, non inertia locked mode. Only upon heavy breaking, or forward force by occupant does the belt slip past the lower door jamb seal and extends the belts reach. This can cause a fatality for one of the following four reasons. First, on frontal impact, the belt allows the driver or passenger to be thrust forward and either come into undue contact with the dash or steering wheel. Secondly, the falsely tensioned belt allows the driver or passenger to be propelled too close to a deploying front airbag, causing undue frontal contact with airbag which can result in increased injury or death. Thirdly, on pickup truck models equipped with key deactivated front seats occupied by children, the loosening belt can reach the youth passenger seat occupant right into windshield. And fourth, in passenger pickup truck models, with the air bag turned off by key switch, untensioned belt does not restrain a baby / child car seat, likely causing the seat to be rendered ineffictive and possibly more hazardous if it were not used at all.he belt assemblies made for ford by trw. This condition was evident when vehicle was less than year old , got progresssively worse , first incident fall 1997. I was first titled owner, bought demo. Elbow injury in 2003. I'm a former mi. Lic.master mechanic .I have tested for this problem in similar ford vehicles on used car lots and have observed same effect in many ford f-150's.

Filed Jul 3, 2003 · Seat belts · TN

The shoulder belt on the passenger side retracted back into the holster. The belt could no longer be used until repaired. The owner contacted the manufacture and they refused any assistance. A recall was issued on the seat belts december 1996 for missing or incorrectly installed seat belt anchorage attachment. The federal safety agency recall campaign #96v256000. *nlm *scc