Check a VIN

Ford Festiva seat belt problems

10 of the 77 owner complaints about the Ford Festiva describe seat belt won't latch or retract, most of them for the 1991 model year.

owner complaints
10
worst model year
1991
Is there a fix? There are 2 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

What owners say

Filed Nov 5, 2015 · Seat belts · 135,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 1991 ford festiva. The contact stated that the driver side seat belt failed to work. The VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 095v103011 (seat belts). The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection. The contact was to schedule an appointment for repairs. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided no remedy. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.

Filed Nov 20, 2014 · Seat belts · 200,000 miles · OK

Driver seat, seat belt will not retract. It is stuck in the window and will not come down!

Filed Mar 22, 2000 · Seat belts · VA

Driver's side eletronic seatbelt does not automaticially lock/unlock. I have to tug on it to start the motor. Works better in warm climate. Called freedom ford in hampton, virginia and was told not covered. Vehicle had 50k miles on it then. Two years later, belt getting worse, and now I drive it w/out belt in clip due to track not wanting to slide belt back to restrain. I contacted ford and they told me that it was not covered, and that I would have to pay for this to be fixed. I got a $350 estimate to fix it. Didn't know you had to pay for safety... Very disappointed in the customer service.

Filed Jul 28, 1999 · Seat belts · VA

Seat belt will notstay buckled in.

Filed May 17, 1996 · Seat belts · OH

Recall repairs to seat belt buckle not done due to lack of parts.

Filed May 1, 1996 · Seat belts · VA

After opening the door, the driver's side automatic seat belt did not retract. Please describe.

Filed Jan 3, 1996 · Seat belts · CA

Recall related, 95v103011, interior seat belt buckle, in for repair buckle will not stay latched. Tt

Filed Aug 28, 1995 · Seat belts · NY

The passenger side seat belt retractor almost choked person that was sitting on that side . Tt

Filed Jun 19, 1995 · Seat belts · TX

Consumer went to put child seat in back seat of car and the rear seat belt broken. Tt

Filed Mar 14, 1995 · Seat belts · 00

Intermittent automatic seat belt failures.

Related recalls

Seat belts: front: buckle assemblyReported June 27, 1995 · 265,000 vehicles affected
What is wrong
The front safety belt buckle release buttons can break. These red plastic release buttons are marked "press." if a button breaks, pieces can fall into the buckle assembly causing the buckle to operate improperly.
Risk
The safety belts would not provide adequate protection to an occupant in a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Owners should promptly check the condition and operation of both front safety belt buckles and carefully inspect the red release button for any breaks or cracks. They should ensure that both buckles are operating properly by inserting each latch plate into its buckle, tugging on the belt to make sure that latch is securely locked, and then pressing the release button. The latch plate should pop out of the buckle when the button is pressed. If either release button shows a sign of breaking or cracking or if either buckle fails to operate properly, owners should promptly contact their authorized dealer to schedule an appointment to have the buckle replaced or repaired, free of charge. The manufacturer is developing a remedy designed to prevent failure of the buttons that are not currently broken.

Recall number 95V103011 · Recall details

Seat belts: front: warning light/devicesReported March 8, 1990 · 268 vehicles affected
What is wrong
The "fasten seat belts" warning lights may not work when the ignition is switched to the "on" position during cold ambient temperatures.
Risk
Occupants would not receive this warning to use safety belts and cars would not comply with fmvss 208.
Remedy
Ford will replace instrument clusters in the affected cars.

Recall number 90V045000 · Recall details

Questions about the Ford Festiva seat belt

Which Ford Festiva years have seat belt won't latch or retract problems?

The model years with the most reports are 1991 (5 complaints), 1990 (4 complaints) and 1993 (1 complaints).

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used Ford Festiva?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history