2000 Ford Focus seat belts problems

Filed Jul 12, 2011 · Seat belts · AZ · crash · 1 injury

The ford focus collided head-on with a plymouth neon that was on a dark roadway with its lights off after a prior collision. The buckle pretensioner for the ford driver fired, but the retractor did not lock allowing the driver to strike his head on the windshield. There was material worn away from the b-pillar from the rapid extension of webbing, and latch plate had a channel carved into the plastic, where the webbing rapidly passed through the latch plate. There was not evidence that the seat belt was able to provide any significant restraining force.

Filed Apr 30, 2010 · Airbags, Seat belts · 130,000 miles · WA · crash

Driving down road after heavy rain, roads wet, rush hour traffic, sun came out glare off street. Car two cars ahead of me stopped suddenly to turn left. Car in front of me stopped. I saw the cars stop and thought I had enough room to stop, but streets were still wet and my tires locked going 25mph 2 car lengths behind car and I skidded into the car in front of me. Little to no damage down to rear bumper or my front bumper however, my airbags deployed shattering my window and locked my seat belt. Causing $800 in parts damage not including labor. First time having problem with airbag deployment, will have insurance repair my car/airbag/seat belt, window, causing my insurance to go up. I had chair positioned all the way back so the airbag did not hit me or protect me from injury (I'm lucky I did not have breathing problems from airbag smoke though) I was probably going 15mph when I hit the other vehicle, if the airbags did not go off I would have affordable insurance and an extra $1000 to my name. Be careful!!!!

Filed Mar 20, 2007 · Seat belts · 34,000 miles · AZ

Driver's side seat belt pretensioner malfunctioned. Seat belt did not function - pulled all the way out from the door pillar and did not retract. Carwas dangerous to drive. Vehicle should be recalled.

Filed Dec 29, 2005 · Brakes, Seat belts · 28,000 miles · FL · crash · 1 injury

Dt: the contact stated while waiting at a stop light the vehicle in front of put on the brakes, this in turn caused the contact's vehicle to rear end the other vehicle. The seat belt did not restrain the contact. She hit her chest on the steering wheel. The vehicle was driven to the dealership to have this problem checked. No repairs were made.*ak updated 1/25/2006 - the dealer determined that the passenger side seat belt was also faulty.

Filed Nov 28, 2005 · Seat belts · 44,000 miles · OR

Seat belt does not stay snug around my body while buckled, becomes loose and does not take up any of the slack. When the seat belt is unbuckled it does not recoil, just lays there like a dead snake. I have to feed the seat belt back into the seat belt tier to avoid slamming the door on the seat belt. This seat belt malfunction occurred on the drivers side front seat. I had to pay $216 dollars to get it fixed, the dealership was not willing to cover its safety equipment.

Filed Nov 7, 2005 · Electrical, Seat belts · OH

Ignition switch would "stick", since day of purchase...two months later, broken!! All the tumbler springs went out....$300!! To fix and one hour late to work. Passenger outer tie rod boot is shot and the tie rod will not come off!!! $45 to replace!!! Seat belt tensioner does not work properly at all!!!!

Filed Oct 13, 2005 · Seat belts · 75,000 miles · IN

The rear seat belt is so short it can not be used. It will lock in child safety mode when seat is laid flat and will not release. I had to unbolt the seat belt to raise the seat up.

Filed Oct 3, 2005 · Seat belts · LA

Dt: the consumer complained about front driver's side seat belt which will not pull out. This happened on september 30, 2005. When the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer, they said that it was locked. The consumer then took the vehicle to a mechanic, who suggested that the problem was probably due to the fact that vehicle hit a bump in the road. Also, the mechanic took the seat belt apart and unlocked it so that the consumer could wear the seat belt until the replacement was placed in the vehicle. *sc .

Filed Apr 6, 2005 · Airbags, Brakes · MI · crash · fire

Fatality vehicle fire, dec. 8 2004. My husband is the original owner of a 2000 ford focus, subject to numerous service visits to bill brown ford, livonia mi for: ignition, steering column, wheel bearing, brake, rear window control, seat belt &trunk latches, overhead light and engine light. The vacuum line & fuel pump & valve assembly were replaced 2/03, followed by stalling. In 6/03, A/C compressor & manifold line replaced. Fuel line & pump failure in 8/03, resulted in gasoline spill on residential street minutes after parking. Bogging followed repairs, PCM reprogrammed & leaking pvc tube replaced 1/04. Fuel pump again replaced. In 8/04, our 24 year old son took ownership of this problematic car. We are uncertain as to whether vehicle malfunction caused a 35 MPH collision with a fire hydrant. An immediate engine explosion and fuel fed fire trapped my son and his passenger. Described by police as a relatively minor crash which would not be expected to claim lives, the subsequent unexplained engine fire claimed two young lives. A malfunctioning driver's airbag was also detected. This incident was originally reported to the federal safety agency by my husband (#10104088). I am supplying these additional facts for your clarification. Please correct your posting of "0" injuries as there were 2 fatalities. Please take effective action to save lives, as these trouble plagued vehicles seem to become more lethal as they age. Confirmation of receipt of this information is requested. *nm *sc

Filed Feb 13, 2005 · Airbags, Electrical · MI · crash · fire · 2 injuries

This complaint is concerning clarification of our previous complaints to the federal safety agency regarding the 2000 ford focus : #10104088 and #10107840. I am extremely concerned about the misinterpretation of data collected by your agency and posted for public review. Deaths are not posted, nor are they included as injuries. This misrepresents the seriousness of the vehicle and equipment failures reported.