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2001 Ford Ranger: seat belt won't latch or retract

20 of the 515 complaints about the 2001 Ford Ranger describe seat belt won't latch or retract.

owner complaints
20
of this car's complaints
4%
typical mileage
98,627
recalls
1
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall and 3 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below

Seat belt won't latch or retract by model year

What owners say

Filed Dec 17, 2021 · Seat belts · 200,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2001 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side seat belt would not latch properly. The contact also stated that the vehicle would hesitate upon the depression of the accelerator while driving at various speeds. The contact noticed that the temperature gauge would indicate the vehicle was hot once the hesitation started. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where both failures were linked to recalls. The mechanic linked the seat belt failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 01V227001 (Seat Belts) and the overheating failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 09V399000 (Vehicle Speed Control). The dealer was notified of both failures and informed her that the VIN was not included in either recall. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

Filed Feb 24, 2021 · Airbags, Seat belts · 150,000 miles · AZ

The passenger seat belt doesn't latch and the airbag light illuminates sporadically. Occasionally for the entire trip and sometimes it goes on and off throughout the trip, yet other times it functions properly!

Filed Feb 25, 2018 · Seat belts · 99,668 miles · KY

The driver seat belt buckle unexpected unlocks while driving. It has been happening multiple times before.

Filed Jan 14, 2016 · Seat belts · 140,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford ranger. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the driver side seat belt detached from the buckle without warning. When attempting to re-attach the seat belt into the buckle, the latch failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the seat belt and seat belt buckle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the federal safety agency campaign number: 017v227001 (seat belts) directly relates to the failure experienced with the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure was mileage was 140,000. Updated 02/26/16*lj updated 03/14/16.

Filed Apr 3, 2014 · Seat belts · 15,000 miles · OR

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford ranger. The contact stated that the front driver's side seat buckle could not be safely secured without making an adjustment each time the seat belt was used. The instrument panel would illuminate when the seat belt was not secured and once the adjustment was made manually by the contact the warning sensor would go off. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer, who diagnosed that the front driver's side seatbelt buckle needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 15000.

Filed Dec 11, 2013 · Seat belts · 98,627 miles · KS

Driver side seat belt retracting mechanism came apart and made seat belt inoperative. I bought a new seat belt and replaced it. Replacement seat belt did same thing 9 months later. Dealer replaced it free of charge. 3 months later same thing happened again. Dealer replaced it again. 3 months later it broke again. Warranty on parts is for 1 year so I am liable to replace it. I am concerned if they are made this poorly, will I be protected in case of a collision. The mechanism is held together with small plastic tabs that breakoff and cause the seat belt mechanism to come apart and not retract.

Filed May 30, 2013 · Acceleration, Brakes · 80,664 miles · GA · 1 injury

I was driving on a residential road, coming up to a third speed bump. I stepped on the brakes to slow down a little bit and my engine revved and started going faster. I hit the brakes and my truck spun out, off the road and stopped. The seat belt harness did not lock up; the shoulder strap stayed loose, and my head was being hit against the steering wheel. Then, somehow I fell out of the truck. This has never happened before. 05/17/13 I took my truck in to get the recall fixed, and get everything checked out.

Filed May 3, 2012 · Seat belts · 104,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford ranger. The contact stated the drivers side seat belt did not lock in place and opened while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who stated that the failure was not covered under the federal safety agency campaign id number 01v227001(seat belts: front: buckle assembly), since it was closed. The dealer advised the contact that the seat belt could be replaced for $600. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 104,000.

Filed Sep 28, 2006 · Seat belts · 117,000 miles · MA

Dt*: the contact stated the front seat belt would not latch. A the federal safety agency recall, # 01v227001 was performed on the vehicle concerning, the seat belts: front: buckle assembly however, the recall did not remedy the problem. The dealership would not offer a second repair under the recall. Updated 10/25/2006 -

Filed Mar 15, 2006 · Body, Seat belts · 74,000 miles · WA

Dt*: the contact stated the passenger side seat belt releases from the buckle without warning. Additionally, the tailgate cable on the driver's side broke while attempting to open the tailgate. The vehicle has not been inspected by the dealer; however the manufacturer was alerted.

Filed Nov 6, 2005 · Airbags, Seat belts · 28,000 miles · MI · crash · 1 injury

It had been raining and it was slushy out, my truck got pulled by slush and I hit a guard rail almost head on and bounced off of it and wound up right on the edge of the inside lane of the highway once the truck was stopped my airbags went off, I then had an asthma attack from the powder that came out of the air bags. How ironic that the passenger side air bag was shut off yet it still went off. Also when my truck went in the shop to be fixed I found out that both seatbelt pre-tensioners had to be replaced since both of them had broke yet I was the only one in the truck. This truck was fixed by a ford dealer. I would like to know why the seat belt pre-tensioner on the passenger side broke and I would like to know why the air bag went off when it was shut off. I have pictures of the accident and the damage that was done. I asked the ford dealer why the air bag on the passenger side had went off and why the seat belt pre-tensioner had broke and all they could tell me is they did not know. I do not agree with that answer and I would like this to be investigated. I had to pay double of what it would have cost me to replace one air bag and one seat belt pre-tensioner.

Filed Jul 8, 2005 · Airbags, Seat belts · 53,000 miles · OK · crash · 1 injury

Dt: seat belt retractor failed on the consumers 2003 ford explorer . The consumer took the vehicle to the dealer and they said this happened all the time. The consumer was involved in a car accident and the air bags did not deploy at 40 MPH . *ak the consumer had to manually place the seat belt back into its position it did not retract. The dealer informed the consumer the springs were weak and they would fail again if replaced.

Service bulletins that may apply

Related recalls

Seat belts: front: buckle assemblyReported July 16, 2001 · 1,400,000 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: passenger and sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and minivans. Equipped with seat belts supplied by trw. It is possible that the driver's and/or front passenger's outboard seat belt buckle may not fully latch. Ford crown victoria built at st. Thomas assembly plant from 4/17/00 - 5/29/01 mercury grand marquis built at st. Thomas assembly plant from 4/17/00 - 5/29/01. Lincoln town cars built at wixom assembly plant from 3/27/00 - 5/30/01. Lincoln navigators built at michigan truck plant from 4/11/00 - 5/31/01. Ford windstars built at oakville assembly plant from 3/23/00 - 5/30/01. Ford rangers built at twin cities plant from 3/28/00 - 5/30/01, and also at the edison plant from 3/13/00 - 5/25/01. Ford f-150 truck built at norfolk plant from 4/18/00 - 5/25/00; at ontario plant from 5/10/00 - 5/28/01; at kansas city plant from 9/11/99 - 5/25/01; and at cuautitlan plant from 5/16/00 - 6/9/01. Ford super duty f-250, f-350, f-450, and f-550 trucks built at kentucky plant from 4/17/00 - 5/27/01; and at cuautitlan plant from 5/16/00 - 6/19/01. Ford excursions built at kentucky plant from 4/17/00 - 10/2/00. Ford expeditions built at michigan truck plant from 4/11/00 - 5/31/01.
Risk
In the event of a crash, the restraint system may not provide adequate occupant protection, increasing the risk of personal injury to the seat occupant.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the front outboard seat belt buckles and if the buckle fails the inspection process, it will be replaced. Owner notification began july 25, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1‑866‑436‑7332.

Recall number 01V227001 · Recall details

Questions about the 2001 Ford Ranger seat belt

Is seat belt won't latch or retract a common problem on the 2001 Ford Ranger?

20 of 515 owner complaints about the 2001 Ford Ranger (4%) mention seat belt won't latch or retract. The model year with the most reports is 2001.

Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2001 Ford Ranger?

There is 1 recall and 3 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.

Other symptoms on the 2001 Ford Ranger

No deployment 27Stalling 13Airbag light 12Brake failure 12Adaptive cruise 10Ball joint 10Tire blowout 10Grinding brakes 8Pulling 8ABS 7Check engine light 7Fire or smoke 7Jerking 7Transmission failure 7Loss of power 5

All model years of the Ford Ranger

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