Ford Tempo seat belt problems

Filed Jun 22, 2004 · Seat belts · 105,000 miles · CA

Intermittently front driver's side automatic seat belt retractor failed to function. Dealership has replaced the seat belt retractor motor twice, but the failure recurred. *ak

Filed Feb 9, 2004 · Seat belts · 102,000 miles · AZ

Front seat belt automatic retractor inoperable.........vehicle no longer has a three point restraint capability.........unsafe!!!! This is the third failure for the front automatic seat belt restraint system on three different vehicles. I'm the "duty" mechanic for our family and have become quite adept at fixing these restraints. I've replaced the nylon "feed belt" in the automatic retractors.........this is the "failing" part. In my observation, this is a design failure by ford. Specifically, the nylon "feed/drive" belt fails because the restraint does not have a closed lubrication design which results in the belt binding in the motor gears and being destroyed as a direct result of dust/dirt entering the seat belt track under normal and resonable driving conditions. In my opinion, this is a ******safety****** issue and needs to be corrected. A quick glance at the database indicates that this is not an unusual problem. I'm requesting that the federal safety agency investigate. Specific questions that I would like to see answered are: 1. How many of these automatic seat belt restraint systems are still on the road?? 2. How many fatalities can be attributed to the failure of these devices?? 3. What is the incidence of supply requests for these restraints from the "ford" and, a final observation. I suspect that most folks who experiece problems with the automatic seat belt restraint systems on older ford vehicle choose to "abandon" their use instead of paying to have them fixed. There's a "purpose" for government.......the common good!!!

Filed Nov 1, 2002 · Acceleration, Seat belts · MT

Regarding the driver seat belt when opening the car door, the motor belt runs but the seat belt stays in place instead of retracting to allow me in the car seat. Once the lap belt is attached, the panel light flashes constantly that the seatbelt is not working. The retractor only goes as far as the upper left corner of the door. The motor runs but it will not allow the retractor to complete its full ascending and descending position. When I took the car to american ford in glendive, mt - I was told the part and labor would be in excess of $300. This is outrageous, especially when it is a law to wear a seatbelt, but how do you do that when the part is defective. Luckily, there is still the lap seatbelt. Regarding the cruise control - we have been at speeds of 70-75 MPH and then the cruise control sticks. Once you turn off the cruise control - the car will continue to go speeds of 55-60 MPH without having to press on the gas pedal. We have had this happen several times (4 times coming down a mountain pass - not a pretty picture). We no longer use the cruise control. Dt

Filed Sep 17, 2002 · Seat belts · NJ

Seat belt retracts back into position, it will make a loud noise, and it could cause seat belt to be defective in event of an accident. Dealer notified.

Filed Aug 14, 2002 · Seat belts · MI

Front driver 'sseat belt retractor is all stipped out. Vehicle is equipped with automatic seat belts.

Filed Nov 11, 2001 · Seat belts · MI · crash · 1 injury

I was in a car accident on 9-29-01. A car pulled out in front of me and I hit the front of my car into the left front (passangers) corner panel. The car would have been totaled had I had full coverage. The seatbelt is an automatic seatbelt, so when the key is turned on, the seat belt automatically comes back on the door. Well, that day in the accident, the seatbelt never locked, the top didnt, the automatic part. What saved me from hitting the windsheild was the steering wheel and the lap belt. I know have lumps in my breast that wont go away from bouncing off the steering wheel. I dont have a job and there is nothing I can do about it. I still and will awalys have problems with my upper back, chest and neck from bouncing off the steering wheel. And yes, I was taken to the hospital right after the accident in an ambulence on a stretcher. I contacted ford through their web site to see if there was a recall on the seatbelts and they said theyc oulnt come up with anything cause of the year of the car. As for the mileage on the car, I am unsure, I know it had high mileage. About six months after the accident or less than that, I had to sell the car, I couldnt afford to keep it in storage and I wasnt allowed to have it like it was at my apartment. Thank you.

Filed Feb 7, 2001 · Seat belts · MO

Front motorized seat belt will not retract when putting key inside of ignition to start. Seat belt motor was broken.

Filed Dec 27, 2000 · Seat belts · KY

Motorized seatbelt has failed on both sides. Shoulder belt has jammed, partially retracted and in a unsafe manner. Dealer claimed motor and plastic track needed to be replaced.

Filed Nov 7, 2000 · Electrical, Seat belts · CT

The car has recently began to stall after stopping at lights and intersections, it usually stalls immediately after hitting the gas, pushing me into the middle of an intersection. After repeated attempts the car will usually restart within a couple of minutes. As far as the seat belts, after purchasing the car the driver side automatic seat belt stopped working it is now stuck in one position and will not move.

Filed Oct 11, 2000 · Seat belts · ME

The drivers lap seat belt let go (broke) while I was driving down the road,the seat belt will not stay latched .a couple of days after the warentee ran out.