1998 Ford Windstar: seat belt won't latch or retract

Filed Nov 4, 2003 · Seat belts · TN

Driver's side seat belt does not release from the retractor.

Filed Aug 11, 2003 · Seat belts · NM

However, we are currently very upset with our local ford dealer over a simple seat belt. We own a 1998 ford windstar. When the car was less than a year old we took it in to have a frayed seat belt repaired. I have the paperwork for this repair. We then had a baby and installed a five point harness car seat in that seat position. The car seat remained there for four years, (removed only when so filthy it had to be cleaned), thus the seat belt remained locked in position and was not pulled out or retracted during that time. That baby is now old enough to need a booster seat (which utilizes the seat belt directly). Within six months of starting to use the booster seat daily we noticed that the seat belt was once again fraying. I called the dealer and he told me to bring it in. We took it back to the original repair place (with the paperwork from the first repair) and explained the situation. They told us that since the first repair was at 7138 miles and the van now has 89,123 miles on it that the seat belt was no longer under warranty. I asked for a letter stating this fact (that the seat belt was not under warranty) and they refuse.

Filed Apr 2, 2003 · Seat belts · NM

We own a 1998 ford windstar. When the car was less than a year old we took it in to have a frayed seat belt repaired. I have the paperwork for this repair. We then had a baby and installed a five point harness car seat in that seat position. The car seat remained there for four years, (removed only when so filthy it had to be cleaned), thus the seat belt remained locked in position and was not pulled out or retracted during that time. That baby is now old enough to need a booster seat (which utilizes the seat belt directly). Within six months of starting to use the booster seat daily we noticed that the seat belt was once again fraying. I called the dealer and he told me to bring it in. We took it back to the original repair place (with the paperwork from the first repair) and explained the situation. They told us that since the first repair was at 7138 miles and the van now has 89,123 miles on it that the seat belt was no longer under warranty.

Filed Nov 6, 2000 · Seat belts · CO · 1 injury

7- year old child was sitting on passenger's side backrow and ended up getting tangled up with shoudler belt. When she couldn't breathe, she asked for help. Another passenger unbuckled seatbelt, but seatbelt was in retracting mode, so it continued to strangle 7-year old child. Seatbelt had to be cut off in order to allow child to breathe. Consumer felt there should be release button to deactivate retracting mode.

Filed Sep 13, 2000 · Seat belts · IN

I've been having a problem with the seatbelts (the front passenger and all 5 of the rear seatbelts). I have talk to the dealer and I have sent a email to ford inc. The tell me that there is nothing wrong with the seatbelts. The problem that I'm having is that the seatbelts (except the drivers side) is that they keep locking up. What I mean by that is when you pull the seatbelt out to put it on and snap the two halves together, when you let the extra part of what you pulled out roll back into the roller, after this point, most of the time the seatbelt locks. They will not pull out anymore. You can't lean forward without taking the seatbelt off. I have found that when I or my kids ride in the back seats or front passenger seat, that the seatbelts keep getting tighter as you drive down the road, which in turn makes you take the seatbelt off due to pain from the seatbelt pulling tight. I was told that a rep. From ford looked at this problen and said there is nothing they can do.

Filed Aug 2, 2000 · Seat belts · VA · crash

Consumer was involved in a collision in which vehicle flipped and crashed into a tree. Seat belt buckle on the passenger's side bench seat broke, causing child and infant seat to be thrown to the floor. *ak vehicle did not flip, it hit water and spun. *yh the buckle shattered and the plastic housing and springs internal to the mechanism broke apart.

Filed Aug 24, 1999 · Seat belts · MI

Driver's seatbelt does not retract, which won't protect the occupant in event of a crash. Dealer will replace driver's seatbelt. Parts are on back order. Please provide further information.

Filed Feb 1, 1999 · Seat belts · CA

Driver's 3-point seat belt fastener failure.