Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6) event- every time the front seat belts are used. Failure- seat belts do not proberly retract after each use. Subsuquent drivers and passengers who use the vehicle then use the seat belts think they are safely buckled into their seat---but guess what!?!--- they aren't buckled safely at all because 12-18" of unretracted seatbelt is still stuck in the space between the door and the door frame! Engineers even have a name for it, "lazy retraction". Auto makers know about it, the government knows about it, but nobody does anything about it. My old dodge caravan did it after 70,000 miles and now my mercury villager/nissan quest started doung it after 90,000 miles. Correct failure- lecture the [xxx] out of my wife, kids and anbody who will listen about the use of [xxx], defective seatbelts that no longer retract so that they don't think they are safely buckled when they are not! Nobody wil ever convince me this hasn't caused injuries and probably cost lives.
Mercury Villager seat belt problems
29 of the 1,723 owner complaints about the Mercury Villager describe seat belt won't latch or retract, most of them for the 1995 model year.
- owner complaints
- 29
- worst model year
- 1995
By model year
- 20011
- 20002
- 19992
- 19973
- 19963
- 199511
- 19944
- 19933
Often reported together
Grinding brakes 2Wipers 1Fuel smell 1Fuel leak 1Door locks 1Check engine light 1
What owners say
Driver's automatic seat belt failed to function as it was designed. Seat belt had to be manually placed in the release and retract position. The seat belt motor made a grinding noise when this occurred.
Very strong smelling gas fumes inside passenger compartment when heater is turned on. While driving the speed gauge will stop working and the check engine light will come on. Brakes make a grinding noise even after being replaced. Cv boot is leaking and cracked. Driver side auto-seat belt sometimes fails to go up and down. Rear windshield wiper gets stuck in up positions when tring to use it.
Consumer complained about automatic door lock problem. The doors locked without notice. Currently, hatchback will not open. Also, driver's side seat belt did not retract.
Front passenger lap seat belt would not lock into the belt buckle. The consumer was only able to wear the automatic shoulder seat belt. Dealership was notified, but was unable to resolve the problem.
Passenger's side seat belt locks while vehicle is not started. Also, passenger's front and rear seat belts will not retract. Dealer has replaced all seat belts. Please provide further information.
Passenger's front seatbelt retractor stopped working.*ak dealer replaced seat belt.
Bench row seat belt that latches to the floor broke. Contact dealer, and dealer stated seat belt is not under warranty.
Right rear seat belt retractor has broken twice.
Was driving vehicle and was involved in a crash. Upon impact, middle row passenger's seat belt failed to lock up , and threw passenger on floor. Seat belt remained buckled , and was still around passenger. Third row passenger had also experienced same problem with the seat bel, failed to lock up. Driver's seat belt worked.
Related recalls
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: mini vans. These vehicles may have the plastic trim cover around the base of the front seat safety belt buckle trapped between the shoulder of the restraint anchorage bolt and the seat pedestal. This could eventually allow the seat belt buckle bolt to loosen.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash, the occupant seated in that location may not be adequately restrained, increasing the risk of personal injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the seat belt buckle assembly attachment. Some belt buckle assemblies may require replacement.
Recall number 00V338001 · Recall details
Seat belts
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles, light duty trucks, sport utility vehicles, and mini vans equipped with trw seat belt buckle assemblies. The buckle base of these seat belt assemblies were not properly heat treated and therefore do not pass the load bearing requirement of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 209, "seat belt assemblies."
- Risk
- In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant may not be properly restrained.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the date code on certain seat belt buckles of your vehicle and replace all seat belt buckles that fall within the suspect date code range. Owner notification began october 26, 2000. 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 1‑800‑392‑3673.
Recall number 00V228001 · Recall details
Seat belts
- What is wrong
- One or both of the bolts securing the automatic seat belt restraint system tracks to the b-pillars were not adequately tightened.
- Risk
- This condition can result in the automatic seat beltsystem track joints having less than design strength, and increase the risk ofinjury to the seat occupant in the event of a collision or sudden stop.
- Remedy
- Dealers will tighten the passive restraint system track mounting bolts.
Recall number 92V133002 · Recall details
Questions about the Mercury Villager seat belt
Which Mercury Villager years have seat belt won't latch or retract problems?
The model years with the most reports are 1995 (11 complaints), 1994 (4 complaints) and 1993 (3 complaints).
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