The defect
THE AUTOMATIC LOCKING REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTORS ON CERTAIN VEHICLES MAY FAIL TO LOCK DUE TO BINDING OF THE LOCKING PAWL AGAINST THE RETRACTOR HOUSING. THIS BINDING IS CAUSED BY RETRACTOR HOUSING DEFORMATION WHICH OCCURRED DURING ASSEMBLY. AS A RESULT THE PASSENGERS WOULD BE RESTRAINED ONLY BY THE FULLY EXTENDED BELT. THIS FAILS TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION".
The remedy
DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE ONE OR BOTH REAR SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|
Components: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
Other seat belts recalls in 1978
12 of the 272 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1978 concerned the seat belts; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 78V246000 9 Nov 1978 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 78V216000 10 Oct 1978 | ALFA ROMEO, INCORPORATED |
| 78V214000 5 Oct 1978 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 78V191000 5 Sept 1978 | ZIMMER HOMES CORP. |
| 78V168000 7 Aug 1978 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 78V156000 5 Jul 1978 | SAAB CARS USA, INC. |
| 78V108000 15 May 1978 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 78V099000 3 May 1978 | SAAB CARS USA, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1978