The defect
THE INVOLVED VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH SHOULDER HARNESS RETRACTORS THAT MAY NOT LOCK. SHOULD THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN DECELERATION OR IMPACT, THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE RESTRAINED BY THE SHOULDER HARNESS PORTION OF THE THREE-POINT SEAT BELT SYSTEM. FURTHERMORE, THE SHOULDER HARNESS RETRACTORS MAY NOT ALLOW EXTRACTION OF THE SHOULDER BELT WEBBING DUE TO A PRE-LOCKED CONDITION. THIS IS A NON-COMPLIANCE TO THE EMERGENCY LOCKING RETRACTOR PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES".
The remedy
THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES IF NECESSARY, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
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. |
| 78V099000 3 May 1978 | SAAB CARS USA, INC. |
| 78V083000 14 Apr 1978 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1978