The defect
THE RIGID MOUNTED SAFETY BELT BUCKLES ARE DEFECTIVE IN THREE WAYS. FIRST, A FASTENED SAFETY BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT UNLATCH WHEN THE RELEASE BUTTON IS DEPRESSED. THIS RESULTS FROM INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE BUCKLE EJECTOR FINGER AND THE BUCKLE TONGUE WINDOW. THE SECOND DEFECT IS THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MAY NOT LATCH. THE THIRD POSSIBLE DEFECT IS THAT THE TONGUE MAY BE RETAINED BY THE BUCKLE, BUT IT MAY NOT BE LATCHED SUFFICIENTLY TO PROVIDE OCCUPANT PROTECTION.
The risk
AN INSUFFICIENTLY LATCHED OR UNLATCHED SAFETY BELTINCREASES THE RISK OF INJURY TO SEAT OCCUPANTS IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP ORACCIDENT. IF THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT UNLATCH, IT WILL NOT ALLOW THEOCCUPANT TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.
The remedy
FORD WILL REPLACE THE RIGID MOUNTED SAFETY BELT BUCKLES WITH END RELEASE SAFETY BELT BUCKLES DESIGNED TO PREVENT LATCH PROBLEMS.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Explorer | 1991 |
| Ford Taurus | 1989, 1990 |
| Mercury Sable | 1989, 1990 |
Components: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Explorer | 1991 | 609 | 8 |
| Ford Taurus | 1989 | 562 | 5 |
| Ford Taurus | 1990 | 381 | 6 |
| Mercury Sable | 1989 | 238 | 6 |
| Mercury Sable | 1990 | 166 | 5 |
Other seat belts recalls in 1992
15 of the 185 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1992 concerned the seat belts; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 92V186000 23 Dec 1992 | PACCAR, INCORPORATED |
| 92V166000 18 Nov 1992 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 92V156000 19 Oct 1992 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 92V145000 10 Oct 1992 | TOYOTA MOTOR CO., LTD. |
| 92V133002 21 Sept 1992 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 92V133001 21 Sept 1992 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 92V094000 1 Jul 1992 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 91V172000 4 May 1992 | GLAVAL BUS DIVISION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1992