The defect
THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
The risk
THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy
OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Dodge Colt | 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 |
| Dodge Conquest | 1986 |
| Dodge Power RAM 50 | 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 |
| Dodge Raider | 1987, 1988, 1989 |
| Dodge Ram 50 | 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 |
| Dodge Stealth | 1991 |
| Eagle Summit | 1989, 1990, 1991 |
| Eagle Talon | 1990, 1991 |
| Plymouth Colt | 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991 |
| Plymouth Conquest | 1986 |
| Plymouth Laser | 1990, 1991 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge Colt | 1986 | 22 | 1 |
| Dodge Colt | 1987 | 28 | 1 |
| Dodge Colt | 1988 | 25 | 1 |
| Dodge Colt | 1989 | 33 | 1 |
| Dodge Colt | 1990 | 12 | 1 |
| Dodge Colt | 1991 | 17 | 1 |
| Dodge Conquest | 1986 | 0 | 1 |
| Dodge Power RAM 50 | 1986 | 0 | 1 |
| Dodge Power RAM 50 | 1987 | 0 | 1 |
| Dodge Power RAM 50 | 1988 | 0 | 1 |
| Dodge Power RAM 50 | 1989 | 0 | 1 |
| Dodge Power RAM 50 | 1990 | 0 | 1 |
| Dodge Power RAM 50 | 1991 | 1 | 1 |
| Dodge Raider | 1987 | 7 | 1 |
| Dodge Raider | 1988 | 9 | 1 |
| Dodge Raider | 1989 | 9 | 2 |
| Dodge Ram 50 | 1986 | 1 | 1 |
| Dodge Ram 50 | 1987 | 9 | 1 |
| Dodge Ram 50 | 1988 | 9 | 1 |
| Dodge Ram 50 | 1989 | 5 | 1 |
| Dodge Ram 50 | 1990 | 4 | 1 |
| Dodge Ram 50 | 1991 | 2 | 1 |
| Dodge Stealth | 1991 | 63 | 4 |
| Eagle Summit | 1989 | 12 | 1 |
| Eagle Summit | 1990 | 6 | 1 |
| Eagle Summit | 1991 | 12 | 1 |
| Eagle Talon | 1990 | 73 | 4 |
| Eagle Talon | 1991 | 104 | 2 |
| Plymouth Colt | 1986 | 7 | 1 |
| Plymouth Colt | 1987 | 6 | 1 |
Other seat belts recalls in 1995
26 of the 260 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1995 concerned the seat belts; CHRYSLER CORPORATION filed 640 campaigns in all.
| 95V242000 13 Dec 1995 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 95V241000 13 Dec 1995 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 95V228000 4 Dec 1995 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 95V220000 16 Nov 1995 | CARPENTER INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 95V216001 8 Nov 1995 | HOLIDAY RAMBLER CORP. |
| 95V213000 7 Nov 1995 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 95V200000 18 Oct 1995 | GRUMMAN OLSON, INC |
| 95V173000 15 Sept 1995 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1995