The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT SEAT AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELTS. THE RAIL OF THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT CAN WEAR SUFFICIENTLY SUCH THAT THE CABLE WHICH RETRACTS THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAN BECOME JAMMED IN THE RAIL RENDERING THE SHOULDER BELT INOPERATIVE.
The risk
A SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSIVE SHOULDER BELT ASSEMBLY WITH A MODIFIED ONE (WITH ADDITIONAL DUST LIP) IN VEHICLES WHICH HAVE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM. IN VEHICLES IN WHICH THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT FUNCTIONS PROPERLY, THE RAILS WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED WITH MODIFIED RAILS IF THEY EXCEED THE INSPECTION CRITERIA.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Mazda 323 | 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 |
| Mazda MX3 | 1992, 1993 |
Components: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mazda 323 | 1990 | 19 | 2 |
| Mazda 323 | 1991 | 20 | 2 |
| Mazda 323 | 1992 | 15 | 2 |
| Mazda 323 | 1993 | 10 | 2 |
| Mazda 323 | 1994 | 11 | 2 |
| Mazda MX3 | 1992 | 44 | 3 |
| Mazda MX3 | 1993 | 52 | 3 |
Other seat belts recalls in 1997
22 of the 268 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1997 concerned the seat belts; MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INC filed 58 campaigns in all.
| 97V220000 16 Dec 1997 | AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. |
| 97V174000 7 Oct 1997 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 97V161000 22 Sept 1997 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 97V158000 18 Sept 1997 | VOLVO TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA INC |
| 97V157000 12 Sept 1997 | WARRICK INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 97V167001 11 Sept 1997 | TIFFIN MOTOR HOMES |
| 97V149000 9 Sept 1997 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 97V148000 9 Sept 1997 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1997