The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL SEAT TRACKS. THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ATTACHING STUD MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED. THIS HEAT TREATMENT MAY HAVE RESULTED IN CRACKS DEVELOPING IN THE STUD.
The risk
IF THE STUD IS CRACKED, IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE MOUNTING BRACKET AND STUD ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Taurus | 1998, 1999 |
| Mercury Sable | 1998, 1999 |
Components: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
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 Taurus | 1998 | 545 | 2 |
| Ford Taurus | 1999 | 874 | 5 |
| Mercury Sable | 1998 | 190 | 2 |
| Mercury Sable | 1999 | 258 | 5 |
Other seat belts recalls in 1998
13 of the 367 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1998 concerned the seat belts; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 98V311000 10 Dec 1998 | MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN |
| 98V306000 1 Dec 1998 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 98V276000 4 Nov 1998 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 98V250000 9 Oct 1998 | FERRARI NORTH AMERICA |
| 98V164000 21 Jul 1998 | TIARA MOTOR COACH DIVISION |
| 98V165000 21 Jul 1998 | TIARA MOTOR COACH DIVISION |
| 98V111000 26 May 1998 | ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED |
| 98V105000 14 May 1998 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1998