Seat Belt complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 3 | 3% | 78,000 miles |
| 2012 | 2 | 1% | 15,000 miles |
| 2011 | 2 | 1% | 74,000 miles |
| 2008 | 4 | 2% | 164,000 miles |
| 2006 | 3 | 1% | 100,000 miles |
| 2004 | 2 | 1% | 55,000 miles |
| 2002 | 8 | 5% | 116,000 miles |
| 2001 | 12 | 5% | 115,000 miles |
| 2000 | 5 | 2% | 120,000 miles |
| 1999 | 5 | 1% | — |
| 1997 | 7 | 2% | 130,000 miles |
| 1996 | 5 | 3% | 117,000 miles |
| 1995 | 1 | 1% | 92,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (buckles, retractors, anchors and pretensioners).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The drivers side female seat belt buckle seperated into 3 pieces when engaging with the male seat belt buckle. Duct taped the broken buckle so I can use the seat belt while I wait for a replacement part. Hope the belt stays engaged in the event of an accident.
The passenger side seat belt tensioner constricts after the seat belt has been buckled and becomes unbearably tight as we drive. This situation occurs on all road surfaces and the further one goes the tighter it restricts. This has been an ongoing situation.
Tl* the contact owned a 2008 Ford f-250. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle slid off the road due to inclement weather. The contact mentioned that the seat belt unlatched independently. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The driver sustained a broken neck, broken spinal cord, dislocated jaw, dislocated shoulder, and sprained ribs. Medical attention was not required. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
The driver and passenger seat belts come unlatched without being touched in any way. Sometimes the seat belts won't even latch. This is a safety issue. The faulty seat belts are unreliable to protect my family.
Tl contact owns a 2006 Ford f-250. The contact stated that while driving at a various speeds, the front passenger, front middle and rear middle seat belts failed to buckle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 83,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford f-250. The contact stated that he attempted to connect the seat belt but the buckle would not secure with the connector. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection where they stated that the seat belt buckle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000. Updated 12/18/13
My drivers side seatbelt has started to randomly unbuckle. There isn't anything touching it, pressing it or otherwise interfering with the operation. I firmly press the buckle into the receptacle, pull on it to ensure it is latched and randomly it will come undone. The dealership said there isn't a recall or warranty to cover it so I had to purchase a new receptacle. This has happened going as slow as 5mph and as fast as 50mph and is quite startling as the seatbelt instantly starts to rewind. I don't feel comfortable driving my truck knowing the seatbelt might not hold if an accident were to happen.
Drivers seat belt keeps coming unlatched for no reason while driving. Nothing is stuck inside. I latch it and tug hard to make sure fully latched. Then after a few minutes of driving, it releases for no reason. My best friends 2006 f250 also has the same problem.
Related recalls (1)
Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Vehicle description: passenger and sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and minivans. Equipped with seat belts supplied by trw. It is possible that the driver's and/or front passenger's outboard seat belt buckle May not fully latch. Ford crown victoria built at st.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the front outboard seat belt buckles and if the buckle fails the inspection process, it will be replaced. Owner notification began July 25, 2001.
NHTSA investigations
Front seat belt buckle assembly
Under recall campaign (01V227), Ford recalled approximately 1.3 million vehicles to inspect and if necessary replace the front driver and/or passenger seat belt buckle.approximately 1.1 million owners responded by taking their vehicles to a dealer for inspection of the buckle using a specialized buckle test tool.Ford reported that 829,927 vehicles had both buckles pass the tool test and another 167,336 vehicles had…
Front seat belt buckle assembly
During the initial recall campaign in 2001, the subject vehicles were inspected by Ford dealerships using a test tool that would detect a defective front seat outboard seat belt buckle assembly.approximately one million vehicles passed the inspection test for one or both front buckles.subsequent to the recall service action, odi received 15 consumer reports alleging that a passed inspection buckle subsequently…
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford F-250 years have seat belt problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2001 (12), 2002 (8), 1997 (7), 1996 (5) and 1999 (5) model years. Seat Belt complaints make up 5% of all complaints for the 2001.
Is there a recall for Ford F-250 seat belt problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 01V227001 (buckle assembly, Jul 16, 2001). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Ford F-250 seat belt problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 107,000 miles; 12% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the front › buckle assembly (10 mentions), followed by the front (6).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.