Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (buckles, retractors, anchors and pretensioners).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Ford Ranger owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, a deer jumped into the road causing the contact to crash into it. The air bags did not deploy. The driver and the front passenger side seat belts did not retract during the impact. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 00V228001 (seat belts). The driver sustained neck and back pains which required medical treatment. The front passenger sustained pains due to the seat belt not securing and knee pains. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contacts residence. The vehicle was to be towed to a dealer to determine why the air bags did not deploy. The approximate failure mileage was 143,600.
Dt: the contact owns a 2000 Ford Ranger. While the contact's daughter was trying to fasten the passenger side front seat belt it would not latch. The contact inspected the latch , and there did not appear to be anything lodged in the latch to cause it not to lock. The contact stated that there seemed to be plastic part of the seat belt that broke off. The vehicle has not been inspected by a dealership yet, because when the consumer contacted the dealership they stated that it would cost approximately $100 to replace the seat belt. The manufacturer stated that there was a five year, 50,000 mile warranty on the seat belts, and there was nothing they could do to replace the seat belt without the consumer covering the cost. Updated 11/29/2005- a local gas station was able to repair the seat belt for under $60. The consumer still has the broken belt in his possession.
I was traveling down the road and another vehicle pulled out in front of me, I tried to stop but was unable to. I hit the other vehicle head on at about 45 MPH. My seatbelt did not lock and the airbag did not deploy. It did about $5000.00 worth of damage to the front end of my truck and I have very serious pain in my chest, neck, and back because of this. My vehicle has depreaciated about two or three thousand dollars and I now have nightmares about driving the truck and having a wreck and killing myself.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that the seat belt strap was loose and the buckle would not lock. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign id number: 00V228001 (seat belts) but was advised by the manufacturer that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000. Updated 04/22/14 ma updated 04/24/14
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that the front passenger seat belt was severely worn and on the verge of fracturing altogether. The dealer inspected the vehicle and stated that he had never seen such a failure and advised that the part was defective. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 63,200 and the current mileage was 63,270.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Ford Ranger spr cab 4x2. The contact was driving 35 MPH when the driver side seat belt un-latched independently. The failure was a recurring issue. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the manufacturer was contacted but the vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 205,000 and the current mileage was 207,000. Form returnd no change
Consumer was traveling about 40mph when another vehicle on a side street going straight across, cut the consumer off. Consumer hit the other vehicle on driver's side. Upon impact, the seat belts didn't lock & the airbags didn't deploy. Consumer's jaw was banged up,and the passengers arm was broken in 4 different places. Dealer is investigating.
Consumer was driving at approximately 30mph when another vehicle turned left in front of consumer's vehicle. Consumer did not have time to apply brakes, and had a collision. Upon impact, dual airbags did not deploy, and seatbelt did not lock, causing consumer to slide foward, hitting steering wheel, and knees hit dashboard.
I was traveling down the road and a vehicle pulled out in front of me and I hit it. It was head on and it did about $5000.00 worth of damage to the front end and my seat belt did not engage and the airbag did not deploy. I hit the steering wheele and it has caused very serious pain to my chest, back, and neck.
While driving 45 MPH had an accident with right front impact. Consumer suffered serious head injuries, hit head on windshield. Upon impact, drivedr's airbag did not deploy, and vehicle was totalled. Driver's seat belt did not lock down at all.
Related recalls
Seat belts
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles, light duty trucks, sport utility vehicles, and Mini vans equipped with trw seat belt buckle assemblies. The buckle base of these seat belt assemblies were not properly heat treated and therefore do not pass the load bearing requirement of federal motor vehicle safety standard no.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the date code on certain seat belt buckles of your vehicle and replace all seat belt buckles that fall within the suspect date code range. Owner notification began October 26, 2000.
Seat Belt complaints in other Ranger years
Frequently asked questions
How common are seat belt problems on the 2000 Ford Ranger?
NHTSA has 23 complaints about the seat belts of the 2000 Ford Ranger, 3% of the model year's 670 complaints. The component named most often is front › buckle assembly (6 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Ford Ranger seat belt problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 00V228001 (seat belts, Aug 18, 2000). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2000 Ford Ranger seat belt problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 100,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 9 crashes, 0 fires and 12 injuries to seat belts problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.