Seat Belt complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 | 2% | 9,000 miles |
| 2016 | 3 | 4% | 85,000 miles |
| 2014 | 2 | 1% | 78,000 miles |
| 2013 | 7 | 1% | 65,000 miles |
| 2011 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2008 | 2 | 1% | 142,000 miles |
| 2006 | 4 | 1% | 113,000 miles |
| 2005 | 4 | 1% | 63,000 miles |
| 2004 | 5 | 1% | 25,000 miles |
| 2003 | 2 | 0% | 46,000 miles |
| 2002 | 13 | 1% | 63,000 miles |
| 2001 | 24 | 2% | 71,000 miles |
| 2000 | 39 | 3% | 68,000 miles |
| 1999 | 60 | 7% | 62,000 miles |
| 1998 | 28 | 5% | 85,000 miles |
| 1997 | 23 | 3% | 81,000 miles |
| 1996 | 25 | 3% | 73,000 miles |
| 1995 | 11 | 1% | 83,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (buckles, retractors, anchors and pretensioners).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Steering didn't work correctly which led to brakes not doing what I needed which led to slamming into a cement edge at a freeway exit or entrance. Seat belts locked up. Air bags did not deploy. Front passenger tire flat. Car towed next day. Ford dealership did NOTHING even when it was discovered Ford sold us a car with a FLAT spare tire (donut). Dealership said no recalls, but coverup or fixed but not correctly previously? Car purchased used. Ford dealership said to go to body shop. Body shop couldn't do anything unless we paid $6,000.00 to get the seat belts replaced. That's 1/3 the price financed for the car!!!! Safety put at risk: flat spare tire & seat belts locked up. The dealership SAID nothing wrong with brakes & steering according to their electronic diagnosis. Didn't even LOOK at brakes & steering. 2 incidents total so far with brakes & steering. …
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the front passenger's seat belt was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed that the seat belt system needed to be replaced; however, the part was on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Please allow submission of additional information regarding issues with my 2013 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor. As stated on the previous complaint filed on 1/9/2024, I got my car service at AutoNation Ford Service Center on 12/16/2023, and I brought it back to the service center on Saturday, 12/23/2023 because of the car's poor performance and engine had laminated on 12/17/2023. Issues such as: exhaust system, fuel system, the driver exterior door handle is loose, and seat belt gets jammed.
I had problems with my fuel injection for almost 2 years looked it up and even took it to 3 dealerships and a full services place all saying the same thing. So I looked it up and there was a recall for it and seatbelts and airbags but my VIN# wasn't on the list. Everyone I know who got a car like mines had the recall and was fixed. I am now paying out of pocket for the airbags and my radio and back cam now is acting crazy show upside down and the radio keep going out. I need some help can't afford all these issues with my car when they are on your recall list .please if you can re-evaluate my number the back cam acts up when backing up everything is upside down. The fuel injection have problems when starting and while driving it will slow down then caught up and speed up. …
Tl contact owns a 2006 Ford Taurus. The contact had to swerve to avoid a crash after being cut off and lose control of the vehicle at 35 MPH; the vehicle crashed into a guard rail with great force. The vehicle slide across and hit another guard rail. The seat belts did not lock and the air bags did not deploy. The contact's head hit the windshield and their chest hit the steering wheel as a result. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who stated that the relay May have been the cause of the non-deployment but could not explain the seat belt failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The current and failure mileages were approximately 113,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the seat belt assembly failed. The in addition, the air bag warning light illuminated on the instrument panel indicating that the air bag was deactivated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer for inspection where they stated that the seat belt buckle assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 59,900. Updated 09/06/12
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 70mph on the interstate the vehicle rear ended another vehicle and crashed into a guard rail. The airbag failed to deploy and the driver's seatbelt failed to restraint the occupant. The driver's head hit the windshield and head injuries were sustained. There was a police report filed at the scene. The vehicle has not been inspected.
Tl *- the contact stated that the driver's seat belt does not latch. The 2005 Ford Taurus current and failure mileage is 51,000 miles. The contact has not taken the vehicle in to the dealer at this time.
Related recalls (4)
Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Vehicle description: passenger cars. The seat belt buckle tongue May not fully eject from the buckle assembly when the release button is pushed slowly. This condition could also result in a partial latch of the tongue in the buckle.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver and right front passenger seat belt buckles. Owner notification began May 4, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive…
Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The child safety seat anchor latch (iso-fix anchor) fasteners do not have adequate residual torque. The anchors are secured to the floor pan with a reinforcement plate that has two studs that extend upward through the floor pan and the iso-fix anchor.
Remedy: Dealers will remove and re-install the bracket nut using a torque retention material (red loctite). Owner notification began September 11, 2000.
Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The seat belt retractor May have a pin shaft in the switchable elr/alr mechanism that is incorrectly formed. In some circumstances, the switching mechanism could become nonfunctional, preventing the seat belt webbing from being extracted from the retractor.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the lap and shoulder belt assemblies. Assemblies with julian date codes of 200 through 223 are suspect and will be replaced.
Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat belt buckle mounting bracket and stud assembly.
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Taurus years have seat belt problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1999 (60), 2000 (39), 1998 (28), 1996 (25) and 2001 (24) model years. Seat Belt complaints make up 7% of all complaints for the 1999.
Is there a recall for Ford Taurus seat belt problems?
Yes — 4 recalls, including 01V-144 (buckle assembly, Apr 27, 2001); 00V-240 (anchorage, Aug 24, 2000); 99V-250 (anchorage, Sep 20, 1999). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Ford Taurus seat belt problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 69,000 miles; 25% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the front › retractor (64 mentions), followed by the rear/other (32).
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.