Seat Belt complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 | 11% | 70,000 miles |
| 2010 | 1 | 4% | 50,000 miles |
| 2009 | 1 | 4% | 9,000 miles |
| 2008 | 3 | 4% | 230,000 miles |
| 2007 | 3 | 3% | 89,000 miles |
| 2006 | 22 | 15% | 81,000 miles |
| 2005 | 36 | 7% | 51,000 miles |
| 2003 | 5 | 1% | 85,000 miles |
| 2002 | 7 | 9% | 100,000 miles |
| 2001 | 23 | 15% | 88,000 miles |
| 2000 | 9 | 6% | 73,000 miles |
| 1999 | 7 | 4% | 86,000 miles |
| 1998 | 3 | 2% | 56,000 miles |
| 1997 | 6 | 2% | 70,000 miles |
| 1996 | 5 | 2% | 90,000 miles |
| 1995 | 4 | 2% | 178,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (buckles, retractors, anchors and pretensioners).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I have a 2008 mecury Grand Marquis ,I was in a wreck in December 10,2017 frontal impact my air bags did not go off or work during my wreck also my seat belts did not work as well. I got hurt in the wreck because non of my safety equipment work. I bought the car used from Ford dealership airbags we're replaced when previous owner had the car he tap a pole in a parking lot. I complaint with Ford and dealership I don't know what airbag is in my car . I think it's a Takata air bag that is in my car dealership sold me a unsafe car and knew about it. Ford motor company knows about my matter and has done nothing about it. Also shop who worked on car when previous owner had the car. Cuss me out for asking what been done on the car . I ask Ford I want my car fixed and repaired for it to be safe so I am still waiting on them. …
The drivers side seat belt failed to latch, the buckle would not go into the receiver. We took it to lawrence hall Lincoln Mercury dealership where we purchased the car new. The tech. Showed us how to use a screwdriver to latch and unlatch the belt. He order the part, we took the car to the dealership and the discovered it was the wrong part. They reordered the part and discovered it was still the wrong part. They want us to keep using the screwdriver. I feel this is unsafe and if this is a problem then the dept. Should know about it. We are required to wear the belts then if the break it should not take 2 weeks to fix.
Front passenger belt will not restrain abrupt forward motion. Air bag indicator light shows system not activated while driving. Ford dealership says this is a common complaint but is not covered by Ford motor company policy. Other complaints on this site regarding front passenger belts with the same problem indicate that this situation will become more common until a death occurs. Then Ford will issue an apology, after it is too late.
The air bag warning light came on after starting car. Took to Ford dealer. The passenger front seat belt assy needs to be replaced due to internal fault. If not replaced, air bag will not deploy in event of an accident.
Around 12 years ago, when my 2006 Marquis, which I purchased brand new, had only approximately 40,000 miles on it, the seatbelt-airbag system warning appeared on the instrument panel and a warning bell sound went off with a 3 beep then 2 beeps/ring tone that would sound whenever the vehicle was started for the next two minutes of driving. It would then stop but the yellow warning icon stays on. On a trip, while driving, it will do this every hour or so or 60 miles of driving, and has done this ever since. (I'm retired and drive very little, my vehicle as of today (5-13-2022) has only 54,462 actual miles on it.) I did some research when it first occurred and learned that the 3 - 2 beeps is a "code 32, seat belt pre-tensioner failure warning and will need immediate service and replacement." So I then called Ford and explained it as above. …
In feb, 2014, I originally had a minor crash when another driver was cited for reckless driving. His insurance paid for my damage. No airbags were deployed on either me, the driver, or my mother, the passenger. We were belted in. Recently, on September 7th, 2015, the airbag warning light and chimes came on when I started the vehicle. The light continues to come on, the chime rings in 3 sets of 5 periodically. The dealer that fixed the original damage, alan jay, ran a $55 diagnostic and stated the passenger seat belt pretensioner was open, and that this could have only occurred in an accident. I asked why the system did not respond the 1 1/2 years earlier when the accident occurred? …
The contact owns a 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that on numerous occasions while the vehicle was started, the driver's side air bag warning light intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a driver's air bag pretensioner fault and that the seat belt pretensioner needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,842.
Passenger seat belt pre-tensioner has malfunctioned. Air bag check light flashing code 34. My mechanic informs me the entire SRS will not function in a crash. He was informed by Ford that a replacement part is no longer available. The vehicle mileage is around 43,000. No rust and no collision damage. With the numerous complaints about this same problem why hasn't a safety recall be issued? Why hasn't Ford been required to stock replacement parts for a longer time?
Related recalls (5)
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.
Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles using aftermarket driver's seat belt assemblies that were sold by Ford parts departments from January 1, through June 13, 2000. These seat belt assemblies fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect these vehicles and replace the service seat belt assemblies that were installed in these vehicles from January 1 through June 13, 2000.
Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles using aftermarket front passenger side seat belt assemblies that were sold by Ford parts departments from January 1, through June 13, 2000. These seat belt assemblies fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect these vehicles and replace the service seat belt assemblies that were installed in these vehicles from January 1 through June 13, 2000.
Seat belts › Front › Retractor
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles May have been built with the left rear seat belt retractor attaching bolts incorrectly tightened.
Remedy: Dealers will tighten the retractor mounting bolts to the specified torque.
Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
The rivets holding the rear outboard belt d-rings were not heat treated properly causing the heads of the rivets to fracture under load and fail to hold the d-rings to the straps. This does not conform to the requirements of FMVSS no. 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages."
Remedy: Dealers will install a reinforcement plate on the rear outboard seat belt assembly anchorages involved in this campaign.
NHTSA investigations
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 Mercury Grand Marquis years have seat belt problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2005 (36), 2001 (23), 2006 (22), 2000 (9) and 1999 (7) model years. Seat Belt complaints make up 7% of all complaints for the 2005.
Is there a recall for Mercury Grand Marquis seat belt problems?
Yes — 5 recalls, including 01V227001 (buckle assembly, Jul 16, 2001); 00V157001 (anchorage, Jun 12, 2000); 00V157002 (anchorage, Jun 12, 2000). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Mercury Grand Marquis seat belt problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 76,000 miles; 31% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the front › buckle assembly (12 mentions), followed by the front › anchorage (8).
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.