The problem
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. Thomas assembly plant from 4/17/00 - 5/29/01 Mercury grand marquis built at st. Thomas assembly plant from 4/17/00 - 5/29/01. Lincoln town cars built at wixom assembly plant from 3/27/00 - 5/30/01. Lincoln navigators built at michigan truck plant from 4/11/00 - 5/31/01. Ford windstars built at oakville assembly plant from 3/23/00 - 5/30/01. Ford rangers built at twin cities plant from 3/28/00 - 5/30/01, and also at the edison plant from 3/13/00 - 5/25/01. Ford f-150 truck built at norfolk plant from 4/18/00 - 5/25/00; at ontario plant from 5/10/00 - 5/28/01; at kansas city plant from 9/11/99 - 5/25/01; and at cuautitlan plant from 5/16/00 - 6/9/01. Ford super duty f-250, f-350, f-450, and f-550 trucks built at kentucky plant from 4/17/00 - 5/27/01; and at cuautitlan plant from 5/16/00 - 6/19/01. Ford excursions built at kentucky plant from 4/17/00 - 10/2/00. Ford expeditions built at michigan truck plant from 4/11/00 - 5/31/01.
The risk
In the event of a crash, the restraint system May not provide adequate occupant protection, increasing the risk of personal injury to the seat occupant.
The fix
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. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 01V227001 (01V227001) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer number | 01S21 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Component | Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly |
| Report date | July 16, 2001 |
| Owners notified | July 25, 2001 |
| Vehicles affected | 1,400,000 |
| Initiated by | Manufacturer |
Vehicles covered
Owner complaints about the seat belts
- 2001 Ford Crown Victoria seat belt problems 5
- 2001 Ford Excursion seat belt problems 6
- 2001 Ford Expedition seat belt problems 36
- 2001 Ford F-150 seat belt problems 78
- 2001 Ford F-250 seat belt problems 12
- 2001 Ford F-350 seat belt problems 8
- 2001 Ford F-450 SD seat belt problems 1
- 2001 Ford F-550 SD seat belt problems 1
- 2001 Ford Ranger seat belt problems 45
- 2001 Ford Windstar seat belt problems 20
- 2001 Lincoln Navigator seat belt problems 3
- 2001 Lincoln Town Car seat belt problems 3
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 01V227001 repair free?
Yes. Ford dealers will fix the problem at no cost: 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.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 1,400,000 vehicles built in a certain window. Check your 17-character VIN with our VIN recall check or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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.