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Search Results   Report Date : November 21, 2009 at 08:09 AM NHTSA Action Number : EA05004 N/A NHTSA Action Number : EA05004 NHTSA Recall Campaign Number : N/A Make / Models :         Model/Build Years:          FORD / CROWN VICTORIA     2001      FORD / EXCURSION     2001      FORD / EXPEDITION     2001      FORD / F SERIES     2001      FORD / F SERIES (LIGHT)     2001      FORD / F SUPER DUTY     2001      FORD / F150     2001      FORD / F150 LD     2001      FORD / F250     2001      FORD / F250 HD     2001      FORD / F250 LD     2001      FORD / F250 SUPER DUTY     2001      FORD / F350     2001      FORD / F350 SUPER DUTY     2001      FORD / F450     2001      FORD / F450 SUPER DUTY     2001      FORD / F550     2001      FORD / F550 SUPER DUTY     2001      FORD / GRAND MARQUIS     2001      FORD / RANGER     2001      FORD / RANGER EV     2001      FORD / SUPER DUTY     2001      FORD / SUPER DUTY F     2001      FORD / SUPER DUTY F SERIES     2001      FORD / SUPERCAB     2001      FORD / SUPERCREW     2001      FORD / WINDSTAR     2001      LINCOLN / NAVIGATOR     2001      LINCOLN / TOWN CAR     2001      MERCURY / GRAND MARQUIS     2001      MERCURY / MARQUIS     2001 Manufacturer : FORD MOTOR COMPANY Component : SEAT BELTS SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY Date Investigation Opened : February 17, 2005 Date Investigation Closed : July 6, 2005 Summary: 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 FAILED TO LATCH OR INADVERTENTLY UNLATCHED DURING USE. IN ADDITION, FORD HAS IDENTIFIED 543 OWNER AND FIELD REPORTS ALLEGING BUCKLE FAILURE SUBSEQUENT TO PASSING THE INSPECTION TEST. FORD TESTED AND EXAMINED OVER 100 WARRANTY-RETURNED BUCKLES AND FOUND THAT 44% OF THE BUCKLES HAD NO PROBLEM OR A CONDITION NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL INSPECTION (NON-LATCH RELATED BUCKLE DAMAGE OR FOREIGN CONTAMINATION). WARRANTY CLAIMS WERE HIGHEST DURING THE 18-MONTH PERIOD AFTER THE START OF THE RECALL (JULY 2001) AND HAVE BEEN DECLINING DURING THE PAST 24 MONTHS. OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS, FORD HAS RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY 12 WARRANTY CLAIMS PER MONTH OUT OF A VEHICLE POPULATION OF ABOUT ONE MILLION. COMPLAINTS COUNTS ARE ALSO DECREASING. DURING THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS, ODI HAS RECEIVED ONLY TWO COMPLAINTS. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. Check to Request Research. Submit below.