1992 FORD TEMPO Seat Belts Problems

FRONT SEAT BELT AUTOMATIC RETRACTOR INOPERABLE.........VEHICLE NO LONGER HAS A THREE POINT RESTRAINT CAPABILITY.........UNSAFE!!!! THIS IS THE THIRD FAILURE FOR THE FRONT AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RESTRAINT SYSTEM ON THREE DIFFERENT VEHICLES. I'M THE "DUTY" MECHANIC FOR OUR FAMILY AND HAVE BECOME QUITE ADEPT AT FIXING THESE RESTRAINTS. I'VE REPLACED THE NYLON "FEED BELT" IN THE AUTOMATIC RETRACTORS.........THIS IS THE "FAILING" PART. IN MY OBSERVATION, THIS IS A DESIGN FAILURE BY FORD. SPECIFICALLY, THE NYLON "FEED/DRIVE" BELT FAILS BECAUSE THE RESTRAINT DOES NOT HAVE A CLOSED LUBRICATION DESIGN WHICH RESULTS IN THE BELT BINDING IN THE MOTOR GEARS AND BEING DESTROYED AS A DIRECT RESULT OF DUST/DIRT ENTERING THE SEAT BELT TRACK UNDER NORMAL AND RESONABLE DRIVING CONDITIONS. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A ******SAFETY****** ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. A QUICK GLANCE AT THE DATABASE INDICATES THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNUSUAL PROBLEM. I'M REQUESTING THAT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION INVESTIGATE. SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ANSWERED ARE: 1. HOW MANY OF THESE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS ARE STILL ON THE ROAD?? 2. HOW MANY FATALITIES CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE OF THESE DEVICES?? 3. WHAT IS THE INCIDENCE OF SUPPLY REQUESTS FOR THESE RESTRAINTS FROM THE "FORD" AND, A FINAL OBSERVATION. I SUSPECT THAT MOST FOLKS WHO EXPERIECE PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS ON OLDER FORD VEHICLE CHOOSE TO "ABANDON" THEIR USE INSTEAD OF PAYING TO HAVE THEM FIXED. THERE'S A "PURPOSE" FOR GOVERNMENT.......THE COMMON GOOD!!!

Mileage: 102,000

THE HORN QUIT WORKING, THE COOLING FAN HAS QUIT TWICE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED , NOW THE FAN PROBLEN IS IN THE WIRING , HAVENT FIXED IT YET, THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, THE RIGH HEADLIGHT HS BEEN REPLACED 7 TIMES IN 3 YEARS, THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT NO LONGER WORKS , THE TRANSMISSION LEAKS AT THE DRIVERS SIDE CV AXLE AND THE DRIVERS SIDE CV ASLE HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 YEARS , THE MAX FUEL ECONOMY IS 16 MPG (HIGHWAY), THE ENGINE IDLES UP AND DOWN AT STOP SIGNS , THE IGNITION SWITCH ON THE STEERING WHEEL HAS CAME UNPLUGGED WHILE DRIVING TWICE , THE A/C HAS QUIT WORKING , THE CLEAR COAT HAS JUST ABOUT ALL PEELED OFF , THE REAR BRAKES HAVE TO BE ADJUSTED MANUALLY ABOUT ONCE EVERY 2 MONTHS , THE ALTERNATOR SQUEELS , THE RACK-N-PINION STEERING SEAL BURSTED SO THE POWER STEERING NO LONGER WORKS , .

Mileage: 170,000

REGARDING THE DRIVER SEAT BELT WHEN OPENING THE CAR DOOR, THE MOTOR BELT RUNS BUT THE SEAT BELT STAYS IN PLACE INSTEAD OF RETRACTING TO ALLOW ME IN THE CAR SEAT. ONCE THE LAP BELT IS ATTACHED, THE PANEL LIGHT FLASHES CONSTANTLY THAT THE SEATBELT IS NOT WORKING. THE RETRACTOR ONLY GOES AS FAR AS THE UPPER LEFT CORNER OF THE DOOR. THE MOTOR RUNS BUT IT WILL NOT ALLOW THE RETRACTOR TO COMPLETE ITS FULL ASCENDING AND DESCENDING POSITION. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO AMERICAN FORD IN GLENDIVE, MT - I WAS TOLD THE PART AND LABOR WOULD BE IN EXCESS OF $300. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS A LAW TO WEAR A SEATBELT, BUT HOW DO YOU DO THAT WHEN THE PART IS DEFECTIVE. LUCKILY, THERE IS STILL THE LAP SEATBELT. REGARDING THE CRUISE CONTROL - WE HAVE BEEN AT SPEEDS OF 70-75 MPH AND THEN THE CRUISE CONTROL STICKS. ONCE YOU TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL - THE CAR WILL CONTINUE TO GO SPEEDS OF 55-60 MPH WITHOUT HAVING TO PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL. WE HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES (4 TIMES COMING DOWN A MOUNTAIN PASS - NOT A PRETTY PICTURE). WE NO LONGER USE THE CRUISE CONTROL. DT

FRONT DRIVER 'SSEAT BELT RETRACTOR IS ALL STIPPED OUT. VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS.*AK

MOTORIZED SEATBELT HAS FAILED ON BOTH SIDES. SHOULDER BELT HAS JAMMED, PARTIALLY RETRACTED AND IN A UNSAFE MANNER. DEALER CLAIMED MOTOR AND PLASTIC TRACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

THE CAR HAS RECENTLY BEGAN TO STALL AFTER STOPPING AT LIGHTS AND INTERSECTIONS, IT USUALLY STALLS IMMEDIATELY AFTER HITTING THE GAS, PUSHING ME INTO THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS THE CAR WILL USUALLY RESTART WITHIN A COUPLE OF MINUTES. AS FAR AS THE SEAT BELTS, AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR THE DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT STOPPED WORKING IT IS NOW STUCK IN ONE POSITION AND WILL NOT MOVE. *AK

11/18/96 DRIVER SIDE MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELT INOPERABLE..REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY; 8/14/97 PASSENGER SIDE MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELT INOPERABLE REPAIRED FOR $295.00; 8/14/00 DRIVER SIDE IN OPERABLE REPLACED AGAIN $306.00 (ONLY BECAUSE I GOT A $100 TICKET ); 9/00 PASSENGER SIDE INOPERABLE AGAIN..HAVE NOT REPAIRED. *AK

I REALLY DON'T KNOW THE ENGINE SIZE OR CYLINDERS FOR SURE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE MOTOR SHOULDER BELT HAS NOT WORKED FOR A TIME BEFORE I WAS GIVEN THE CAR IN NOVEMBER, L997. IT IS STUCK IN A POSITION MIDWAY IN THE TRACK. IT WAS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY AND THEN STOPPED COMPLETELY. THIS IS A PROBLEM EQUIPMENT ON THIS CAR AND I NEED TO KNOW WHAT I CAN DO ABOUT IT. I AM A LOW-INCOME SENIOR LIVING ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND WOULD LIKE THIS BELT TO BE OPERATIONAL BUT CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT ON MY INCOME. PLEASE LET ME HEAR FROM YOU. *AK

MOTOR BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED TO OPERATE, LEAVING DRIVER WITHOUT ANY RESTRAINT. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REFUSED TO REPAIR SEAT BELT UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. *AK

THE DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER HARNESS HAS FAILED 3 TIMES IN THIS VEHICLE. AT AROUND $150 EACH TIME IT IS GETTING QUITE EXPENSIVE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD TURN IN MY COMPLAINT TO THE PROPER DEPARTMENT. THE QUESTION I HAVE IS THAT, FORD RECALLED THE PROBE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT THE TEMPOS. ALSO I HAVE LOOKED LOCALLY AND ACROSS THE NATION FOR REPLACEMENT RESTRAINTS AT WRECKING YARDS AND THEY HAVE ALL TOLD ME THAT WHEN A TEMPO (2 DOOR) COMES IN THAT IS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS TO GO. SO THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. I SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO REPLACE THIS SAFETY HARNESS 3 TIMES. YOUR COOPERATION IN THIS MATTER WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU, STEVEN PRIDDY. *AK

MY IS: STEVEN ENCARNACION. ADDRESS: 1204 ST. JOSEPH WAY, PETALUMA, CA 94954-5360, E:MAIL [email protected]. TELEPHONE #(707)763-7437. THIS IS THE THIRD OF FOUR (1ST ODI #719304, 2ND ODI #719313) COMPLAINTS I'M FILEING AGAINST G&C AUTOBODY FOR RENTING OUT VEHICLES WITH KNOWN SAFETY DEFECTS FOR PROFIT. ON 01/19/2000 I RENTED THE FORD TEMPO, RENTAL AGREEMENT #25778, REPAIR ORDER #000676, WHILE OUR VEHICLE WAS TO BE REPAIRED. I BROUGHT UP THE FACT THAT THE RENTAL WAS MISSING THE RIGHT SIDE VIEW MIRROR TO CASEY PUTERBAUGH (G&C CUSTOMER SERVICE), SHE SAID "OH THE PARTS MUST BE ON ORDER". THE PASSENGER SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT WORKED INTERMITTENTLY AND WHEN IT DIDN'T I WOULD JUST GET IN AND LEAN AGAINST IT (OUR 1991 HONDA ACCORD EX THAT WAS BEING REPAIRED HAD AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELTS ALSO). ON 02/09/2000 AS I LEANED FORWARD TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE THE BELT CAME SLIDING FORWARD FROM BEHIND ME AT A VERY FAST SPEED, CAUGHT ME BEHIND THE NECK AND PUSHED MY HEAD INTO THE DOOR GLASS AND UPPER DOOR FRAME ABOVE THE GLASS. I TOOK THE CAR TO G&C TO GET ANOTHER RENTAL AND TALKED TO GENE CROZAT, HE SAID THE BELT COULDN'T THROW ME FORWARD AND THAT HE WASN'T GOING TO PAY FOR ANY MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE PETALUMA POLICE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THEY CARRY INSURANCE FOR IT. I HAD TO SEE MY DOCTOR FOR THE INJURY. WHEN I WAS OUTSIDE TALKING TO GENE ABOUT THE INJURY, MY WIFE WAS IN THE LOBBY AND SAID SHE HEARD WILBERT JOHNSON TELLING THE STAFF "THIS GUY OUT HERE HASN'T LEARNED TO STAY OUT OF THE WAY OF THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT!". I RECEIVED A CERTIFIED LETTER ON 02/26/2000 FROM G&C. IT STATES, 1)THE BELT WAS BEHIND ME WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR AND THREW ME (THIS IS CORRECT), 2)IT STATES I WASN'T USING THE BELT AS IT WAS INTENDED AND THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE (HOW DO YOU USE A DEFECTIVE BELT CORRECTLY? RESPONSIBILITY SEEMS TO BE A BURDEN TO G&C AUTOBODY), 3)GENE CROZAT, ALAYNE SATURDAY (CONTROLLER), MY WIFE AND I ALL AGREE THAT THE BELT IS DEFECTIVE RE:IT DIDN'T SLIDE FORWARD AND CAUSED THE INJURY.

MY AUTOMATIC SEATBELT WENT OUT. HAD NEW ONE INSTALLED ($375.00) LESS THEN 2 MONTHS LATER HAD ANOTHER ONE INSTALLED (IT WAS FOUND THE FIRST REPLACEMENT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY) NOW THAT ONE IS NOT WORKING WHICH WAS INSTALLED FEB. 1999. IT HAS NOT BEEN WORKING SINCE LAST JUNE. I PUT ON OVER 50 MILES A DAY DRIVING TO WORK SO THE 12,000 MILES IS OUT (WHICH I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS TO DO WITH MY SEAT BELT FUNCTIONING) I CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP GETTING IT "FIXED". NOW I HAVE NO FUNCTIONING SEATBELT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. (THE RIGHT SEAT BELT IS NOT FUNCTIONING EITHER, BUT CANNOT AFFORD TO GET THAT ONE "FIXED" AT THE RATE I AM BEING CHARGED FOR NOTHING. *AK

THE DRIVER'S / PASSENGER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT WHEN RELEASED. CONSUMER CAN HEAR THE MOTOR STILL RUNNING, BUT NOTHING HAPPENING. THE BELTS REMAINED IN THE SAME POSITION. VEHICLE WILL BE TAKING TO DEALER TO CHECK PROBLEM. *YC

MOTOR ON THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELTS HAS COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING, CAUSING THE SEAT BELTS TO BECOME INOPERABLE EVEN WHEN ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. CAUSE UNKNOWN, THE SEAT BELT BECAME STRIPPED CAUSING THE SEAT BELTS TO STOP IN ONE PLACE/LOCK UP AND CONTINUE TO RUN AND GRIND IN ONE SPOT. *AK.ET.

MOTORIZED DRIVER SEAT BELT DOES NOT DOES NOT MOVE. IT IS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRACK.

SHOULDER SEAT BELTS DO NOT MOVE AT ALL,. THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT WILL NOT RETRACT WHEN OPENING OR CLOSING THE DOOR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY DETAILS. *AK

SHOULDER BELT THAT'S ATTACHED TO DOOR WILL NOT RETRACT. CALLED DEALER & MECHANIC SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER, KEVIN, SAID HE WILL NOT FIX IT. NOTHING CAN BE DONE. OWNER BELIEVES IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT. *AK

SHOULDER STRAP DID NOT CATCH.

DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH CONSUMER HAD TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP,VEHICLE WAS REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELTS DID NOT LOCK UP, CAUSING CHEST INJURIES DUE TO HITTING AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAPPENED IN WET CONDITIONS. *AK

THE DEFECTIVE DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT GUIDE RAIL IS INOPERATIVE. WON'T PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. BEEN REPLACED, 2 YEARS LATER THE DRIVER'S SHOULDERBELT IS INOPERATIVE AGAIN. *AK

WHEN OPENING DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, WOULD HEAR GRINDING NOISE; DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT MOVE; SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT IN OR OUT; WHEN DOOR IS CLOSED SEAT MOTOR IS STILL GOING. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKED UP UNDER NORMAL USE AND KEPT TIGHTENING UNTIL OCCUPANT COULD NOT BREATH. *AK

SEAT BELT SHOULDER STRAP TIGHTENS ON OCCUPANT.

PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT INADVERTENTLLY TIGHTENED, CAUSING BREATHING DIFFICULTY FOR PASSENGER.

WHEN TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR TIGHTENS UP. THIS HAPPENED SOMETIMES, TOOK TO DEALER, HE INDICATED SOMTEHING WAS WRONG WITH THE TRACK . *AK

THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELTS ARE INOPERATIVE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT WILL NOT RETRACT AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT ALSO DOES NOT FULLY RETRACT OR IS TRAPPED IN THE TRACK. CONSUMER HAS YET TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. *AK

THE MANUAL LAP BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE ONCE LATCHED, IT WOULD NOT UNLATCH. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A PENNY IN THE FEMALE BUCKLE PART WHICH WOULD NOT ALLOW IT TO UNLATCH. *AK

SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONS.

THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR, WHEN IT IS LOCKED IN, IT SOMETIMES TIGHTENS TOO MUCH . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

THE SHOULDER BELT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE IS STUCK IN THE FORWARD POSITION AND WILL NOT RETRACT BACK. *AK

MOTORIZED SEAT BELT FAILED. ( 2ND VEHICLE ON 601623)

MOTORIZED DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DOES NOT MOVE BACK AND FORTH WHEN DOOR IS OPENED.

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR INOPERATIVE.

FAILURE OF THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS, THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WAS IN THE RETRACT POSITION.*AK

PASSENGER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT, WHEN CLOSING THE DOOR, THE MOTOR TO THE SEAT BELT WILL MAKES NOISE, BUT THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. DRIVERS DOES NOT FUNCTION AT ALL.*AK

PASSENGER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT, WHEN CLOSING THE DOOR, THE MOTOR TO THE SEAT BELT WILL MAKES NOISE, BUT THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. DRIVERS DOES NOT FUNCTION AT ALL.*AK

PASSENGERS SEAT BELT TIGHTENS TOO MUCH, ONLY RELEASING WHEN DOOR IS OPENED. *DH

THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER RESTRAINT SYSTEM NO LONGER FUNCTIONS PROPERLY AND WILL NOT RESTRAIN IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT HAS TOTALLY FAILED. TT

DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT HAS TOTALLY FAILED. TT

SHOULDER STRAPS IN THE FRONT ON BOTH SIDES DO NOT WORK HAS BEEN ON BACK ORDER SINCE SEPTEMBER. TT