Component

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

1,380 NHTSA complaints about seat belts:front issues across 45 makes and 380 models.

Data updated August 2026. Counts render from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation standardized component field; severity flags cross-reference NHTSA ODI complaint flags for owner-reported crash, fire, and injury markers. This page is for informational purposes and does not replace NHTSA recall notices or a vehicle-specific inspection. Methodology · Corrections.

NHTSA ODI component intake brief

ODI category SEAT BELTS:FRONT

1,380 filings · 380 models · 45 makes · vintage August 2026

  • FILINGS MODERATE 1,380 ODI rows
  • MODELS 380 nameplates citing this part
  • MAKES 45 manufacturers in corpus
  • CRASH 32.5% 448 crash-flagged
  • RANK #133 of 696 categories
  • SEV FATAL 28 deaths · 562 injuries
SEAT BELTS:FRONT (this)1,380BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERABACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSIN…1,385POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTERPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSM…1,394SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER1,347
ODI filing volume neighbourhood: SEAT BELTS:FRONT vs nearest complaint-total peers

SEAT BELTS:FRONT sits MODERATE on ODI intake volume (#133 of 696 standardized categories) with a FATAL severity stamp (28 reported fatalities across 380 models). Open Ford Escort (category leader) →

SEAT BELTS:FRONT model-concentration reading

The standout signal for seat belts:front is model concentration: Ford Escort accounts for 34 filings (2.5% of this category) out of 1,380 total.

Moderate-volume categories still show a fingerprint in the model table below, cross-check each nameplate's recall and investigation history before inferring a defect pattern.

Next step: compare Ford Escort against BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA on filing totals before treating seat belts:front volume as a purchase signal.

1,380
Complaints
380
Models Affected
448
Crashes
10
Fires
28
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 Ford Escort
34
2 Honda Accord
31
3 Honda Civic
24
4 Ford F-150
24
5 Toyota Camry
21
6 Jeep Wrangler
21
7 Ford Explorer
21
8 Ford Taurus
20
9 Toyota Corolla
18
10 Ford Windstar
17
11 Ford Mustang
17
12 Volkswagen Jetta
16
13 Jeep Liberty
16
14 Jeep Grand Cherokee
16
15 Chevrolet Trailblazer
15
16 Chevrolet Silverado
15
17 Chevrolet Cavalier
15
18 Mercury Villager
13
19 Ford Expedition
13
20 Dodge Caravan
13
21 Hyundai Elantra
12
22 Dodge RAM 1500
12
23 Dodge Grand Caravan
12
24 Chrysler Town AND Country
12
25 Saturn SL
11
26 Jeep Cherokee
11
27 Ford Probe
11
28 Ford Focus
11
29 Ford Escape
11
30 Chrysler Sebring Convertible
11

Recent Complaints

2026 Hyundai Palisade

Dear Public Safety office, I am writing to request clarification regarding the proper operation of seat belt retractors. I want to ensure that I fully understand how seat belt mechanisms are intende

2018 Tesla Model 3

The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the front passenger's side restraint warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where

2015 Chevrolet Spark

See attached document for complaint.

2019 Volvo Xc60

The contact owns a 2019 Volvo XC60. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the front passenger's seat belt retractor did not function as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where

2017 Jeep Patriot

The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Patriot. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle drove over a bump in the road and the air bag warning lights illumin

2022 KIA Telluride

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Telluride. The contact stated while placing the tongue of the seat belt into the receiver, the driver’s side front seat belt assembly separated from the body of the vehicle

2019 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 Crash

The contact owns a 2019 Mitsubishi Mirage G4. The contact stated while driving approximately at 55 MPH, a vehicle in front stopped rapidly and caused a chain reaction crash. The contact's vehicle was

2021 Hyundai Venue

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Venue. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V458000 (Seat Belts). The contact stated that on multiple occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the fron

2019 Volkswagen Jetta

The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact while driving at 40 MPH and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle would not accelerate. After a couple of minutes, the vehicle eventually responde

2014 Dodge Avenger

The contact owns a 2014 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the front driver’s side seat belt buckle was unlatched independently. The contact was able to latch the seat belt buckle

2020 Land Rover Discovery

The contact owns a 2020 Land Rover Discovery. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the front passenger’s side seat belt locked, trapping the passenger in the seat. The contact stated

2013 BMW X3

The contact owns a 2013 BMW X3. The contact stated that when he started the vehicle, he noticed that the seat belt warning light was red and the message on the instrument panel displayed "passenger re

2015 Chrysler 200 Crash

The contact owned a 2015 Chrysler 200. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH and making a left turn, another vehicle crashed into the front passenger’s side of the vehicle. After the c

2016 RAM 1500

The contact’s friend owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact stated that mechanism securing the driver’s side seat belt to the floor would occasionally seize and detach from the floor causing the seat belt

2008 Hyundai Elantra

The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that after latching the front driver’s side seat belt, the locking mechanism would not immediately unlock when clicking the release button.

2022 Toyota 4runner

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota 4-Runner. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speed, the contact pulled into a parking lot and parked the vehicle. The contact attempted to exit the vehicle

2018 Dodge Grand Caravan

The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, she depressed the brake pedal and noticed that the passenger in the front passenger’s seat was no

2019 Ford F-350

Seat belt locks and will not allow movement while driving causing the driver to be pinned against the seat under normal driving conditions.

2006 Jeep Commander

The contact owns a 2006 Jeep Commander. The contact stated while entering their vehicle and attempting to connect the front driver seat belt, it would not connect into the buckle. The contact had atte

2020 Toyota Corolla

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that the driver’s side front seat belt buckle mechanism malfunctioned and failed to lock as designed. The cause of the failure was not yet de

Verify with NHTSA · consumer-reported counts are not verified defect findings.