Component
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
4,878 NHTSA complaints about seat belts:front:buckle assembly issues across 46 makes and 501 models.
The seat belts:front:buckle assembly is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 4,878 filings from 46 manufacturers and 501 distinct vehicle models, a footprint large enough that defect engineers can isolate part-family patterns across different platforms that share the same supplier or the same federal motor vehicle safety standard.
Among filings citing this component, owners have reported 518 crashes, 6 fires, 601 injuries, and 41 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD TAURUS with 222 filings, followed by FORD EXPLORER and HONDA ACCORD. These severity counters are what separates a nuisance complaint trend from a pattern NHTSA is likely to escalate into a Preliminary Evaluation.
Component-level analysis is how the Office of Defects Investigation spots cross-manufacturer supplier issues — the same airbag inflator, the same takata-style ignition switch, the same brake hose material — before they become industry-wide recalls. When you see a single component accumulating large complaint volume across several unrelated nameplates, that is usually a signature of a shared supplier or a shared federal standard being stressed by real-world conditions. Use the affected-vehicles table below to see whether the pattern is concentrated on a handful of models or distributed evenly, and cross-reference each model's full recall and investigation history before drawing conclusions about any one nameplate.
Most Affected Vehicles
| # | Vehicle | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FORD TAURUS | 222 |
| 2 | FORD EXPLORER | 138 |
| 3 | HONDA ACCORD | 137 |
| 4 | DODGE CARAVAN | 137 |
| 5 | PLYMOUTH VOYAGER | 130 |
| 6 | JEEP CHEROKEE | 102 |
| 7 | HONDA CIVIC | 86 |
| 8 | MERCURY SABLE | 80 |
| 9 | FORD RANGER | 77 |
| 10 | CHEVROLET BLAZER | 73 |
| 11 | FORD AEROSTAR | 72 |
| 12 | DODGE COLT | 72 |
| 13 | CHEVROLET CAMARO | 67 |
| 14 | NISSAN SENTRA | 64 |
| 15 | FORD F-150 | 61 |
| 16 | FORD FESTIVA | 60 |
| 17 | FORD THUNDERBIRD | 59 |
| 18 | LINCOLN CONTINENTAL | 53 |
| 19 | DODGE GRAND CARAVAN | 50 |
| 20 | DODGE DAKOTA | 47 |
| 21 | MAZDA 323 | 46 |
| 22 | MERCURY COUGAR | 45 |
| 23 | JEEP LIBERTY | 45 |
| 24 | FORD ESCORT | 44 |
| 25 | JEEP WRANGLER | 42 |
| 26 | TOYOTA CAMRY | 39 |
| 27 | DODGE RAM | 39 |
| 28 | CHEVROLET S10 | 36 |
| 29 | KIA SEPHIA | 35 |
| 30 | JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE | 35 |
Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the front driverâs seat belt message remained displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local
The contact owns a 2014 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated while attempting to secure the front driverâs side seat belt, the locking mechanism failed to immediately lock. The contact stated that sev
The contact owns a 2023 Genesis GV60. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the front driverâs and passenger's side seat belts failed to lock securely. There were no warning lights illuminated. T
The contact owned a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the front driver side seat belt did not buckle appropriately, another vehicle driving at an unknown speed moved t
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle started to chime. The air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of th
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while the vehicle was either stationary, parked, or being driven, the seat belt buckle failed to operate as designed. The seat belt warning
The contact owns an Evenflo Car Seat, Model number 37312370, Model Type: Gold Shyft Dual Ride. The manufacturing date was unknown. The car seat was being utilized in a 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The co
The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the SRS warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the front driver's side seat b
The contact owns a 2014 Acura RLX. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power, decelerated to 45 MPH, and failed to accelerate properly. The contact stated that several unk
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while buckling the driver's side front seat belt buckle, the front driver's seat belt buckle failed to lock securely as intended. The vehicle
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that while attempting to latch the seat belt, the buckle failed to latch securely, after which the contact observed that the seat belt buckle as
The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that the seat belt failed to securely buckle. The seat belt warning light was illuminated. There was an abnormal beeping sound detected. Th
The contact's father-in-law owned a 2022 Genesis GV70. The contact stated while the driver was driving at an undisclosed speed during rainy weather conditions, the driver crashed into a Ford Fusion at
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that the front driver's side and front passengerâs side seat belt locking mechanism failed to remain latched. The contact stated that while dri
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Mustang GT. The contact stated the front passengerâs side seat belt was difficult to latch and detach. The contact stated that several times the seat belt failed to det
The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Palisade. The contact stated that while occupying the front passenger's seat and buckling the seat belt, the seat unbuckled independently. The contact stated that the f
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the front driver's side seat belt buckle assembly had failed and was unable to be buckled after several attempts. Additionally, the cont
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated while unfastening the seat belt, the locking mechanism detached from the seat. The nut and wires had detached. The seat belt warning light was il
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Soul. The contact stated while attempting to fasten the driverâs side seat belt, the buckle failed to latch as needed. The contact made several attempts before buckling t
The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. The contact stated that the SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) warning light would intermittently appear on the instrument panel. The contact had
Related Vehicle Components
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Data Sources
Vehicle complaint data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database. Includes consumer-reported safety issues filed with NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Severity counts cross-reference NHTSA FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) for fatal incidents where a corresponding FARS record exists.
Component categories are standardized by NHTSA. Crash-test ratings where shown are drawn from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Complaint counts, crash reports, fire reports, and fatality data reflect consumer-submitted reports and may not represent all incidents.
Disclaimer: This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for vehicle purchase decisions. NHTSA complaint data is self-reported by consumers and has not been verified or investigated. A high complaint count does not necessarily indicate a defect. Always consult a qualified mechanic and check official NHTSA recall notices before making safety-related decisions.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.