Component
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
4,238 NHTSA complaints about seat belts:front:retractor issues across 45 makes and 498 models.
The seat belts:front:retractor is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 4,238 filings from 45 manufacturers and 498 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 600 crashes, 8 fires, 746 injuries, and 15 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD ESCORT with 125 filings, followed by MITSUBISHI 3000GT and FORD MUSTANG. 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 ESCORT | 125 |
| 2 | MITSUBISHI 3000GT | 98 |
| 3 | FORD MUSTANG | 92 |
| 4 | FORD PROBE | 87 |
| 5 | DODGE CARAVAN | 87 |
| 6 | FORD TAURUS | 85 |
| 7 | HONDA ACCORD | 80 |
| 8 | TOYOTA COROLLA | 72 |
| 9 | CHEVROLET LUMINA | 63 |
| 10 | PONTIAC TRANS SPORT | 62 |
| 11 | FORD EXPLORER | 62 |
| 12 | CHEVROLET SUBURBAN | 60 |
| 13 | CHEVROLET BLAZER | 58 |
| 14 | JEEP WRANGLER | 56 |
| 15 | PLYMOUTH VOYAGER | 55 |
| 16 | TOYOTA CAMRY | 52 |
| 17 | CHEVROLET S10 | 48 |
| 18 | BUICK PARK AVENUE | 47 |
| 19 | HONDA CIVIC | 45 |
| 20 | SATURN SL | 43 |
| 21 | CHEVROLET SILVERADO | 43 |
| 22 | MERCURY SABLE | 42 |
| 23 | GEO PRIZM | 42 |
| 24 | FORD TEMPO | 42 |
| 25 | CHEVROLET LUMINA APV | 41 |
| 26 | MAZDA PROTEGE | 39 |
| 27 | CHEVROLET CORVETTE | 39 |
| 28 | DODGE STEALTH | 38 |
| 29 | FORD F-150 | 37 |
| 30 | BUICK REGAL | 37 |
Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed w
The contact owns a 2024 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while seated in the front driver's seat, the front driver's side seat belt failed to properly retract and failed to properly secure the dr
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 1986 Honda Civic. The contact stated that whether the vehicle was parked, stationary, or driven, the seat belt was difficult to retract. There were no warning lights illuminated. Th
The contact owns a 2024 Honda Accord Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 63 - 65 MPH, the vehicle experienced a side-to-side collision on the passenger's side that involved another vehicle. The p
The contact owns a 2015 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, while attempting to fasten the passengerâs side seat belt, the seat belt failed to retract. The vehicl
The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550. The contact stated that the rear driver's side seat belt was inoperable. The contact stated that the seat belt failed to retract as designed. The vehicle wa
The contactâs husband owns a 2010 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that the driverâs side seat belt was retracted and damaged. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the
The contact owns a 2017 Audi Q7. The contact was informed by her son of a failure with the front passengerâs side seat belt. The contact stated that the seat belt service warning light was illuminat
The contact owns a 2004 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact entered the vehicle and the front passenger attempted to secure the seat belt however, the seat belt f
The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500. The contact stated that the passenger seat failed to move forward or backward electrically. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the
The contact owns a 2015 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated while adjusting the front driverâs seat, the seat failed to move forward or backward. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed. The dealer w
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while at a stop light in the turning lane, another vehicle rear-ended the contact, causing minor damages to the rear bumper of the vehicle. T
The contact owns a 2010 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the contact made an emergency stop. The contact stated that he struck the steering wheel with his chest. Ad
2017 RAM PROMASTER 2500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO DEFECTIVE SEATBELT. THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL WAS ON BACKORDER AND NOT ABLE TO REPAIRED.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the front passengerâs side seat belt failed to operate properly, and the retractor malfunctioned. No warning light was illuminated. The v
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the passengerâs side air bag warning light illuminated intermittently. The contact took the vehicle to the local dea
The contact owns a 2001 Mitsubishi Mirage. The contact stated that the front driver's side seat belt failed to retract, and the driver was unable to remove the seat belt from the buckle. The vehicle w
The contact owns a 2018 Acura ILX. The contact's daughter was driving approximately 10 MPH and accelerating after stopping at a traffic sign when the vehicle was crashed by another vehicle. The contac
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to stop. The contact stated that the emergency brake was
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.