Component

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

4,238 NHTSA complaints about seat belts:front:retractor issues across 45 makes and 498 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:RETRACTOR

4,238 filings · 498 models · 45 makes · vintage August 2026

  • FILINGS HEAVY 4,238 ODI rows
  • MODELS 498 nameplates citing this part
  • MAKES 45 manufacturers in corpus
  • CRASH 14.2% 600 crash-flagged
  • RANK #58 of 696 categories
  • SEV FATAL 15 deaths · 746 injuries
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR (this)SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR (…4,238VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTORVISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/…4,269ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING4,279ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPEENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EX…4,093
ODI filing volume neighbourhood: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR vs nearest complaint-total peers

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR sits HEAVY on ODI intake volume (#58 of 696 standardized categories) with a FATAL severity stamp (15 reported fatalities across 498 models). Open Ford Escort (category leader) →

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR filing-volume reading

The standout signal for seat belts:front:retractor is ODI intake volume: 4,238 filings (HEAVY band · #58 of 696 standardized categories) across 498 nameplates. Crash-flag share is 14.2%.

Heavy intake categories like this one often reflect a shared supplier or a stressed FMVSS test, open the affected-vehicles table to see whether filings cluster on a few platforms or spread evenly.

Next step: compare Ford Escort against VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR on filing totals before treating seat belts:front:retractor volume as a purchase signal.

4,238
Complaints
498
Models Affected
600
Crashes
8
Fires
15
Deaths

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

2014 Ford Fusion

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

2024 Ford Mustang

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

2018 Ford Fusion Crash

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

1986 Honda Civic

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

2024 Honda Accord Hybrid Crash

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

2015 Dodge Challenger

The contact owns a 2015 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, while attempting to fasten the passenger’s side seat belt, the seat belt failed to retract. The vehicle

2015 Mercedes-Benz S550

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

2010 Ford Ranger

The contact’s husband owns a 2010 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that the driver’s side seat belt was retracted and damaged. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dea

2017 Audi Q7

The contact owns a 2017 Audi Q7. The contact was informed by her son of a failure with the front passenger’s side seat belt. The contact stated that the seat belt service warning light was illuminated

2004 Honda Pilot

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

2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500

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

2015 Mazda Mazda6

The contact owns a 2015 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated while adjusting the front driver’s seat, the seat failed to move forward or backward. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed. The dealer was

2021 Toyota Corolla Crash

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

2010 Mazda Mazda3

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

2017 RAM PROMASTER 2500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO DEFECTIVE SEATBELT. THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL WAS ON BACKORDER AND NOT ABLE TO REPAIRED.

2011 Ford Escape

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side seat belt failed to operate properly, and the retractor malfunctioned. No warning light was illuminated. The veh

2020 Nissan Frontier

The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the passenger’s side air bag warning light illuminated intermittently. The contact took the vehicle to the local deale

2001 Mitsubishi Mirage

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

2018 Acura ILX Crash

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

2016 Ford Mustang Crash

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

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