Component

SEAT BELTS: REAR/OTHER:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

123 NHTSA complaints about seat belts: rear/other:buckle assembly issues across 29 makes and 90 models.

The seat belts: rear/other:buckle assembly is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 123 filings from 29 manufacturers and 90 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 9 crashes, 0 fires, 22 injuries, and 1 fatality. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the JEEP LIBERTY with 3 filings, followed by HONDA CR-V and HONDA CIVIC. 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.

123
Complaints
90
Models Affected
9
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 JEEP LIBERTY 3
2 HONDA CR-V 3
3 HONDA CIVIC 3
4 FORD EXPLORER 3
5 FORD EXPEDITION 3
6 FORD ESCAPE 3
7 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 3
8 DODGE DURANGO 3
9 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN 2
10 TOYOTA YARIS 2
11 TOYOTA SIENNA 2
12 TOYOTA SEQUOIA 2
13 TOYOTA COROLLA 2
14 KIA RIO 2
15 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 2
16 HYUNDAI ELANTRA 2
17 HONDA ODYSSEY 2
18 DODGE RAM 1500 2
19 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY 2
20 CHEVROLET VENTURE 2
21 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER 2
22 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 2
23 CHEVROLET MALIBU 2
24 CHEVROLET BLAZER 2
25 CHEVROLET AVEO 2
26 VOLVO V70 1
27 VOLVO S80 1
28 TOYOTA TUNDRA 1
29 TOYOTA PRIUS 1
30 TOYOTA MATRIX 1

Recent Complaints

2017 MERCEDES-BENZ GLC300

The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC300. The contact stated that while parked and attempting to release the seat belt, the seat belt remained latched. The contact stated that after the third atte

2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while attempting to use the second-row middle seat buckle, the contact became aware that the buckle was inoperable. The contact stat

2019 FORD EDGE

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Edge. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was jerking, and shuddering, with the service warning light illuminated. Additionally, the trans

2021 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH and at various speeds, the cruise control and several other features failed to activate. The contact stated that the air ba

2023 KIA TELLURIDE

The contact owns a 2023 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that the second-row seat belts failed to operate as designed. The alarms failed to engage when the seat belts were buckled or unbuckled. While

2024 ACURA RDX

The contact owns a 2024 Acura RDX. The contact stated that while the child was seated in the rear driver's seat, the seatbelt buckle locking mechanism had malfunctioned. The contact was unable to unla

2019 FORD ECOSPORT

The contact owns a 2019 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated that when the vehicle was parked, the rear passenger's seat belt was inoperable. The contact stated that the rear passenger's seat belt failed

2019 FORD ESCAPE

See attached document for complaint.

2020 FORD RANGER

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while parking and removing the seat belt, the belt retracted quickly wrapping around their child's neck. The contact was able to stop the v

2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU Crash

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving northbound at 70 MPH, an unknown BMW crashed into the passenger rear quarter panel of the vehicle. The impact spun the v

2017 KIA SEDONA

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that she had become aware that the 2nd row middle seat belt clip did not fit in the designated buckle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where

2019 FORD TRANSIT

The contact owns a modified 2019 Ford Transit. The contact stated that the seven rear passenger's side and driver's side seat belts were defective. The contact stated that the seat belt retractors had

2019 HONDA CIVIC

The contact owns a 2019 Honda Civic. The contact stated that her granddaughter was occupying the rear seat with the seat belt buckled, however, the seat belt failed to unbuckle and instead tightened,

2017 HONDA CR-V

The contact owns a 2017 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH, the rear middle seat belt locking mechanism suddenly became unlocked causing the car seat to become unse

2009 BUICK ENCLAVE

The contact owns a 2009 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that the rear driver’s side and center seat belt failed to latch securely. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was dia

2020 HONDA CR-V

The contact owns a 2020 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that he buckled the car seat in the rear middle seat of the vehicle, and while attempting to buckle the driver’s side rear seat belt, the seat

2015 LINCOLN MKC

The contact owns a 2015 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal and the vehicle failed t

2017 FORD EXPLORER

2017 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE SEATBELT BUCKLE WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE CONSUMER STATED TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED THE DEALER LOST THE STEP PANEL AND ALSO NEED ADDITIONAL PARTS TO INS

2021 HYUNDAI ELANTRA

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving at 40 MPH, the vehicle shut off. The message "Put Car In Neutral And Restart Engine" was displayed. The contact stated that sh

2022 FORD EXPEDITION Crash

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, a vehicle that was making a U-turn crashed into the rear passenger side door and that after the

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve seat belts: rear/other:buckle assembly issues?
The NHTSA has received 123 complaints about seat belts: rear/other:buckle assembly problems across 90 vehicle models from 29 manufacturers.
How dangerous are seat belts: rear/other:buckle assembly defects?
SEAT BELTS: REAR/OTHER:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY issues have been linked to 9 crashes, 0 fires, 22 injuries, and 1 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most seat belts: rear/other:buckle assembly problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for seat belts: rear/other:buckle assembly issues is the JEEP LIBERTY with 3 complaints.
Where does PlainCars get its safety data?
All vehicle safety data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database, which collects reports from vehicle owners about safety-related defects.

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.

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