Investigations
SEATBELT MALFUNCTION
NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA05010 - closed, opened 2005-06-13.
NHTSA investigation EA05010 is a Engineering Analysis opened on 2005-06-13 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2005-08-02 - NHTSA updates that field whenever an Information Request goes out, a supplement is filed, or a status change is recorded in the public docket.
An Engineering Analysis like EA05010 is the deeper technical phase that follows a PE. NHTSA requests design, warranty, and field-failure data from the manufacturer, conducts its own testing when needed, and determines whether the evidence supports a safety defect finding that would compel a recall.
Investigators summarized the matter as follows: "THE SHOULDER PORTION OF THE MIDDLE-ROW SEATBELT WEBBING FEEDS THROUGH AN OPENING IN THE SEATBELT BEZEL LOCATED AT THE TOP OF THE SEAT. THE BEZEL ALSO CONTAINS A CLIP THAT COVERS A NARROW SLOT IN THE BEZEL. THE CLIP MAY B..." Investigations are the early-warning layer of the federal auto-safety system, sitting upstream of formal recalls and defect orders. Whether this one closes without action or escalates into an Engineering Analysis, the full history stays in the ODI archive so researchers, litigators, and buyers can pull the paper trail at any time.
Investigation Summary
THE SHOULDER PORTION OF THE MIDDLE-ROW SEATBELT WEBBING FEEDS THROUGH AN OPENING IN THE SEATBELT BEZEL LOCATED AT THE TOP OF THE SEAT. THE BEZEL ALSO CONTAINS A CLIP THAT COVERS A NARROW SLOT IN THE BEZEL. THE CLIP MAY BECOME DISLODGED FROM USE AND ALLOW THE SEAT BELT TO BECOME STUCK IN THE NARROW SLOT EXPOSED BY THE DISLODGED CLIP. IN ADDITION TO ODI'S 10 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, TOYOTA'S LETTER RESPONSE TO THE AGENCY IDENTIFIES 40 OTHER CONSUMER AND FIELD REPORTS AND 3,089 WARRANTY REPAIRS THAT REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SEATBELT BEZEL AND/OR CLIP. A STUCK OR JAMMED SEATBELT DOES NOT OFFER PROPER OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH. TOYOTA HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY BY LETTER DATED JULY 19, 2005 (AMENDED IN LETTER DATED JULY 22, 2005), THAT IT WILL RECALL 345,443 MY 2004-2005 7-PASSENGER AND 8-PASSENGER SIENNA VEHICLES BUILT FROM THE START OF PRODUCTION UP TO MAY 18, 2005. TOYOTA DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEATBELT BEZEL AND CLIP WITH AN IMPROVED DESIGN ON ALL VEHICLES. VEHICLES PRODUCED BEGINNING MAY 18 ALREADY HAVE THE IMPROVED SEATBELT BEZEL AND CLIP. THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
About This Investigation Type
An Engineering Analysis (EA) is the in-depth phase following a Preliminary Evaluation. NHTSA engineers conduct testing, collect data from manufacturers, and perform detailed technical analysis to determine whether a safety defect exists. An EA may lead to a voluntary recall by the manufacturer or, in rare cases, a mandatory recall order.
Data from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Cross-references: NHTSA recall campaign API and NHTSA FARS where fatality records overlap. PlainCars does not rate or recommend vehicles. about how PlainCars sources NHTSA data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.