Investigations
SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE SEPARATION
NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA96020 — closed, opened 1996-08-30 and involving the FORD F150.
NHTSA investigation EA96020 is a Engineering Analysis opened on 1996-08-30 and currently closed. The subject of record is FORD F150, which places this file inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue for FORD. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1996-12-24 — 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 EA96020 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: "FORD NOTIFIED ODI THAT THEY ARE CONDUCTING A RECALL TO INSPECT AND, AS NECESSARY, REPAIR THE SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE ATTACHMENTS ON 1997 FORD F150 VEHICLES BUILT FROM THE BEGINNING OF PRODUCTION THROUGH APRIL OF 1996. ODI'S..." 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. Related FORD files, listed below, give context on whether this is an isolated concern or part of a broader pattern across the brand.
Investigation Summary
FORD NOTIFIED ODI THAT THEY ARE CONDUCTING A RECALL TO INSPECT AND, AS NECESSARY, REPAIR THE SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE ATTACHMENTS ON 1997 FORD F150 VEHICLES BUILT FROM THE BEGINNING OF PRODUCTION THROUGH APRIL OF 1996. ODI'S DATABASE CONTAINS ONE COMPLAINT ALLEGING THE CENTER FRONT SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE WAS NOT BOLTED TO THE FLOOR. FORD HAS LOCATED 60 ADDITIONAL FIELD REPORTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS THAT APPEAR TO BE THE RESULT OF IMPROPER ASSEMBLY OF OR MISSING SEAT BELT COMPONENTS ON VEHICLES BUILT AT BOTH THE KANSAS CITY AND NORFOLK ASSEMBLY PLANTS. COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT A SEAT BELT WAS NOT BOLTED TO THE FLOOR, NOT ATTACHED, NOT HOOKED UP, OR THE OWNER COMPLAINED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS LOOSE. THE CAUSES HAVE INCLUDED A MISSING BOLT, MISSING NUT, BOLT HOLE NOT THREADED, WELD NUT MISSING, OR BOLT NOT COMPLETELY TIGHTENED INTO ITS MOUNTING HOLE. THE ALLEGED CONDITIONS HAVE OCCURRED IN ALL POTENTIAL SEATING POSITIONS IN THE FRONT AND REAR SEATS IN BOTH THE REGULAR AND SUPER CAB MODELS. FORD'S ANALYSIS OF THEIR COMPLAINTS INDICATE THAT THIS SITUATION OCCURRED PREDOMINANTLY IN VEHICLES BUILT FROM AUGUST 14, 1995 THROUGH APRIL 30 1996. IN LATE APRIL, IN RESPONSE TO THE FIELD REPROTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS, FORD RETAINED LINE OPERATORS, LINE SUPERVISORS, AND PLANT REPAIR PERSONNEL. OWNERS OF VEHICLES BUILT WITHIN THIS TIME PERIOD WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE CONDITION AND INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO DEALERS FOR INSPECTION OF AND, AS NECESSARY, REPAIR OF SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE ATTACHMENTS. THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED. RECALL 96V-256
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.
Other FORD Investigations
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Timing Belt Failure
Underbody shields detachment
B-Pillar Trim Detachment
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
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. Learn more.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.