Five problems related to seat belt have been reported for the 1997 Ford F-150. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
I was on my way to work the morning before thanksgiving. I shifted from 2nd to 3rd gear and the back tires hit a patch of water and I started fishtailing. I went off the road and hit a patch of oak trees. One head on. On impact, the seatbelt did not retract and I hit the steering wheel, the dash broke apart and the entire steering column moved with me and I hit the windshield. After hitting the windshield, then the airbag deployed. When the dash broke apart from the steering column moving, it cut my shin which required stitches. My knee hit around the emergency brake release which drove my femur into my hip fracturing it in 3 places which required 3 titanium plates and screws. I had an open fracture on my arm which was the head of my radius (elbow) broken off which had to be replaced with more titanium plates and screws. I broke the orbit over my left eye and sinus cavities behind it. I had stitches and staples in my forehead that will now leave me a scar for life. I spent 15 days in the hospital, I've missed a month and a half from work and don't know when I can go back, accumulated over$80,000. 00 in medical bills, and I'm still in a wheelchair. All of these injuries are due to faulty seatbelts and airbags in a Ford motor company's vehicle. The vehicle was bought brand new by my father and has been garage kept since it was bought in 1997. I work as a receptionist and office manager for a doctor's office. My face is the first one seen when patients come through the door. Now, it's mangled and scarred for life.
The contact owns a 1997 Ford F-150. The contact stated while he was driving, another vehicle cut him off which caused him to apply extreme pressure to the brakes in order to stop the vehicle. Upon depressing the brakes, he noticed that the seat belt latch was very loose, and caused him to lunge forward into the steering wheel. The manufacturer stated they were unable to offer any assistance. The failure mileage was 166,000 and the current mileage was 168,000. Updated 08/31/2011.
Seat belt separated from its "a" pillar on driver's circumference. No visual element to explain said incident.
Owner states that his passenger's side seat belt has too much play in it, owner hit ice patch and had an accident, passenger received injuries due to a faulty passeger side seatbelt.
Driver had to make an emergency stop and the automatic seat belt didn't restrain, consumer had kids in vehicle. Please describe .