Front Seat Belt Retractor problems of the 1996 Mercury Sable

While driving at 35 mph, the consumer's vehicle hit another vehicle on the side. The air bags did not deploy and the passenger's side seat belt did not restrain the passenger. The consumer was inquiring about the status of the original complaint.

The seat belts on both sides of the front seat, driver's side and passenger's side became inoperable at approximately 50000 miles. We didn't notice that they were inoperable, only that the belts would catch in the door when we shut the door. After a while, after the warranty ran out, we realized that the reason that the belts were getting caught in the door was because they were not retracting properly. We took the car to the dealer, walser Lincoln-Mercury at the above address. The seat belts on both sides were replaced on 1/8/02. The passenger seat is used for less than half of the miles driven. I would not be surprised if one of the belts failed but don't think that both belts should fail. That seems like a manufacturing defect is likely.