Table 1 shows three common seat belt related problems of the 2001 Mercury Villager.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Front Seat Belt Buckle Assembly problems | |
| Seat Belt problems | |
| Front Seat Belt Retractor problems |
Seat belts plastic covers have broken and fallen off, which has made the locking mechanism useless. The seat belts are now inoperable, which has left us with five available seats in a seven-passenger vehicle. The local dealer was contacted regarding a recall notice for the 2001 village seats belts, but I was told that my van did not fall under the recall. The dealers service department referred me to Ford Lincoln Mercury cooperate offices. They were contacted, and once again, I was not offered assistance.
Consumer vehicle t-boned another vehicle at 45 mph, and neither frontal air bags deployed. Driver and the five passengers were all restrained with the seat belts. Everyone sustained minor injuries from the seat belts. No one needed to be transported to a hospital by ambulance. Dealer and the manufacturer were both informed.
While taking seatbelt off belt will not retract. Both front seat belts do not retract properly while removing.