Problems · by component

1996 Ford Explorer seat belts problems

77 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1996 Ford Explorer cite seat belts, 5% of all 1,468 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
77
5% of all complaints
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the seat belts

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“WHILE STATIONARY AND PREPARING TO SAFELY OPERATE THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RECEPTACLE DOES NOT RETAIN THE SEAT BELT. IT MAY HOLD FOR A BRIEF MOMENT, BUT THEN RELEASES THE BELT RENDERING THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM INEFFECTIVE AND UNSAFE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 14, 2020Seat beltsODI 11354896
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS JAMMED AND WOULD NOT UNLATCH. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT HAD TO CUT THE SEAT BELT. JIM HUDSON FORD (1201 W MAIN ST, LEXINGTON, SC) WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 672,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 5, 2018Seat beltsODI 11066933
“THE DRIVERS SEATBELT WILL NOT REMAIN LATCHED. I WILL BE DRIVING ALONG WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE SEATBELT WILL RELEASE FOR NO REASON. IT DOES IT NO MATTER IF YOU ARE DRIVING, SITTING STILL OR WHATEVER. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE LAST MONTH AND IT IS GETTING WORSE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 4, 2015Seat beltsODI 10808392
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION OR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 3, 2014Seat beltsODI 10562711
“DRIVER-SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT WILL NOT STAY CONNECTED. DOOR LOCKS BROKEN (WILL NOT LOCK), AND LOCK KEY WORKS IN THE DOOR LOCKS SPORADICALLY. IN ADDITION, DRIVER-SIDE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE RECENTLY (1/15/2114) WILL NOT OPEN DOOR. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 30, 2014Electrical system, Seat belts, StructureODI 10562244
“THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT NO LONGER LOCKS. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN ACCIDENT AND I FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 12, 2012Seat beltsODI 10488123

Showing 6 of 77 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.