1997 Ford F-150 seat belts problems

“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…”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT OPERATING WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. THE DEALER WAS CONTACT WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,000. UPDATED 12/5/12 *CN THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT, DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE.”

“TL*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 *LN *TR”

“1997 FORD F-150 TRUCK WHERE SEAT BELT IN THE FRONT/PASSENGER VEHICLE WILL NOT CLASP ANY MORE. THERE IS NO DEBREE IN THE MECHANISMS THAT WOULD PROHIBIT THE SEAT BELT FROM CLASPING TOGETHER. HAVE REC'D ESTIMATE FOR $200+ TO FIX THE "ONE" SEAT BELT. CAN I TRUST THE OTHER 3 SEAT BELTS (ONE OF WHICH IS AROUND A BABY SEAT IN THE BACK). I CALLED THE FORD MOTOR VEHICLE CONSUMER SERVICE LINE AT 800-392-3673 AND SPOKE TO A GENTLEMAN NAMED CARSON. CARSON LOOKED UP WARRANTIES ON MY VEHICLE, WHICH I KIND OF FOUND COMICAL. ON A VEHICLE OF ALMOST 9 YEARS OLD, THERE DOES NOT EXIST A WARRANTY. HE ASKED IF I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND PROMPTLY LET HIM KNOW THAT THAT WOULD HAVE EXPIRED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND YES, I DID HAVE THAT. HE SAID THAT THE WARRANTY ON SEAT BELTS IS LISTED AS 5 YEARS OR 50,000 MILES. WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT? ARE AIR BAGS THE SAME? I HAVE JUST OVER 100,000 MILES ON MY TRUCK. HE ALSO STATED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS ON SEAT BELTS FOR THE FORD F150, ACCORDING TO THE RECORDS UNDER MY VIN NUMBER. SHOULD THERE BE A FULL SCALE RECALL OF ALL FORD VEHICLES IN AND AROUND THE YEAR 1997 THAT INSTALLED THE SAME MAKE/MODEL/YEAR OF SEAT BELT? I AM VERY…”

“1997 FORD F 150 PICK UP, 4X4 EXTENDED CAB DRIVER'S SEAT NYLON FABRIC IS WORN AND FRAYED. I CALLED LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THIS WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A SEAT BELT GET FRAYED AND WORN OUT IN SUCH A MANNER. I HAVE 18 YEARS AS A FIRE FIGHTER AND HAVE CUT DOZENS OF PEOPLE OUT OUT CARS AND NEVER COME ACROSS A WORN OUT SEAT BELT BEFORE. IF THIS BELT FAILS IN A CRASH IT COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. I WILL GET IT REPLACED BUT I THINKS THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT NOT OPERATOR'S RESPONSIBILTY.”

“DRIVER FELL ASLEEP WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, VEHICLE CROSSED ONE LANE, BUMPER GOT CAUGHT ON EMBANKMENT, AND VEHICLE ROLLED OVER . SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN DRIVER, HIS HEAD SHATTERED THE PASSENGER WINDOW. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK”