Problems · by component
2002 Ford F-150 seat belts problems
53 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Ford F-150 cite seat belts, 6% of all 955 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
53
6% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
What owners say about the seat belts
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Front seatbelts on 2002 Ford F-150 become unlatched unexpectedly while driving. This has been noticed over the last two or three years occasionally, but has been getting worse. Seat belt has become unlatched about 5-6 times during a 600 mile road trip. Seat belt was confirmed by two passengers that it was indeed latched correctly and nothing pushing the release button. Seatbelt was confirmed to be latched by firmly tugging on seat belt to witness that it was latched. Both passengers confirmed that the seatbelt become unlatched randomly while driving. Passenger and driver safety is at risk. If driver seatbelt comes unlatched while driving or during accident, the driver could loose control of truck and put other drivers at risk. The unlatching does not show any warning signs as to when it will become unlatched. Seatbelt just becomes unlatched and starts to recoil without warning. Ford service just says that the truck is out of warranty and that they dont cover seat belt replacements as there is no open recalls for such. Seatbelt is still currently installed on vehicle but can be available for inspection on vehicle or removed for inspection.”
“The contact owns a 2002 Ford Think Neighbor. The contact stated that after entering the vehicle and attempting to secure the front driver’s seat belt latch into the buckle, the seat belt latch failed to lock into place. The seat belt loosened and unlatched from the buckle while the contact was driving. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WAS NOT PROPERLY SECURING INTO THE BUCKLE TO CLICK, LOCK, AND SECURE THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MULLINAX FORD OF MOBILE (7311 AIRPORT BLVD, MOBILE, AL 36608, 1-(888) 241-4640) AND AUTONATION FORD MOBILE (901 EAST INTERSTATE 65 SERVICE RD S, MOBILE, AL 36606, (251) 202-2016). BOTH DEALERS INDICATED THAT A SEAT BELT KIT NEEDED TO BE PURCHASED AS A UNIT, WHICH INCLUDED ALL OF THE SEAT BELTS IN THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE TO DETERMINE IF THEY COULD APPROVE JUST THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BEING REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT ISSUED ANY SEAT BELT RECALLS FOR THE YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THEY ISSUED TWO TSBS FOR THE SEAT BELTS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 174,000. *TT *JB”
“WHILE DRIVING (IN MOTION), THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RANDOMLY DISCONNECTS. THERE IS NO WARNING OR SPECIFIC CONDITION THAT CAUSES THIS TO HAPPEN. OBVIOUSLY THIS CREATES A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT UNBUCKLED RANDOMLY. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE DEALER (SIMI VALLEY FORD, 2440 1ST ST, SIMI VALLEY, CA 93065) STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ATTACHED TO THE VIN AND, WITH THE VEHICLE BEING A DIFFERENT YEAR THAN WHAT WAS IN THE RECALL, THE FAILURE WOULD HAVE TO BE PAID OUT OF POCKET AT A COST OF $700. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE THROUGH EMAIL. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.”
“FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLES RANDOMLY UNBUCKLE THEMSELVES. WHEN FASTENED, THE BUCKLES SEEMS SECURE. PULL SEVERE TIMES ON THEM AND THEY DO NOT UNBUCKLE. BUT, WHILE DRIVING, THEY UNBUCKLE THEMSELVES PERIODICALLY. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.”
Showing 6 of 53 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.