2000 Ford Focus seat belts problems

“THE FORD FOCUS COLLIDED HEAD-ON WITH A PLYMOUTH NEON THAT WAS ON A DARK ROADWAY WITH ITS LIGHTS OFF AFTER A PRIOR COLLISION. THE BUCKLE PRETENSIONER FOR THE FORD DRIVER FIRED, BUT THE RETRACTOR DID NOT LOCK ALLOWING THE DRIVER TO STRIKE HIS HEAD ON THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS MATERIAL WORN AWAY FROM THE B-PILLAR FROM THE RAPID EXTENSION OF WEBBING, AND LATCH PLATE HAD A CHANNEL CARVED INTO THE PLASTIC, WHERE THE WEBBING RAPIDLY PASSED THROUGH THE LATCH PLATE. THERE WAS NOT EVIDENCE THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE ANY SIGNIFICANT RESTRAINING FORCE.”

“DRIVING DOWN ROAD AFTER HEAVY RAIN, ROADS WET, RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, SUN CAME OUT GLARE OFF STREET. CAR TWO CARS AHEAD OF ME STOPPED SUDDENLY TO TURN LEFT. CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED. I SAW THE CARS STOP AND THOUGHT I HAD ENOUGH ROOM TO STOP, BUT STREETS WERE STILL WET AND MY TIRES LOCKED GOING 25MPH 2 CAR LENGTHS BEHIND CAR AND I SKIDDED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. LITTLE TO NO DAMAGE DOWN TO REAR BUMPER OR MY FRONT BUMPER HOWEVER, MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED SHATTERING MY WINDOW AND LOCKED MY SEAT BELT. CAUSING $800 IN PARTS DAMAGE NOT INCLUDING LABOR. FIRST TIME HAVING PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, WILL HAVE INSURANCE REPAIR MY CAR/AIRBAG/SEAT BELT, WINDOW, CAUSING MY INSURANCE TO GO UP. I HAD CHAIR POSITIONED ALL THE WAY BACK SO THE AIRBAG DID NOT HIT ME OR PROTECT ME FROM INJURY (I'M LUCKY I DID NOT HAVE BREATHING PROBLEMS FROM AIRBAG SMOKE THOUGH) I WAS PROBABLY GOING 15MPH WHEN I HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE, IF THE AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF I WOULD HAVE AFFORDABLE INSURANCE AND AN EXTRA $1000 TO MY NAME. BE CAREFUL!!!! *TR”

“DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER MALFUNCTIONED. SEAT BELT DID NOT FUNCTION - PULLED ALL THE WAY OUT FROM THE DOOR PILLAR AND DID NOT RETRACT. CARWAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED.*AK”

“DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE WAITING AT A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF PUT ON THE BRAKES, THIS IN TURN CAUSED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TO REAR END THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE CONTACT. SHE HIT HER CHEST ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM CHECKED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.*AK UPDATED 1/25/2006 - THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS ALSO FAULTY. *NM”

“SEAT BELT DOES NOT STAY SNUG AROUND MY BODY WHILE BUCKLED, BECOMES LOOSE AND DOES NOT TAKE UP ANY OF THE SLACK. WHEN THE SEAT BELT IS UNBUCKLED IT DOES NOT RECOIL, JUST LAYS THERE LIKE A DEAD SNAKE. I HAVE TO FEED THE SEAT BELT BACK INTO THE SEAT BELT TIER TO AVOID SLAMMING THE DOOR ON THE SEAT BELT. THIS SEAT BELT MALFUNCTION OCCURRED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT SEAT. I HAD TO PAY $216 DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED, THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT WILLING TO COVER ITS SAFETY EQUIPMENT. *NM”

“IGNITION SWITCH WOULD "STICK", SINCE DAY OF PURCHASE...TWO MONTHS LATER, BROKEN!! ALL THE TUMBLER SPRINGS WENT OUT....$300!! TO FIX AND ONE HOUR LATE TO WORK. PASSENGER OUTER TIE ROD BOOT IS SHOT AND THE TIE ROD WILL NOT COME OFF!!! $45 TO REPLACE!!! SEAT BELT TENSIONER DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY AT ALL!!!! *NM”