Problems · by component

2001 Ford Mustang seat belts problems

28 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Ford Mustang cite seat belts, 10% of all 280 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
28
10% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the seat belts

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“1. THERE IS A DREADFUL GAS FUME ODOR INSIDE THE CAR EVERY TIME I PUT FUEL IN THE CAR ESPECIALLY WHEN I FILL THE TANK. 2.THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. WHEN ENGAGED MY CAR STILL ROLLS A LITTLE. 3. THE SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT PROPERLY AND TEND TO TWIST AND TANGLE WHEN I TRY TO DO IT MANUALLY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 25, 2020Seat belts, Service brakes, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11366261
“THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS RARELY BEEN USED IN THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE WEEK THE SEATBELT FAILED (BECAME JAMMED IN PANEL AS THOUGH I HAD HIT BRAKES AND WOULD NOT RELEASE) I WAS THE DRIVER FOR AN 88 YEAR OLD FEMALE FRIEND RUNNING HER ERRANDS WHILE HER CAREGIVER WAS OUT OF TOWN., THE SEAT BELT WAS USED FOR SEVERAL DAYS. I WENT ON LINE AND FOUND NUMEROUS ARTICLES AND RECALLS. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL FORD DEALER. THEY IMPLIED ON THE PHONE IT WOULD BE REPAIRED AT NO CHARGE BECAUSE, ONCE I WAS ON SITE, RENT CAR ARRANGED I WAS TOLD MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE WAS NOT A SPECIFIC RECALL AND INDICATED I MUST PAY. NOW AFTER 5 DAYS OF PAYING FOR A RENT CAR. I WAS INFORMED REPLACEMENT SEATBELT HAD NOT BEEN ORDERED PENDING MY APPROVAL. (PREVIOUSLY IT WAS NOT EXPLAINED TO IT WOULD HAVE TO BE ENTIRELY REPLACED. COST OF SEATBELT $260.42 TOTAL COST TO INSTALL $584.63. MY VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION AS THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I FEEL I HAVE BEEN MISLEAD AND RIPPED OFF BY DEALER. AT THIS POINT I AM PICKING UP THE PART ONLY, TURNING IN THE RENT CAR AND SEEKING A LESS EXPENSIVE INSTALL. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED DEFECT WITH THIS VEHICLE AND COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT WITH…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 25, 2014Seat beltsODI 10628128
“SEAT BELT ON PASSENGER SIDE ALWAYS RETRACTED SLUGGISHLY SINCE NEW, OFTEN JUST HANGING LOOSELY FROM THE UPPER HANGER. THEN IT WOULD RETRACT WITH HELP. FINALLY IT JAMMED AND WILL NOT RELEASE IN ORDER TO CONNECT THE BELT FOR USE. WHEN AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO USE THE BELT, I HEAR A METALLIC CLUNK AND THE BELT WILL NOT COME OUT FAR ENOUGH TO USE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 16, 2013Seat beltsODI 10548138
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT SENSOR BROKE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER ANY WARRANTY FOR THE FAILURE TO BE REPAIRED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,530 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,570.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 4, 2012Seat beltsODI 10473756
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT BELT WAS STUCK IN A PARTIALLY RETRACTED POSITION. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT PULL OUT ANY FURTHER OR RETRACT ANY FURTHER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 12, 2011Seat beltsODI 10429577
“THE FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTORS ARE DEFECTIVE IN DESIGN. THE SEAT BELT TWISTS INSIDE THE RETRACTOR, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO USE FOR ITS INTENDED PURPOSE. THE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT PROPERLY AND GET STUCK CAUSING PASSENGERS NOT TO BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR WARRANTY REPAIR, HOWEVER THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE BEGAN APPROXIMATELY 1-2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE AND HAS WORSENED OVER TIME. PROBLEM HAS GONE UNREMEDIED BY MANUFACTURER OR DEALER. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 2, 2011Seat beltsODI 10373762

Showing 6 of 28 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.

Other 2001 Mustang problem areas