The contact owns a 1996 Ford Explorer. While the vehicle was parked, the contact tried to fasten his seat belt and it would not lock into place. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for repair. The approximately failure mileage was 195,000.

- Collingswood, NJ, USA

The contact owns a 1996 Ford Explorer. The vehicle was parked when the contact detected the front driver side seat belt buckle would not remain completely secure in a locked position. The contact had concern of the safety risk involved. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Vero Beach , FL, USA

1996 Ford Explorer seat belt comes unlatched 10-15 times per day, driver side only and I am the original owner.....thanks.

- Louisville, KY, USA

I can't latch the driver seat belt buckle. The red buckle release button doesn't spring"when inserting the buckle nor when I push it as I would to release a buckle. This occurrence was sudden, with no prior warning of possible failure. Until I can replace (or repair) the failed equipment, I need to latch the drivers seat belt into the front passenger belt latch. This action of pulling my seat belt to the passenger belt latch results in my neck being rubbed by my upper chest belt, which is aggravating.

- Grants Pass, OR, USA

About six months ago, the front passenger side seatbelt on my 1996 Ford Explorer stopped working. The clip would often become stuck and would need to be pried out with a screwdriver or similar object or it would occasionally just not clip in at all. Finally it became completely stuck and the whole clip mechanism had to be torn out. I went to a Ford dealership as well as a body shop to get an estimate on fixing it and both said that it would be $250 in parts and would be around $300 total. When I went to a junkyard to find a replacement seatbelt, they said that the '95 and '96 Explorer they had also had the same problem so I had to get a replacement seatbelt from an earlier model and then installed it myself. Now the driver's side front seat belt won't work either. It won't clip in at all. I haven't done anything to fix this problem yet.

- Kalispell, MT, USA

Vehicle: 1996 Ford Explorer failure: The driver side seat belt buckle spring failed, and will not latch properly, resulting in release of the seat belt under very light pull. Cannot comply with seat belt usage laws due to the failure of the part.

- Spartanburg, SC, USA

: the contact stated the driver's side front seat belt buckle assembly will not stay secured. The dealer was alerted. The contact is planning on having the vehicle repaired. Updated 5/3/2006 - the buckle spring broke due to wear which resulted in the belt not latching.

- Anchorage, AK, USA

The contact stated the driver's side seat belt was not properly latching. It would unlatch while in use. The contact had to slam on the brakes and the force caused the seat belt to come unlatched. The contact hit her head. Now, the seat belt will not latch. When contact's husband bought the new seat belt assembly to install it the sales person claimed he sold multiple of these sets, and they worked well.

- Houston, TX, USA

Driver's side seat belt buckle does not latch completely. One day later it does not latch at all.

- Woodinville, WY, USA

Driver' S side seat belt will not stay latched. A safety problem. Does Ford even care if I'm killed because it comes unlatched. Thank you fmc. I'll be at the Toyota dealership. This is a problem that Ford should fix.

- Middleburg, FL, USA

The front driver's side seat belt latch will not stay buckled, EA02-011. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.

- Bloomington, MN, USA

While driving driver's front seat belt locked, restraining the driver, even when driving at a constant speed. Vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection. The cause had not been determined.

- Chelmsford, MA, USA

Buckle end of the drivers side seat belt no longer works. Buckle end needs to be replaced.

- Diamond Bar, CA, USA

Driver's side seat belt malfunctioned. The seat belt unbuckled by itself while fastened. This left driver unrestrained and unprotected in the event of an emergency stop or crash. The female portion of the seat belt apparatus was replaced with a used part from a junked vehicle.

- Hampstead, NC, USA

Consumer noticed that the driver's seat belt does not lock properly. Vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the seat belt needed to be replaced.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

The buckle on the driver's side seat belt is broken. I am unable to keep the seat belt fastened for approximately 1 week now.

- Tulsa, OK, USA

The seat belt failed due to a fatigue crack in the buckles spring.

- San Diego, CA, USA

Drivers seat belt over the course of 3 weeks, gradually went from popping out in to not working at all. Went back to Ford, over $200 to repair it.

- Maple Valley, WA, USA

Seat belt failure. The drivers seatbelt fails to hold/latch. Seatbelt is completely unuseable.

- Saratoga Springs, NY, USA

Seat belt buckle failure, driver's side, 1996 Ford Explorer XLT, @72000 miles. Car is in good condition otherwise, never wrecked. Over the course of two weeks, the buckle went from to "popping-out the latch" occasionally to being near impossible to secure the latch in to the buckle and random "pop-outs".the buckle was replaced and I kept the old buckle.

- Austin, TX, USA