I own a 1997 Ford Explorer AWD 5.0 liter. The seat belt latch on the driver's side no longer holds the seat belt in place after I buckle up. In order to drive, I have to insert the seat belt into the latch on the passenger's side. When I do this the seat belt now crosses my neck, and I am very concerned. It also means I cannot safely drive the auto with a passenger because the driver's side seat belt won't work. On a normal latch, I can push down the red release button and can feel the spring action. On my driver's side, there is no spring tension on the red release button.

- Everett, WA, USA

- the contact stated that while attempting to drive the 1997 Ford Explorer with 134800 failure mileage the driver's front seat belt failed. The seat beltwas difficult to buckle and would unlatch while driving. The vehicle has not been taken to a dealer, and the vehicle had not been repaired. The current mileage was 135000.

- Silver Spring, MD, USA

Seat belt buckle latch mechanism has failed for the drivers seat in my 1997 Ford 4 door 4X4 Explorer

- Eureka, CA, USA

Driver side seat belt fails to stay latched, or sometimes becomes unlatched with drivers forward body motion (extend line of sight, change radio/climate settings, turn on lights, etc.). as a result, the seat belt is not a reliable safety restraint. I am having problems find a replacement part.

- Moose, WY, USA

Driver side seat belt buckle fails to lock when clip is inserted or sometimes appears to lock but comes unlock if occupant takes a breath.

- Springville, UT, USA

The driver side seat belt buckle assembly malfunctioned and failed to lock. The latch plate did not lock in the buckle. This rendered the seat belt inoperative.

- Douglas, GA, USA

The driver's shoulder harness will not unbuckle. I would like to know if there have been similiar problems reported to NHTSA. The local Ford dealer has special ordered the part (fmc F87Z 7861203 aaa).

- Arnold, MD, USA

In a roll over crash consumer's daughter was killed due to rear seat belt buckle disconnecting, and she was ejected from front windshield.

- South Gate, CA, USA

Driver's seat belt buckle failed to unlatch. The consumer had to use a screw driver to pry it open.

- Alpharetta, GA, USA

Rear seatbelt will not stay locked. It to would be hard to keep child seat locked in properly. Dealer notified.

- San Bruno, CA, USA

Seat belt locked up on passenger's side, had to cut belt to remove infant. Contacted dealer. Dealer refused to do anything.

- Evergreen, AL, USA

After parking vehicle consumer could not unbuckle seat belt. Consumer had to cut seat belt to finally get out of vehicle.

- Lee, NH, USA

Passenger restraint did not release at the buckle or restraint. Owner had to cut restraint to release passenger. Dealer and manufacturer have been notified and neither accepts fault or liability of failed part.

- Richmond, VA, USA

Consumer was stuck in the car because seat belt would not unlatch enroute to dealer. Provide further details.

- Nashville, TN, USA

Vehicle experiencing ongoing problem with fuel vapor smell coming inside the vehicle. Dealer notified, and was unable to locate the problem. Also, seat moves back and forth, and driver's shoulder belt would not latch properly. Dealer notified.

- Blue Spring, MO, USA

An unusual problem that has happened to me probably over 100 times in 2 years. After unbuckling the seatbelt, the seatbelt starts to retract as it's supposed to. However, just before fully retracting, with about 7-8 inches to go, the belt gets twisted just before it enters the belt shoulder guide/support/slide (exact name unknown--mounted on frame, about ear level when seated in car, changes the direction of the belt position to vertical). It seems to me that the weight of the buckle (male end) is off center in relation to the belt and causes the belt to twist. This twist prevents the belt from sliding throught the shoulder belt support/guide/slide. The 7-8 inches of slack gets caught in the door after exiting and closing the door. After re-entering the car and closing the door, the slack in the belt is still there (nothing has changed since exiting the car). The seat belt can be easily buckled (it just takes additional belt off the retraction roller) but the belt is still stuck in the door and the driver would never know it. A slight tug on the belt frees it from the door and the excess belt is retracted. This is a problem should the belt be called upon to work with the slack caught in the door. In a head-on, the body moving forward would not be restrained until the slack part of the belt is no longer stuck in the door. (the body moving forward frees the belt from the door). I'm sorry for the lengthy description.

- Upton, NY, USA