2001 Ford Mustang Seat Belts
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
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 NO RESTRAINT FOR MY PASSENGER. *TR
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
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.
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.
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
MY WIFE AND I WERE INVOLVED IN A HIT AND RUN INCIDENT WHILE TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON I-75 JUST SOUTH OF DELK ROAD IN MARIETTA GA. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER CAR CAUSED US TO BEGIN A SERIES OF OVERSTEER CORRECTIONS WHICH ULTIMATELY LED TO THE CAR LOOSING COMPLETE TRACTION AND MAKING TWO COMPLETE REVOLUTIONS WHILE EXITING THE ROAD TOWARDS THE GRASS SHOULDER. WE EXITED THE ROAD GOING BACKWARDS AND PROCEEDED TO HIT A 6' DEEP CULVERT AND CAUSE THE CAR TO BECOME AIRBORNE. UPON THE INITIAL IMPACT MY WIFE'S SAFETY BELT WHICH HAD BEEN PROPERLY SECURED UNTIL THE IMPACT, RELEASED AND CAUSED HER TO COME OUT OF HER SEAT. AFTER LANDING AND THEN COMING TO REST VIOLENTLY I IMMEDIATELY CHECKED TO MAKE SURE SHE WAS ALRIGHT AND WAS IN QUESTION OF WHY HER BELT HAD DETACHED FROM THE RECEIVER. THE WAS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE TO THE MECHANISM, HOWEVER UPON INITIAL IMPACT I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER HEARING A METALLIC "CLINK" NOISE FOLLOWED BY MY WIFE COMING OUT OF HER PASSENGER SEAT. THIS WAS NOTED IN THE ACCIDENT REPORT AND WAS DESCRIBED TO ALL FIRST RESPONDERS ON SITE. *TR
TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD MUSTANG GT. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, WHEN THE CONTACT OBSERVED THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR SYSTEM FAILED TO EXTRACT THE WEBBING PROPERLY. THE WEBBING DOES NOT SECURE THE OCCUPANT TIGHTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO BROKEN PLASTIC PARTS WITHIN THE RETRACTOR SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
I RECENTLY BOUGHT A 01 MUSTANG WITH 103K MILES ON IT. NOT 2 DAYS LATER THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK IT DOWN TO OUR LOCAL FORD HOUSE AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS JUST ODD THAT IT HAPPENED TO BREAK AND WOULD COST 300 DOLLARS TO CHANGE THE SEAT BELT. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FIND THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM. EITHER THE SEAT BELT LOCKS UP AND TAKES A WHILE TO STRAITEN BACK OUT OR LIKE MINE IT JUST STOPS WORKING. ONE POST ON A FORUMS SAID THAT HIS 2003 MUSTANG'S WENT OUT BEFORE 50000 MILES. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE CHANGED BY THE DEALER BECAUSE IF IT IS HAPPENING SO MUCH IT IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT. I HAVE A 95 THUNDERBIRD AND 01 ALERO THAT STILL HAVE THEIR SEAT BELTS WORKING PERFECTLY. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME ON THIS MATTER. *TR
DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT KEEPS TANGLING WITHIN THE TRIM PANELS PREVENTING PROPER DEPLOYMENT OR RETRACTION OF THE BELT. I HAD TO REMOVE THE TRIM PANELS AND MANUALLY TWIST THE BELT THROUGH THE B POST GUIDE TO STRAIGHTEN, AS WELL UNDOING AND REDOING THE ANCHOR BOLTS ON THE B POST AND DRIVER LOWER DOOR SILL SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD MUSTANG. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT OR RELEASE. THE FAILURE BEGAN APPROXIMATELY 5-6 MONTHS AGO AND HAS WORSENED OVER TIME. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,500 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
SET BELTS IN THE 2001 MUSTANG NEVER WORKED THE BEST NOW THE PASSANGER'S SIDE SET BELT WON'T WORK AT ALL, IT WON'T COME OUT SO YOU CAN LOCK YOURSELF IN.THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT.*AK
TL*-THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2001 FORD MUSTANG PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DIDN'T RELEASE. ON JANUARY 1, 2007 THE SEAT BELT WOULDN'T COME OUT OF THE HOLDER. THE CONTACT NEVER NOTICED THIS BECAUSE NO ONE EVER SAT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT COULD NOT BE WORN BY ANYONE ON PASSENGER'S SIDE, IT WILL NOT WORK. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT RETRACTOR ONLY WORKED IF ONE PLAYED WITH IT. THE DRIVER'S SIDE BELT WILL NOT RETRACT INTO THE HOLDER ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP HAS INFORMED HER THAT SHE WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS FOR THE SEAT BELT. THERE WAS A RECALL 99V250000 ON FORD MUSTANGS FROM 1999-2000 FOR SEAT BELT FAILURE SHE THOUGHT THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD COMPENSATE THE CONSUMER IN SOME WAY FOR THE SEAT BELT FAILURES. *AK
I OWN A 2001 FORD MUSTANG AND THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM FOR MORE THAN 3 YEARS. THEY DO NOT RETRACT DUE TO THE CHEAP COMPONENTS USED TO KEEP THEM FROM TWISTING. THIS ALSO CAUSES THEM TO BE LOOSE WHEN WEARING THEM. I HAVE BEEN TO MANY MESSAGE BOARDS ON MUSTANG WEBSITES AND HAVE FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I RECENTLY HAD A CONVERSATION WITH A LOCAL DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. MANAGER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD 2 MUSTANGS IN THAT MONTH FOR THIS REPAIR. MY CAR WAS BEYOND ITS MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST $652 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. THEREFORE I HAVE DECIDED NOT TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED AND WILL CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM, FIXING THEM TO THE BEST OF WHAT I CAN DO TO MAKE THEM SOMEWHAT FUNCTIONAL. MY OPINION IS THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THIS CAR THAT FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS BUT WILL NOT DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS THEIR #1 VEHICLE AND RECALL COSTS WOULD BE TO MUCH. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. *AK
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT GETS TWISTED IN WALL, AND DOES NOT RETRACT PROPERLY AS A RESULT. THOROUGHBRED FORD UNTWISTED, AND THEN THE SEAT BELT TWISTED UP AGAIN. THOROUGHBRED FORD STATES IS UNDER WARRANTY, NOT DEFECTIVE, HOWEVER STATE FORD REFUSES TO REPLACE UNIT AS THIS IS NOT A DEFECT. EVEN REFUSED AFTER REMINDING THEM IT DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY WHICH COULD RESULT IN DEATH DURING COLLISION. FIRST REPAIR ON OR ABOUT 8-29-05, SECOND ATTEMPT TO HAVE REPLACED APPROX. 2 WEEKS LATER. *NM
THE FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILD. AS A RESULT, THE OCCUPANTS WERE NOT BEING RESTRAINED. CONSUMER STATED THAT WARRANTY ENTITLED HER TO ANY SAFETY RESTRAINT PROBLEMS, FIVE YEARS OR 50,000 MILES. HOWEVER THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY. IAK
SEAT BELTS WERE TWISTED INSIDE THE RETRACTOR, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO USE. THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED THEN TWO DAY LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. *AK WHEN THE SEAT BELT WERE NOT TWISTED THEY HAD TO BE RETRACTED MANUALLY. *NM
SEAT BELT PROBLEMS WITH A 2001 FORD MUSTANG. FAXED A LETTER TO DOT DECEMBER 17, 2003 RELATIVE TO THE SEAT BELTS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. INQUIRING IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE FAXED LETTER AND IF THERE WAS RESPONSE TO THE PROBLEM? INCIDENT DATE DOES NOT APPLY DUE TO THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CONSTANT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. *LA THANK YOU, EDWARD GLIHA
COMPLAINT REGARDING SAFETY ISSUES WITH MUSTANG SEAT BELTS. *MR THERE WERE CONSISTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAT BELTS. THE DEALER PROVIDED TWO SEAT BELT EXTENSIONS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. NO FIX WOULD REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *SC
FAULTY SEATBELTS. THE BELTS WON'T ROLL UP WHEN I RELEASE IT.*AK
THE FRONTAL SEAT BELT HAS A LOOP AND WILL NOT RETRACT BACK TO THE SPACE AND WILL GET STUCK. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS
VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD ON WHILE DRIVING 5-10 MPH, SEATBELT DID NOT RESTRAIN DRIVER, SHE HIT HER HEAD ON WINDSHIELD. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.*AKI
RESTRAINT RETRACTED AND LOCKED NEARLY CHOKING THE OCCUPANT. OWNER HAD TO CUT RESTRAINT TO FREE PASSENGER. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
SEAT BELT ACTIVATES UNEXPECTEDLY AND IS GROSSLY OVER-SENSITIVE. FOR EXAMPLE, REPEATEDLY LOCKS-UP AND PREVENTS DRIVER FROM TURNING UPPER BODY TO OBTAIN REASONABLE VIEW FROM REAR OF APPROACHING TRAFFIC WHEN EXITING FREEWAY. *AK
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 2001 Ford Mustang has 24 Seat Belts complaints on file. 2 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.