Ford Taurus Seat Belts Problems
Owners have filed 254 complaints with NHTSA about seat belts problems on the Ford Taurus across 18 model years. The 1999 model year has the most (60). The words owners use most often: “seat belt” (60% of reports).
- 254seat belts complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 48mention a crash
- 43mention an injury
- 4related recalls
- $370typical repair cost reported by owners
- 26%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Seat belt: mentioned in 153 of 254 complaints (60%)
- Front passenger: mentioned in 29 of 254 complaints (11%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical seat belts repair on the Ford Taurus at $370, and half of them between $270 and $780.
Based on 11 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (1999–2007), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do seat belts problems happen?
Based on 112 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 254 complaints, 48 mention a crash, 43 an injury.
Ford Taurus seat belts complaints by model year
| Model year | Seat Belts complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Taurus | 1 | 2% | 9,000 |
| 2016 Taurus | 3 | 4% | 82,500 |
| 2014 Taurus | 2 | 1% | 64,000 |
| 2013 Taurus | 7 | 1% | 64,500 |
| 2011 Taurus | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2008 Taurus | 2 | 1% | 84,650 |
| 2006 Taurus | 4 | 1% | 113,000 |
| 2005 Taurus | 4 | 1% | 62,500 |
| 2004 Taurus | 5 | 1% | 25,000 |
| 2003 Taurus | 2 | 0% | 33,500 |
| 2002 Taurus | 13 | 1% | 63,000 |
| 2001 Taurus | 24 | 2% | 70,550 |
| 2000 Taurus | 39 | 3% | 65,500 |
| 1999 Taurus | 60 | 7% | 60,500 |
| 1998 Taurus | 28 | 5% | 82,650 |
| 1997 Taurus | 23 | 3% | 76,995 |
| 1996 Taurus | 25 | 3% | 73,000 |
| 1995 Taurus | 11 | 1% | 83,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (4)
Seat belts:front:buckle assembly
Model years: 2001
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger cars. The seat belt buckle tongue may not fully eject from the buckle assembly when the release button is pushed slowly. This condition could also result in a partial latch of the tongue in the buckle.
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the vehicle occupant may not be properly restrained, possibly resulting in personal injury or death.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver and right front passenger seat belt buckles. Owner notification began may 4, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Seat belts:front:anchorage
Model years: 2001
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The child safety seat anchor latch (iso-fix anchor) fasteners do not have adequate residual torque. The anchors are secured to the floor pan with a reinforcement plate that has two studs that extend upward through the floor pan and the iso-fix anchor. The sealer on the floor pan could cause a soft joint and, even if the nuts are properly torqued, road vibrations could cause the nut to work its way completely off the stud.
Risk: The anchor may not hold the child safety seat in position during an accident, increasing the risk of injury to the occupant of the child safety seat.
Fix: Dealers will remove and re-install the bracket nut using a torque retention material (red loctite). Owner notification began september 11, 2000. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Seat belts:front:anchorage
Model years: 1999
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The seat belt retractor may have a pin shaft in the switchable elr/alr mechanism that is incorrectly formed. In some circumstances, the switching mechanism could become nonfunctional, preventing the seat belt webbing from being extracted from the retractor. It is also possible that malfunction of the mechanism could prevent the belt from being switched into the alr mode. The elr mechanism is not affected by this condition.
Risk: If the mechanism malfunctions and does not allow the webbing to be extracted, the lap and shoulder belt could not be worn by a vehicle occupant. In the event that the mechanism does not allow the alr mode to be engaged, the operator may be unable to properly install a child seat in that seating position.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the lap and shoulder belt assemblies. Assemblies with julian date codes of 200 through 223 are suspect and will be replaced.
Seat belts:front:anchorage
Model years: 1998, 1999
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with manual seat tracks. The front seat belt buckle attaching stud may have been improperly heat treated. This heat treatment may have resulted in cracks developing in the stud.
Risk: If the stud is cracked, in the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant may not be properly restrained, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the seat belt buckle mounting bracket and stud assembly.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Airbags seats and seatbelts useless for 6'8" 375lbs adult man. I sit within 6" of the steering wheel airbag the seatbelt goes across my bicep not my shoulder and the seat itself only goes up to the middle of my back, the head rest is between my shoulders. Why is there no exemption for giants and…
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the front driver's side seat belt had failed to unbuckle and was previously repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously rear-ended on…
I hit a dirt embankment the seatbelts did not lock and I ended up smashing my head off of my steering wheel and my passenger ended up smashing their head off of my dashboard.
Steering didn't work correctly which led to brakes not doing what I needed which led to slamming into a cement edge at a freeway exit or entrance. Seat belts locked up. Air bags did not deploy. Front passenger tire flat. Car towed next day. Ford dealership did NOTHING even when it was discovered…
Please allow submission of additional information regarding issues with my 2013 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor. As stated on the previous complaint filed on 1/9/2024, I got my car service at AutoNation Ford Service Center on 12/16/2023, and I brought it back to the service center on Saturday…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Tauruss have seat belts problems?
No. NHTSA has 254 owner complaints about seat belts for the Ford Taurus. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford Taurus seat belts?
Yes: 4 safety recalls list seat belts. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix seat belts problems on the Ford Taurus?
Owners report a typical cost of $370 (half paid between $270 and $780), from 11 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about seat belts problems on the Ford Taurus?
The most frequent phrase is “seat belt”, in 153 of 254 complaints, followed by “front passenger” (29).
Other Ford Taurus problems
- Suspension problems (2,734)
- Power Train problems (1,895)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (1,800)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (1,312)
- Steering problems (995)
- Electrical System problems (888)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (683)
- Visibility problems (643)
See all Ford Taurus problems.