NHTSA Defect Investigation #RQ98011

AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT: Seat Belts:Front:Webbing

RECALL »

Recall #96V172000

1992 FORD PROBE -- The recall defect is the motorized shoulder belt track assembly which may wear sufficiently under certain conditions causing the buckle assembly to jam in place. Investigation was initiated on July 31 1998. Closed on February 16 1999. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #RQ98011 »

NHTSA Defect Investigation #DP07001

SEATBACK RECLINE MECHANISM FAILURE: Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner

CLOSED

no recall issued

1992 FORD PROBE -- On June 29, 2007, NHTSA received a petition from mr. Richard H. mcswain of mcswain engineering Inc., requesting that the Agency investigate seatback recliner failure in the subject vehicles. The petitioner identified a failure mode involving bypass of the seatback stop pin which could result in a false or partial engagement of the sector and pawl teeth, allowing the seatback to recline in a vehicular collision.ODI believes that the alleged failure mode may be the result of progressive wear and tear of the seatback stop pin, the seatback stop, and other seat components in vehicles that are, on average, 17 years old.available data do not suggest that this has occurred with a notable frequency. ODI reviewed its consumer complaint data received over the last nineteen years and found no complaints of seatback collapse (with or without a vehicle collision) in the subject vehicles.considering the advanced age of the subject vehicles, it is unlikely that NHTSA would issue an order for the notification and remedy of the alleged defect as defined by the petitioner at the conclusion of the investigation requested in the petition.the statutory requirement that the manufacturer provide a free remedy does not apply if the vehicle was bought by the first purchaser more than 10 calendar years before an order is issued. Therefore, in view of the need to allocate and prioritize NHTSA's limited resources to best accomplish the Agency's safety mission, the petition is denied. Investigation was initiated on July 30 2007. Closed on December 05 2007. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #DP07001 »