This vehicle has been used primarily as a commutation unit and did not carry rear passengers until recently upon which it was discovered that the left rear passenger seat belt retraction mechanism was inoperative and had to be replaced at a cost of roughly $500. I consulted with the Lincoln concierge and was advised that there was no support for this repair forthcoming from the factory. This vehicle was past both original and extended warranty when the issue was discovered.

I was told by the dealership that the limit for factory repairs on seat belts was limited to 80,000 miles. In any event, I believe this is a safety issue that demands an investigation by the NHTSA that could result in a recall. Frankly, I don't care who the manufacturer is. For a 4 year old vehicle that has been maintained exclusively at the dealership, there is no excuse why this issue wasn't identified during scheduled maintenance. This type of issue should require factory involvement including a report to the NHTSA.