Seatbelt Recall Fix....How Common?

[Twistiva]

Guys -

Sometime around 1997 or so, Ford sent out a recall for Festiva front seatbelts. Problem was sometimes the front seat female seatbelt receptacle would not release the metal male seatbelt latch. Ford came up with what's in the pix as a solution. I've got them installed on mine but will not on another seatbelt set I bought and am refurbishing. Might be practical but I hate 'em. They're ugly.

My question is, how many of you out there have them? How common are they? What caused the seatbelt latch to NOT release? Was there any other fix other than these ugly add-on clips?

I'm sure at least one old Festy veteran out there has gotta be smart on this.

Thanks!

[Chobobulous]

I am pretty sure mine has a wore out version of that thing. I thought it was stock lol.

[TorqueEffect]

My Festy has over 300K on the body, seatbelts don't have those and never had a single problem.

[neanderpaul]

I saw the recall on TV back in the day. The issue was they would release on impact. They demonstrated putting tension on a latched belt and striking it from the inside causing it to release.

[Twistiva]

I saw the recall on TV back in the day. The issue was they would release on impact. They demonstrated putting tension on a latched belt and striking it from the inside causing it to release.

Hmmmmm.....OK, I take your word for it but my experience was that it wouldn't release. I gave a friend in my Festy once and he tried to release the seatbelt and the thing wouldn't release. He had to lay the seat down flat and slide out backwards. No easy thing because he was about 6' 2" and 230 lbs.

My primary question is how many of us have the seatbelt mod on our Festys?

That's my main question because I want my new seatbelts to NOT have the mod and so I'm curious what my chances of 'success' at that is. If virutally everyone says "I've got 'em" then I'd be more inclined to buy an OEM part / do the mod. My guess is that very few of us have them.....

[Festiva_Fred]

I've only seen those on one festiva in person ever.. I've owned 8 now myself, and seen many more than that in junkyards.. etc..

[KingFish]

Bruce (90 L +) has 'em. If you are going for a restoration, I believe some are available on Ebay, and I would serve to put some 'new' into the look of the seat belts.

[Twistiva]

.........I would serve to put some 'new' into the look of the seat belts.

Kingfish -

Thx for the reply but you lost me.

Are you saying you would or would not try to do the recall mod?

I found an OEM recall mod set on e-Bay looking for something else. The guy selling them didn't even know what they were. I had to tell him.

For what it's worth, I think I'm going to buy some new seatbelt material. My 23 1/2 yr old belts are looking pretty shot. I can get new belt material but I don't know/haven't looked for a company to do the stitching. My biggest concern is finding the hardware (male/female receptacles in good condition; got the front seat female "U", need the front seat male ends and the rear seat male/female ends, all in tan. Finding good grays is tough but tan is ridiculous...)

[KingFish]

Do it, it is factory correct and it will make the buckle look new.

[Team Lightning]

If memory serves me correct, mine were installed before 11/94. They were installed by the original selling dealer and I moved out of state in 11/94.

[2xclutchin]

Just notice today I have them. I would have never known that they didn't come from the factory that way!!

[Chobobulous]

I have pretty decent tan ones I may let go of. manual belts, drivers side is sprung/frayed iirc the back seat belts are only 2 point. Pm me if you are interested

[Prafeston]

I'm looking at the photo and have read the thread...I still don't understand how these pieces are attached...

[Twistiva]

I have pretty decent tan ones I may let go of. manual belts, drivers side is sprung/frayed iirc the back seat belts are only 2 point. Pm me if you are interested

You bet I'm interested!!!!!

Just PM'd you. Let's talk!

[Twistiva]

If memory serves me correct, mine were installed before 11/94. They were installed by the original selling dealer and I moved out of state in 11/94.

Bandit -

I'm sure you're correct. I know MY mods were not installed until sometime between April 1996 and April 1999 because I had it done in Mississippi when I was an instructor at Columbus AFB. Knowing me, I probably had the recall notice stuffed in my glovebox for years and only went in right before the recall expired...