If you purchased a Ford vehicle constructed between 2013 - 2016, you might be in possession of a vehicle with faulty seatbelts. The car company announced a 680,000 vehicle recall, including the Lincoln MKZ sedans and Ford Fusions, due to overheating in the seat belt cables that may cause them to break during an accident. While some of these recalled vehicles are in Mexico and Canada, the vast majority of them - over 600,000 - are in the United States.
Pretensioner Defects
According to Ford, at least two accidents already happened where the faulty seatbelts led to an injury that would have otherwise been preventable. Reports indicate the overheating stems from the pretensioners within the seatbelts. Pretensioners are the devices that make the seatbelt tighten when a vehicle suddenly stops. In theory, the tightening is meant to keep the passenger safe with deployed airbags adding an extra layer of protection. Ford plans to work on the recalled vehicles by adding a layer of insulation coating that can protect the pretensioners from heating.
This incident is not the first large-scale product recall that Ford had to issue within the last year. In April 2016, the company had to recall around 200,000 vehicles manufactured in 2011 and 2012 due to transmission controls suddenly shifting down to the first gear. Before then, around 200 vehicles produced between 2007 to 2012 were not deploying airbags as efficiently as they should due to module malfunctions. As a car manufacturer, Ford has a responsibility to thoroughly test their products and meet basic safety standards before mass producing them for public purchase.
Basic Vehicle Safety
Seat belts are one of the most important safety features of a vehicle. Whether you are driving or a passenger in any seat, you should always have your seat belt buckled in the vehicle. If your seat belt breaks during a car accident, you may be eligible for a defective product lawsuit. If you got injured in a car accident in New Jersey due to a defective seat belt or other automotive issue, James Vasquez is a personal injury attorney in Clifton who can help you with your case. Call our law offices today (762) 247-8711 or contact us online for a free case evaluation.