Six Weeks Old and already a Recall...

MIGeezer

Got a recall today for Notice 23C16/NHTSA 23V-358. My vehicle does no comply with the "Latch Plate Access" compliance requirement S7.4.4 of Federal Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection".

If the front row seats are in a certain position, the driver and /or passenger may have difficulty accessing the seat belt latch and therefore may not put it on. This won't be the reason I won't put the belt on. The seat belts work OK, they will not maul function, etc. So Ford has to get a fix, more money, to get this resolved. Talked to my service folks. They said it will be December before this can be fixed.

What a bunch of $^#(@*#.

For some reason @Ford Motor Company doesn't seem to care that the same issue exists on the 2 door. Also these belts don't retract worth a darn. Fortunately for me I don't drive anywhere on or off road without my belt on, but it is a pain. And annoyance.

It sux but it happens…. I had my JT for 19 days and received a letter the same day the dealer called me and said a recall was issued for the driveshaft and it not being greased during the manufacturing process. They fixed it, end of story. Not making excuses but all manufacturers do recalls. 🐎

I'm sure this will be an unpopular opinion... but this is one of those "nanny state" recalls in my opinion. Recalled only because there is some random federal safety regulation.

yeahhh... at least you get to drive yours. this is a no sale no drive no demo recall. mine is in a parking lot at the dealer.

RagnarKon

I'm sure this will be an unpopular opinion... but this is one of those "nanny state" recalls in my opinion. Recalled only because there is some random federal safety regulation.

Totally agree 🐎

"Inconvenience"... Bullshit. Deal with it...

Recalls? They have been around for decades. I doubt there is a model that has ever been made that has not had a recall. A minor inconvenience. Now, let's get down to some real issues - like dealers failing to adhere to Ford's price protection policy for the Broncos.

OrangecrushBronco

For some reason @Ford Motor Company doesn't seem to care that the same issue exists on the 2 door. Also these belts don't retract worth a darn. Fortunately for me I don't drive anywhere on or off road without my belt on, but it is a pain. And annoyance.

Really? Our 2 door is no trouble at all and we’re all short, so the belt is practically behind the seat. Retracts no problem

RoboticsRob

Really? Our 2 door is no trouble at all and we’re all short, so the belt is practically behind the seat. Retracts no problem

Exactly it's supposed to be beside the seat NOT behind it. It gets stuck behind the seat or unretracted and shut in the door.

Recalls like the seatbelt one happen because fellow Bronco owners complained to the US Department of Transportation.

OrangecrushBronco

For some reason @Ford Motor Company doesn't seem to care that the same issue exists on the 2 door. Also these belts don't retract worth a darn. Fortunately for me I don't drive anywhere on or off road without my belt on, but it is a pain. And annoyance.

Mine retracts so well it slams into the doorframe.

It is about time that this seat belt problem is finally being addressed!!

A seat belt latch problem has happened to us TWICE since we bought our 2021 Big Bend.

My wife has gotten into the passenger seat and attempted to insert the seat belt in the latch...but couldn't.
The latch plate appeared to be locked already.

I sprayed wd40 in the latch and finally got it open by pressing the unlock tab multiple times and forcing the insert into it.
It worked but for how long who knows?

I took it to the dealership after the second occurrence. They inspected it but found no problem. (Hmmmmm!)

This has always stuck in my mind that there could be a situation and a major, major problem if there was a serious accident (or fire even) that a passenger may not be able to open their seat belt to escape because of a lock malfunction.

I am taking ours to the dealership to get this fixed once and for all.

I find putting on my motorcycle helmet a bit of an arduous task, but...

Eninty

I find putting on my motorcycle helmet a bit of an arduous task, but...

A motorcycle helmet saved my brother's life.

Eninty

I find putting on my motorcycle helmet a bit of an arduous task, but...

I would be dead if it wasn't for a helmet. I wrote off a street bike on the highway at 19. I had a headache for a week. Still went out that night partying. Oh the good ole days. No hospital - the tow truck driver who had my written off bike in a sling dropped me off at home.

MESTUNTMAN

The pussification of the the U.S. I was talking with a friend in Holland a couple of days ago and Miss Holland is a man this year. I always thought blonde women from Holland were hot. I guess not anymore. As well, he can't bring cookies to his club meeting as there MAY be someone with an eating disorder. It is hard to imaging it has come to this. I understand safety as mentioned above with Big Bender and a helmet saving my life; however, the pendulum needs to swing back.

Texas Bronco

Recalls? They have been around for decades. I doubt there is a model that has ever been made that has not had a recall. A minor inconvenience. Now, let's get down to some real issues - like dealers failing to adhere to Ford's price protection policy for the Broncos.

It is not a minor inconvenience when you are waiting for delivery like @MooseDriverCRW. I completely understand how frustrating it is waiting for a vehicle when you are told your delivery is scheduled and your vehicle doesn't show up. It is a drag. Now you add this on top and you are sitting there not knowing if and when you may get your vehicle that has been produced and sitting at Ford for six weeks. A bunch of crap for sure. I can tell you it is not a minor inconvenience of those awaiting vehicles. It is a real issue and a real shame.

BigBender

It is about time that this seat belt problem is finally being addressed!!

A seat belt latch problem has happened to us TWICE since we bought our 2021 Big Bend.

My wife has gotten into the passenger seat and attempted to insert the seat belt in the latch...but couldn't.
The latch plate appeared to be locked already.

I sprayed wd40 in the latch and finally got it open by pressing the unlock tab multiple times and forcing the insert into it.
It worked but for how long who knows?

I took it to the dealership after the second occurrence. They inspected it but found no problem. (Hmmmmm!)

This has always stuck in my mind that there could be a situation and a major, major problem if there was a serious accident (or fire even) that a passenger may not be able to open their seat belt to escape because of a lock malfunction.

I am taking ours to the dealership to get this fixed once and for all.

FYI this recall has absolutely nothing to do with the issue you are describing.

You sound like you have a mechanical issue with your latching mechanism itself, and if you encounter it again I'd definitely take it to a dealer. Capture the issue on video with your cell phone if you can, helps avoid the "could not recreate problem" issue.

(I've had zero issues with my seatbelt latch mechanism in the Bronco, nor have I heard of this being a widespread issue, so sounds like you may have just gotten a bad latch... but never know.)

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The entire purpose of this recall is to make it easier to the passenger/driver to reach their seatbelt when they get into the vehicle. Federal safety regulations require the seatbelt latch to be within a certain distance of a average person's reach, and Ford realized that when the seat is in certain positions, it doesn't abide by that regulation.

The logic is that if the latch doesn't abide by the regulation, someone may get frustrated after trying to reach for the seatbelt and just decide not to put on their seatbelt.

The fix is to add a clip to the seatbelt strap similar to the one below: