The majority of car accidents are caused by negligence. That being said, by paying attention, staying cautious, and driving defensively, you can drastically decrease your risk of suffering a collision caused by driver error.
However, a fair number of accident injuries are also caused by something you can’t predict nor actively avoid: vehicle defects. A defective vehicle part can cause you to lose control of your vehicle, fail to protect you in an accident, or even directly cause severe accident injuries.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends recalls on dozens of vehicle models every month as a result of potentially hazardous defects. One such recall that occurred in March 2016 focuses on a conceivable safety defect in a certain Ford model vehicle—the Transit’s seat belt.
The Consequences of a Defective Seat Belt…and the Proposed Solution
In accordance with the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act and at the behest of the NHTSA, Ford Motor Company is recalling certain Transit model vehicles that are equipped with rear passenger seats as a result of potentially ineffective seat belts.
- The problem. The rear seat belt buckles have been discovered to be susceptible to damage when they come in contact with heavy objects. If a heavy object is placed on or impacts the top of the buckle, the latch can become deformed, preventing the buckle from properly fastening or from remaining locked.
- The consequences. An unlatched seat belt increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash as it will not provide any restraint from impact forces.
- The vehicles affected. The current range of concern focuses on all rear seat belts installed in Ford Transit models manufactured between 2015 and 2016 (model vehicles manufactured February 13, 2014 to January 13, 2016).
- The solution. The recall of these defective seat belts will allow owners and dealers to modify or replace the seat belt buckles (depending on location) free of charge. The recall went into effect and owners began to be formally notified of the issue on March 14, 2016. Once remedy parts become available—the manufacturer is currently working on replacement models—owners will be given a secondary notice for replacement options. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332; the number for this recall is 16S06.
For more information on the dangers caused by vehicle defects, please feel free to browse our extensive collection of informative articles. To discuss a case where you’ve been directly injured as a result of a vehicle defect, contact us directly at 386.673.4412 for a complimentary consultation. We’ve spent decades honing our skills in order to help protect your rights; give us a call and see how we can help you.