Thought we would go just one week w/o a recall. At lease we waited until Friday. Follows the F-150 recall for the same. Teaching customers to warrant a defect can be very dangerous.
Ford advises owners not to drive Ranger trucks over faulty seat belts
Dearborn, MI – November 10, 2021 – Ford (NYSE:F) has issued a recall for Ranger trucks that have been equipped with an incorrectly routed front passenger seat belt, which may increase the risk of an injury in a crash. The recall includes 47,683 2019-2021 Ford Ranger Super Cab pickup trucks.
Even though the recall concerns passenger seat belts, the manufacturer advises drivers to inspect both the passenger and the driver seat belt and to NOT use the front seat or drive the car or if the respective seat belts are found to be defective.
Instructions on how to perform the inspection should be mailed next week.
The affected component is the “RH Front Outboard Seatbelt Assembly” with part number KB3B-21612D64-AL.
Recall summary
The affected vehicles are equipped with a front passenger seat belt that has not been appropriately routed. The faulty seat belt assemblies have only made their way onto the Super Cab body style Ranger models, and the Crew Cab body style has not been affected.
Background of the recall
This is the second recall that Ford is doing for this issue this fall. Last month, the manufacturer recalled 2021 F-150 Super Cab pickup trucks. These trucks should also not be driven if the seat belts on them are not properly routed, as reported.
Recall risks
The improperly routed seat belt may not do an adequate job at restraining the occupant in the event of an accident. This can result in severe injury or even death.
Other Ford recalls
Last month, Ford recalled nearly 40,000 units of the 2020 Ford Ranger Super Cab and 2021 Ford Ranger Super Cab, whose backseat headrests are incompatible with some children’s car seats.
The last 2019 Ford Ranger recall was over a year ago.
The repair
Ford will advise owners on how to perform a self-assessment of their Ranger’s seat belts. The self-assessment will help them decide on whether either seat belt is faulty. If the driver seat belt is defective or the driver is unsure of the results or does not want to perform the assessment, the car should be towed for inspection.
If the passenger seat belts is found to be misrouted, the seat should not be occupied but the car can still be driven. Regardless of the results of the assessment, owners are advised to take their car to a dealership for a secondary inspection. Any repairs that need to be performed will be done for free.
Affected owners will be notified between November 15 and November 19, 2021.