NHTSA Recall 01V227001: Buckle assembly (seat belts)
FORD MOTOR COMPANY reported this safety recall to NHTSA on , covering an estimated 1,400,000 vehicles. It affects 13 models including the Ford Crown Victoria.
| NHTSA campaign | 01V227001 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer campaign | 01S21 |
| Component | SEAT BELTS › FRONT › BUCKLE ASSEMBLY |
| Report received | July 16, 2001 |
| Owner notification | July 25, 2001 |
| Initiated by | Manufacturer |
Defect
Vehicle description: passenger and sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and minivans. Equipped with seat belts supplied by trw. It is possible that the driver's and/or front passenger's outboard seat belt buckle may not fully latch. Ford crown victoria built at st. Thomas assembly plant from 4/17/00 - 5/29/01 mercury grand marquis built at st. Thomas assembly plant from 4/17/00 - 5/29/01. Lincoln town cars built at wixom assembly plant from 3/27/00 - 5/30/01. Lincoln navigators built at michigan truck plant from 4/11/00 - 5/31/01. Ford windstars built at oakville assembly plant from 3/23/00 - 5/30/01. Ford rangers built at twin cities plant from 3/28/00 - 5/30/01, and also at the edison plant from 3/13/00 - 5/25/01. Ford f-150 truck built at norfolk plant from 4/18/00 - 5/25/00; at ontario plant from 5/10/00 - 5/28/01; at kansas city plant from 9/11/99 - 5/25/01; and at cuautitlan plant from 5/16/00 - 6/9/01. Ford super duty f-250, f-350, f-450, and f-550 trucks built at kentucky plant from 4/17/00 - 5/27/01; and at cuautitlan plant from 5/16/00 - 6/19/01. Ford excursions built at kentucky plant from 4/17/00 - 10/2/00. Ford expeditions built at michigan truck plant from 4/11/00 - 5/31/01.
Safety risk
In the event of a crash, the restraint system may not provide adequate occupant protection, increasing the risk of personal injury to the seat occupant.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the front outboard seat belt buckles and if the buckle fails the inspection process, it will be replaced. Owner notification began july 25, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
Notes
Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
Vehicles covered by recall 01V227001
| Make and model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Crown Victoria | 2001 |
| Ford Excursion | 2001 |
| Ford Expedition | 2001 |
| Ford F-150 | 2001 |
| Ford F-250 | 2001 |
| Ford F-350 | 2001 |
| Ford F-450 SD | 2001 |
| Ford F-550 SD | 2001 |
| Ford Ranger | 2001 |
| Ford Windstar | 2001 |
| Lincoln Navigator | 2001 |
| Lincoln Town Car | 2001 |
| Mercury Grand Marquis | 2001 |
Being listed here means the campaign covers the model year, not that every car was built with the defect or is still unrepaired. Enter your VIN above to check your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are free at authorised dealers. Source: NHTSA, October 2026.