Faulty stock seat belts

[omnisprinter]

Anyone else aware of this issue?

Apparently Wranglers 97-03 (and some Cherokee's) have faulty seat belts that "unlatch during sudden stops and accidents."

As far as I can tell it has resulted in a few deaths and lawsuits, while some people are trying to get them recalled.

details here
http://www.unsafebelts.com/

[Fred]

First I heard of it, but GOOD INFO, Very importanant to Know!

[Marlon_JBT]

No offense, guys, but I gotta say it...

I have a strong feeling, that I may get sued for looking at somebody the wrong way tomorrow. Accusations? Slander and libel!

This is also my first time hearing of such an issue. Never on any news station, never in any crash test, nothing. And I highly doubt DCX will ever do anything about this... the odds of this happening are obviously very low. Since this issue may apply to the Cherokee as well, I'm moving this to General Jeep Discussion.

Oh, a website started by a lawfirm? Ugh...

[Neal]

My driverside seatbelt has done this about three times in the past 4 years. I just figured that for some reason I did'nt push it in hard enough. The dealership told me to grease it and it would be fine; it happened two more times after that. It also is hard to disconnect when I push the red button.
This is the first I have heard of other people having this problem. Its good to know.
Unforntunatly Chrysler will do nothing to fix the problem. That is one of their downfalls. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[Marlon_JBT]

[ QUOTE ]
My driverside seatbelt has done this about three times in the past 4 years. I just figured that for some reason I did'nt push it in hard enough. The dealership told me to grease it and it would be fine; it happened two more times after that. It also is hard to disconnect when I push the red button.
This is the first I have heard of other people having this problem. Its good to know.
Unforntunatly Chrysler will do nothing to fix the problem. That is one of their downfalls. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry to hear you're having belt problems. However, my mom had a car with these Gen 3 seat belts, went through 2 accidents, and not one problem protecting us, or any latching trouble in 8 years. It was a 1993 Plymouth Duster, with some 1994 parts (Late build), including the seat belts.

[scrambled]

It amazes me that if they acknowledge a problem that has peoples safety directly affected that they won't fix it. What a Joke.

[Paul E]

I would think that if a seat belt that has been around since 1993 and has had this serious flaw, a LOT more than just the number they quote would have died as a result.

Here is their quote:
"This brings the total number of deaths to 17 and serious injuries to 27 in accidents in which Gen3 buckles are believed to have unlatched... The buckle, known as the Generation 3 (Gen3), may have been installed in as many as 16 million Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles."

Those odds HARDLY scream class action to me...

The cause could have just as easily been improper installation of a child seat or somebody not latching the belt all the way. Could it have been a defective latch? Yes. Is the latch design defective? Probably not.

I would think a class action suit would only succeed if these folks can prove that 1) the design was faulty and/or 2) DCX knew about this defect. To be able to file a class action suit because a few failed is pretty stupid. If the individual families sue, then they'd probably stand a better chance of a victory.

[Marlon_JBT]

[ QUOTE ]
I would think that if a seat belt that has been around since 1993 and has had this serious flaw, a LOT more than just the number they quote would have died as a result.

Here is their quote:
"This brings the total number of deaths to 17 and serious injuries to 27 in accidents in which Gen3 buckles are believed to have unlatched... The buckle, known as the Generation 3 (Gen3), may have been installed in as many as 16 million Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles."

Those odds HARDLY scream class action to me...

The cause could have just as easily been improper installation of a child seat or somebody not latching the belt all the way. Could it have been a defective latch? Yes. Is the latch design defective? Probably not.

I would think a class action suit would only succeed if these folks can prove that 1) the design was faulty and/or 2) DCX knew about this defect. To be able to file a class action suit because a few failed is pretty stupid. If the individual families sue, then they'd probably stand a better chance of a victory.

[/ QUOTE ]
Thank You. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/goodpost.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tu.gif

[Fred]

Ditto what they said. DC is a HUGE auto manufacturer, and I don't think they would hide such a safety hazard as faulty seatbelts, this article is most likely partially truth and partially opinion, and even a fraction false. GRanted it is still some good info IF the seatbelts are proven faulty.

[Marlon_JBT]

Well, sure enough a subpoena was personally delivered to me. The parents of 1 year old Johnny Jeep are suing me for making their baby cry. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hee.gif kidding...

I'd give much more credibility to this website if it wasn't started/run by lawyers...