1995 Toyota Camry

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH THERE WAS A LOUD SNAPPING NOISE HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION THE REAR LEFT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY HAD FAILED TO KEEP TENSION WHILE IN USE. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH NOTIFIED. UPDATED 9/20/2006 - THE REAR SEAT BELT FAILED/SNAPPED WHILE AN OCCUPANT WAS STRAPPED IN IT. *NM

SHOULDER HARNESS CROSSES NECK OF 5'0" DRIVER OR PASSENGER, EVEN AT EXTREME SETTINGS OF SEAT AND HARNESS ANCHOR POINTS. HARNESS SHOULD CROSS SHOULDER OVER BONE, RATHER THAN SOFT TISSUE. SEAT BELT EXTENDERS HAVE BEEN USED BY THIS OCCUPANT IN OTHER BRAND VEHICLES WITH SUCCESS. THESE EXTENDERS WERE FURNISHED BY THE AUTO MANUFACTURERS. ALTHOUGH TOYOTA MANUFACTURES AND OFFERS THIS DEVICE, THEY WILL ONLY PROVIDE IT ON THE BASIS OF OBESITY SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT BUCKLING THE HARNESS; THERE IS NO PROVISION IN THEIR WRITTEN GUIDELINES FOR SHORT STATURE USERS OF NORMAL GIRTH. TOYOTA FURTHER STATES THAT THEIR ENGINEERING DATA INDICATES THAT PASSING THE BELT ACROSS THE NECK IS AN ACCEPTABLE CONDITION. AS AN ENGINEER I TAKE EXCEPTION TO THIS STATEMENT AND BELIEVE THAT ALL SIMILAR TOYOTA SHOULDER HARNESS ASSEMBLIES ARE EQUALLY DEFECTIVE. I REQUEST A FORMAL REPLY TO THIS EMAIL. ---- THANK YOU, [XXX]. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

CONSUMER RECEIVED A SEATBELT RECALL ON HER 1987 CAMRY, BUT THE PROBLEM EXISTS ON HER 1995 CAMRY. SHE NEVER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR ANY SEATBELT PROBLEMS. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SHOULDER BELTS ARE TOO LOOSE, ARE NOT CLOSE TO THE BODY. SHOULDER BELT MAY NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN AN ACCIDENT. NEVER TOOK TO A DEALER. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK