1998 Toyota Camry

STARTING IN 2015, THREE OF THE 5 SEAT BELTS IN MY 1998 CAMRY DO NOT REMAIN LATCHED, OR FAIL TO INITIALLY LATCH. AS A (RETIRED) MECHANICAL ENGINEER, I DISASSEMBLED THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM. THE DEFECT IS IN THE ANCHOR MECHANISM WITH THE "PRESS" BUTTON ON IT. THE "PRESS" BUTTON HAS A METAL SPRING MOUNTED ON THE RED PLASTIC PART, AND THE PLASTIC HAS GRADUALLY CRACKED AT THE SPRING MOUNT. THIS METAL SPRING IS WHAT PUSHES THE METAL BLOCK THROUGH THE RECTANGULAR HOLE IN THE SHOULDER BELT COUPLER, WHEN IT IS PLUGGED INTO THE SEAT BELT ANCHOR AND LATCHED PROPERLY. EVENTUALLY, THE CRACK GROWS TO THE POINT THAT THE METAL SPRING CANNOT EXERT ENOUGH FORCE TO RELIABLY LATCH TO THE SHOULDER BELT. IT MAY INITIALLY LATCH AND FEEL SECURE, BUT CAN THEN COME LOOSE SEVERAL MINUTES LATER WHEN DRIVING THE CAR. I PLAN TO INCLUDE 3 PHOTOS OF THE PROBLEM PART, ONE SHOWING THE CRACK IN THE PLASTIC. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS, SO THE SEAT BELT PROBLEM HAS NOT RESULTED IN ANY INJURIES TO MYSELF OR MY PASSENGERS. THE LOCAL TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NO EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR SEAT BELTS, SO I BOUGHT NEW TOYOTA REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THE DEFECTIVE BELT ANCHORS. WE LIVE IN THE DESERT, SO LONG-TERM HEAT AND COLD CYCLES COULD BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. THE SPRING HAS ITS HEAVIEST LOAD ON THE PLASTIC MOUNT WHEN THE SEAT BELT IS NOT ENGAGED, SO THE CRACK COULD POSSIBLY START, OR GROW, EVEN WHEN THE SEAT BELT IS NOT BEING USED.

WE PURCHASED OUR 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY FROM MY HUSBAND'S 70 YEAR OLD PARENTS LAST YEAR. THERE ARE 82,000 MILES AS OF 1/08. THERE ARE TWO BROKEN SEATBELTS IN THE BACK SEAT(PASSENGER SIDE AND MIDDLE), AND BOTH FRONT SEATBELTS EITHER DO NOT RETRACT OR HAVE TO BE MANUALLY FED BACK INTO THE RETRACTOR. IS THERE ANY KIND OF RECALL REGARDING THIS ISSUE? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AS NOTED IN RECALL # 99V307000 (STEERING:WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR). THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, HE LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND FEARS THAT A CRASH MAY OCCUR IF HE DRIVES ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TWO REAR PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELTS FAIL TO RETRACT PROPERLY. HE IS UNABLE TO PULL THEM BACK INTO THEIR REGULAR POSITION OR PUSH THEM IN ANYMORE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 135,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE DRIVER-SIDE REAR SHOULDER BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. I CHOSE NOT TO GET IT REPLACED, BECAUSE MY CHILD RIDES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. NOW THE PASSENGER-SIDE REAR SHOULDER BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. MY CHILD IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO SIT IN A BOOSTER SEAT IN THE BACK, AND IT IS VERY AWKWARD TO USE THE CENTER SEAT WITH THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF HIS BOOSTER. I WILL BE SPENDING NEARLY $600 TO GET THE SHOULDER BELTS REPLACED. *NM