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Airbags and safety

Problems with seat belts: symptoms, cost and affected models

We have documented 109 faults with seat belts in 105 cars. The most important by severity and frequency: the centre rear seat belt can also unfasten the left one (Seat Arona and Volkswagen Polo VI), the rear centre seat belt can also unfasten the left one (Seat Ibiza V) and seat SRS connector fault with airbag and seatbelt warning light on (Rover 75).

Documented faults
109
99 of high or critical severity
Cars analysed
105
with at least one fault on this part
Affected models
105
car generations in our database
Garage repair
No data
No reliable published costs

7 sourcesHow we work

How it works and why it fails

Seat belts

Seat belts include the belt itself, the buckle, the anchorage to the body, the pyrotechnic pretensioner that tightens it in a crash and the buckle sensors. The documented defects are usually manufacturing ones (anchorages, buckles, pretensioners) and are corrected with recalls.

What to do

If a buckle does not latch properly, the belt does not retract or the seat belt warning comes on for no reason, have it checked: it is a basic safety item and is also checked at the ITV (the periodic technical inspection in Spain). Use the VIN to check for outstanding campaigns.

General explanation by MotorFiable. The specific faults of each engine and car, with their sources, are on the linked pages.

Common symptoms

The symptoms that come up most often in the documented faults with seat belts. Open each one to see what other faults cause it.

Problems with seat belts by car

Faults documented on specific cars, which occur with any engine. From most to least important.

  1. 1Critical severityFrequency: Very frequentSeat AronaThe centre rear seat belt can also unfasten the left oneYes, on cars built from January to July 2018: Seat recalled the Arona because, with the centre and left rear seats occupied at the same time, a sharp lane change could cause the centre buckle to release the left belt too. The repair was free through the official network.
  2. 2Critical severityFrequency: Very frequentSeat Ibiza VThe rear centre seat belt can also unfasten the left oneYes, on 2017-2018 units: Seat recalled the Ibiza because, with the rear centre and left seats occupied at the same time, an abrupt lane change could cause the centre buckle to also release the left belt. The repair (a redesigned anchorage) was free at official dealers.
  3. 3Critical severityFrequency: Very frequentVolkswagen Polo VIThe centre rear seat belt can also unfasten the left oneYes, on launch-year cars: Volkswagen recalled the Polo because, with the centre and left rear seats occupied at the same time, an abrupt lane change could cause the centre buckle to release the left belt as well. The repair was free at official dealers.
  4. 4Critical severityFrequency: CommonRover 75Seat SRS connector fault with airbag and seatbelt warning light onAuto Express warns that the Rover 75's seat SRS connector can cause the airbags to fail, and dealers were fixing it with revised connectors. The Dutch APK inspection puts the airbag or seatbelt fault warning among the most frequent defects across almost all series.
  5. 5Critical severityFrequency: CommonVolkswagen Passat B82015-2016 campaigns over unintended activation of the airbag and seat belt pretensionersOn the first Passat B8s (2015-2016), the British press documents recalls relating to the airbag and seat belt pretensioners, which on certain units could activate without any accident having occurred.Repair: €0
  6. 6Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalAudi A1 IAirbags and pretensioners with out-of-specification ignition mix (campaign for July to December 2016)Safety Gate/RAPEX published a recall in March 2017 (alert 12/2017) for Audi A1s (and other models in the group) built between July and December 2016: a difference in the mix ratio of the igniters could prevent airbags or pretensioners from firing.
  7. 7Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW i4 G26Seatbelt pretensioner gas generator out of specification on 2022 i4 modelsIn 2022 BMW recalled several models, including the i4 built between 11 January and 2 March 2022, because the micro gas generator in the seatbelt retractor may not have met specification. It could affect restraint in a crash and, through a pressure leak, produce sparks with a risk of fire.
  8. 8Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW Serie 2 Active Tourer U06Seat belts with manufacturing defect or incorrectly fitted (C-pillar and front retractor)Yes: the Active Tourer U06 is covered by the campaigns for outer rear seat belts trapped behind the C-pillar panel (2023) and for front retractors with a damaged torsion bar (2025). In both cases the belt’s restraint in a collision could be reduced; the C-pillar inspection takes about 15 minutes, according to ÖAMTC.
  9. 9Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW Serie 3 F30Campaign over defective seat beltsYes: BMW started a campaign in January 2015 over defective seat belts, which the British press places on cars built between 2014 and 2015. Check with the chassis number whether yours is included.
  10. 10Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW X1 U11Seat belts with a manufacturing defect or fitted incorrectly (C-pillar, retractor and rear seats)Three campaigns are documented: outer rear seat belts trapped behind the C-pillar panel (2023), and front retractors with a damaged torsion bar and badly made outer rear seat belts (both 2025). In all three cases, the belt's restraint in a crash could be reduced.
  11. 11Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalCitroën Berlingo IIIFront passenger seat belt out of specificationA 2019 recall (ref. R2019393) covers Berlingo IIIs built between July 2018 and November 2019 whose outer front passenger seat belt may not meet its specification; owner reports document genuine seat belt and airbag warnings in that same period.
  12. 12Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalCupra LeónDefective front seat belt anchorages (2020-2021)Yes: a 2021 Safety Gate alert, included in the Cupra Leon entry, affects 2,277 Leon and Formentor cars built between 18 September 2020 and 23 August 2021, because manufacturing errors compromise the front seat belt anchorages and may reduce their protection in a crash.
  13. 13Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalFiat Panda IIISeat belt buckle anchorage check (March 2015 campaign)In March 2015 Fiat recalled a combined 17,102 Pandas and 500s to check, and replace if necessary, the anchorage system of the seat belt buckles. The source consulted does not detail the exact production window.
  14. 14Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalFiat Punto IIISeatbelt pretensioner with badly crimped gas generator on the Fiat Punto III (2017 campaign)A European alert from 2017 (Safety Gate 34/2017) covered Grande Puntos built between May 2016 and January 2017: the pretensioner's gas micro-generator could shed parts when activated and injure the occupants.
  15. 15Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalFord Focus IVCampaigns over the seat belt anchor and buckleFord recalled Focus IV cars twice over the seat belt: in 2019 because of an anchor bolt that might be only partly engaged, and in 2023 because of a buckle rivet that might not hold it fully in place. Both campaigns affect specific manufacturing batches, not the whole production run.
  16. 16Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalFord Transit CustomDriver's seat belt height adjuster bolt with incorrect tightening torqueIn 2019 a warning was issued that the driver-side front seat belt height adjuster bolt could be incorrectly tightened on Transit Custom built from 6 February to 29 August 2017, with a risk of the anchorage coming away from the adjuster in a crash.
  17. 17Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalFord TransitDriver's seat belt height adjuster bolt with incorrect tightening torqueIn 2019 a warning was issued that the bolt on the driver's-side front seat belt height adjuster might be under-tightened on Transits built from 6 February to 29 August 2017, with a risk of the anchorage coming away from the adjuster in a crash.
  18. 18Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalHyundai ix35Possible fault with the driver's seat belt pretensionerYes. In 2014 Hyundai recalled 7,550 ix35 units for a possible fault with the driver's-side seat belt pretensioner.
  19. 19Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalHyundai Santa Fe IVIncorrectly installed front seat belt pretensioners on 2020 to 2022 unitsYes: a Safety Gate alert from April 2023 states that the front seat belt pretensioners of 994 Santa Fes may be incorrectly installed and not work properly in an accident, increasing the risk of injury. It affects units built between September 2020 and August 2022.
  20. 20Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalJaguar XF IRear seatbelt D-loop guide ring may not turn freelyYes, on the early units: Jaguar recalled XFs built between October 2007 and May 2008 because the rear seatbelt guide ring might not turn freely due to a production non-conformity, which limited the belt's performance in a medium or high-severity impact.
  21. 21Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalJaguar XF X260Damaged tubes in the front seatbelt pretensionersYes: Jaguar recalled XFs built between 19 January and 15 March 2022 because a manufacturing defect in certain front seatbelt pretensioners could damage their tubes during assembly, and in a crash the seatbelt could lose all or part of its tension.
  22. 22Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalLand Rover Defender IIThird-row seatbelt lower anchorage with a welded stud of insufficient strengthYes: a 2026 campaign (D113) affects Defenders built between November 2025 and March 2026 because the welded stud on the lower anchorage bracket of the third-row seatbelt does not have the required strength, and the belt might not restrain properly in a crash. The bracket is replaced.
  23. 23Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalLand Rover Discovery SportFaulty front seat belt pretensioners (2016 and 2022 recalls)The British DVSA records two recalls of the front seat belt pretensioners: in 2016 because the gas-generating mixture in the initiator did not meet specification, which could prevent it from firing, and in 2022 because of a damaged pretensioner tube fitted in the retractor. Both are corrected by inspection and replacement where appropriate.
  24. 24Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Clase C W203Seat belt buckles that do not latch properly (2003 campaign)Mercedes-Benz recalled C-Class units built in 2003 because the seat belt buckles might not latch correctly, according to a reliability roundup for the model.
  25. 25Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Clase E W211Seat belt buckles that do not latch properly (2004 campaign)In February 2004 Mercedes-Benz recalled E-Class cars produced in 2003 because the seat belt buckles might not latch correctly, and replaced them as part of the campaign.
  26. 26Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalNissan PrimastarLoose bolts on the rear seat belt bucklesYes: Primastar Kombi and Avantour built between December 2002 and March 2008 were recalled because the bolts securing the outer belt buckles of the second and third rows could work loose and release the buckle. They are retightened and locked with thread-locking compound.
  27. 27Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalOpel Astra LPassive safety campaigns: front seat belt pretensioner and curtain airbag (2022-2023)The Astra L had two passive safety campaigns on cars from the spring of 2022: the front seat belt pretensioner might malfunction (March 2023 campaign) and the curtain airbag might be incorrectly positioned (May 2022 campaign).
  28. 28Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalOpel Combo EFront passenger seat belt with reduced effectivenessA campaign affected around 1,735 Opel Combo E units built in 2018-2019 in which the front passenger seat belt could have reduced restraint effectiveness.
  29. 29Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalPeugeot RifterFront passenger seat belt out of specificationA 2019 recall (ref. r2019392) covers around 1,267 Rifters built between July 2018 and November 2019 whose outer front passenger seat belt may not meet its specification.
  30. 30Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalPorsche Macan IRear seat belt anchorage bolted out of specification (recall APA9)The 2023 recall APA9 affects Macans built between 29 April 2014 and 13 February 2023, because the bolted connection of the rear left or right seat belt anchorage may not have been made to specification. In the UK it affected only 3 cars; the bolted connection is replaced.
  31. 31Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalSeat Toledo IVSeat belt pretensioner gas micro-generator that may come loose (2016)Yes: a European alert from August 2017 (A12/1078/17) covers Toledo cars (type KG3, 2017 model year) built between June and October 2016 because, when the seat belt pretensioner fires in an accident, parts of its gas micro-generator can come loose and injure the occupants.
  32. 32Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalTesla Model 3Recall for possible seat belt anchorage defect (built 2018-2020)In July 2021 Tesla recalled the Model 3 built between July 2018 and March 2020 because the seat belt anchorage could be defective, with a greater risk of injury in a crash.
  33. 33Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalToyota CamryIncorrectly positioned rear seat belt lock springYes, although it affects very few units: European alert A12/00046/19 records a Toyota campaign because the spring in the rear seat belt locking mechanism may have been fitted incorrectly on Camrys built over about two weeks, between late August and early September 2019.
  34. 34Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen Amarok IAirbags and seat belt pretensioners that might not activate because of the ignition device mixtureYes: in 2017 a European alert included the Amarok built between July 2016 and February 2017 in a campaign over differences in the proportion of the mixture in the ignition device, which could prevent the driver's and passenger's airbags or the seat belt pretensioner from activating in a crash.
  35. 35Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen Tiguan IIIFront seatbelt that can break because of the felt pad on the seat height leverYes: Volkswagen recalled Tiguan III models built from 13 May to 17 June 2024 because a faulty protective felt pad on the seat height lever can cause the front seatbelt to break in a frontal crash. According to car-recalls.eu there are 2,605 units worldwide (campaign 72DV).
  36. 36Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalVolvo S80 IIVolvo S80 front seatbelt anchor cable: it can lose strength over timeYes: in 2020 Volvo recalled (code R10029) Volvo S80 cars built between 7 February 2006 and 8 April 2016, because the strength of the steel cable that secures the front seatbelt can decrease over time and reduce the belt's protective effect in a crash. The remedy is to replace the fixing.
  37. 37Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalVolvo V70 IIIVolvo V70 front seatbelt anchor cable: it can lose strength over timeYes: in 2020 Volvo recalled (code R10029) Volvo V70 cars built between 14 March 2007 and 27 April 2016, because the strength of the steel cable that secures the front seatbelt can decrease over time and reduce the belt's protective effect in a crash. The remedy is to replace the fixing.
  38. 38Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalVolvo XC70 IIIVolvo XC70 front seat belt anchorage cable: it can lose strength over timeYes: in 2020 Volvo recalled (code R10029) Volvo XC70 cars built between 9 May 2007 and 30 May 2016, because the strength of the steel cable that secures the front seat belt can decrease over time and reduce the belt's protective effect in a crash. The remedy is to replace the fixing.
  39. 39High severityFrequency: OccasionalHyundai i10 IIIRear right seat belt pretensioner that may act abnormally (2020 i10)Hyundai recalled the i10s built between 5 September and 16 October 2020 (campaign 21DT02) because the rear right seat belt pretensioner could behave abnormally when triggered in a crash. The belt's barcode is checked and the belt is replaced if it falls within the affected range.
  40. 40High severityFrequency: OccasionalKia ProCeedCampaign for defective seat belt pretensionersAccording to the fiches-auto.fr fiche, in May 2022 there was a campaign for defective seat belt pretensioners that affected the Ceed III; the fiche does not specify whether it includes the ProCeed or its scope in Spain.
  41. 41High severityFrequency: OccasionalKia Sorento IVFront seatbelt pretensioner with a manufacturing defectYes: Kia recalled Sorento units built in summer 2021 in 2022 because of a defect in the front seatbelt pretensioners, which could trigger incorrectly in a crash (Safety Gate alert 22/2022, 1,241 vehicles across several models). The repair is to replace the pretensioner.
  42. 42High severityFrequency: OccasionalLancia Ypsilon IIIFront seat belt pretensioner with badly crimped gas micro-generator (September to December 2016 cars)Yes: in August 2017 a recall was notified over a faulty crimping of the gas micro-generator in the front seat belt pretensioner of the Ypsilon built between September and December 2016. If the pretensioner activates, defective parts could come loose and injure the occupants.
  43. 43High severityFrequency: OccasionalLand Rover Defender IIFront seatbelt pretensioner with a tube damaged at the factoryYes: campaign N720 affects Defender, Discovery, Discovery Sport and Velar built between late 2021 and May 2022, because the tube of the front seatbelt pretensioner may have been damaged during assembly and the pretensioner might act less or not at all in a crash. It is inspected and, if damaged, the retractor is replaced.
  44. 44High severityFrequency: OccasionalLand Rover Discovery 5Front seat belt pretensioner with a tube damaged at the factoryYes: campaign N720 affects several Land Rovers (Discovery, Defender, Discovery Sport, Velar and Range Rover Sport) built between late 2021 and May 2022, because the front seat belt pretensioner tube may have been damaged during assembly and the pretensioner might work less well or not at all in a crash. It is inspected and, if there is damage, the retractor is replaced.
  45. 45High severityFrequency: OccasionalLand Rover Range Rover VelarFront seat belt pretensioner with a damaged tube from the factoryYes: campaign N720 affects several Land Rover models (Velar, Defender, Discovery, Discovery Sport and Range Rover Sport) built between late 2021 and May 2022, because the front seat belt pretensioner tube may have been damaged during assembly and the pretensioner could act less or not at all in a collision. It is inspected and, if damaged, the retractor is replaced.
  46. 46High severityFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Clase C W206Passenger seat belt anchor cover that can come offMercedes-Benz has recalled C-Class W206 units because the cover of the passenger seat belt's lower anchor can come off, which compromises the restraint of the occupant in an accident.
  47. 47High severityFrequency: OccasionalMitsubishi Outlander IIIRight-hand second-row seat belt incorrectly fittedOn a small batch of model-year 2020 Outlanders and Outlander PHEVs, the seat belt in the right-hand rear seat of the second row may have been fitted incorrectly, with a risk of injury from poor restraint in a crash. Mitsubishi put it right with a recall (Safety Gate A12/01373/20).
  48. 48High severityFrequency: OccasionalOpel Insignia BRear outer seatbelts misguided at the anchor point (2018 campaign)Opel recalled Insignia B models built between June 2017 and February 2018 because the guides for the rear outer seatbelts at the anchor point could reduce their protection in a frontal collision.
  49. 49High severityFrequency: OccasionalPorsche Cayenne IIIDefective rear centre seat belt buckles (Safety Gate 39/2018)In September 2018 Safety Gate notified a Porsche recall for the rear centre seat belt buckles on certain Cayenne cars built up to March 2018, which increased the risk of injury. CarWiki adds that the restraint in an accident was not sufficient and that the centre buckle was replaced.
  50. 50High severityFrequency: OccasionalPorsche Panamera IIRear seatbelt anchorages poorly fixedSafety Gate and fiches-auto record a 2023 campaign for poorly secured rear seatbelt mounts on Panameras built between 2014 and 2023, which may stop the belt working properly in a crash.Repair: €0
  51. 51High severityFrequency: OccasionalRenault Espace VPassive safety recalls: seatbelts, seat rails, curtain airbags and child lockThe Espace V had four preventive passive safety recalls in 2016: front seatbelt webbing cut, rear bolts on the front seat rails not tightened, curtain airbags with an incorrect chemical mix, and a child lock on the rear left door.
  52. 52High severityFrequency: OccasionalRenault TalismanPassive safety recalls: seat belts, seats, curtain airbags and child lockIn 2016-2017 the Talisman accumulated several preventive passive safety recalls: front seat belts with the webbing cut, rear seat back fixing bolts, curtain airbags and the rear door child lock. They affect only certain build dates.
  53. 53High severityFrequency: OccasionalRenault Trafic IIIBuckles and guides of the third-row seat beltsSafety Gate lists two Renault recalls from 2017-2019 on the Trafic's third-row seat belts: faulty buckles that might not restrain a passenger or a child seat, and badly fitted plastic guides that might jam.
  54. 54High severityFrequency: OccasionalSaab 9-3Front seatbelt retractors that fail to rewind the webbingIn February 2005, 9,322 Saab 9-3s built between October 2003 and October 2004 were recalled because the front seatbelt retractors could fail, so webbing that had already been pulled out would not rewind. The fix was to replace the front seatbelts.
  55. 55High severityFrequency: OccasionalŠkoda RapidRecall for the front seatbelt pretensioner (2016)Yes: in July 2017 Safety Gate recorded a campaign for a faulty connection in the gas generator of the front seatbelt pretensioners, so parts could come loose when activated and enter the cabin. It affects Rapid models built from 23 September to 1 November 2016.
  56. 56High severityFrequency: OccasionalŠkoda YetiFront seatbelt pretensioner recall (2016)Yes: in July 2017 Safety Gate listed a campaign over a faulty connection in the pretensioners' micro-generator, which could shed parts when triggered. It affects Yetis built from 23 September to 1 November 2016; Gebrauchtwagenberater.de gives a slightly different range.
  57. 57High severityFrequency: OccasionalSuzuki Swift IIICorrosion of the rear seatbelt anchorages (2005-2007 recall)Swifts (type MZ) were recalled in 2009 because interior moisture can corrode the rear seatbelt anchorage tabs and weaken the part (25,041 cars in Germany).Repair: €0
  58. 58High severityFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen Touareg IIIRear right seat belt buckle insufficiently securedVolkswagen recalled Touareg IIIs built between August and October 2018 (code 69Y2) because the buckle of the rear right seat belt might not be properly secured and could break in a crash. The DVSA counts 110 cars in the UK, where the buckle assembly is checked and replaced.
  59. 59High severityFrequency: OccasionalVolvo S60 IFatigue of the steel cable anchoring the front seat beltsIn July 2020 Volvo recalled around 2.2 million cars worldwide over possible wear of the steel cable that secures the front seat belts. The list includes the S60 built between 2006 and 2018 without separating generations, so S60 I models built from 2006 may be affected.
  60. 60High severityFrequency: OccasionalVolvo S80 I2001 recalls: rear seat belt anchorage and ISOFIX bracket bolts under-tightened on the Volvo S80In 2001 Volvo recalled small batches of the S80 (and the new V70) in the UK for insufficiently tightened bolts: those of the ISOFIX anchorage bracket in the rear floor (8 vehicles, R/2001/038) and those of the outer rear seat belts (410 vehicles, R/2001/039). It was corrected by checking and tightening the bolts.
  61. 61High severityFrequency: OccasionalVolvo V60 ISteel cable fatigue in the front seat belt anchorageIn 2020 Volvo recalled V60 cars built between 22 June 2010 and 27 August 2018 because the steel cable that holds the front seat belts can lose strength over time and reduce restraint in a crash. Volvo said it was not aware of any accidents or injuries because of this.
  62. 62High severityFrequency: OccasionalVolvo V60 IFront passenger seat belt buckle that may not fasten properly and release in a crashA European alert from January 2017 (A12/0058/17) warned that the front passenger seat belt buckle in V60 and V60 Cross Country cars of model years 2015 and 2016 might not fasten properly and, in a crash, could separate from the belt latch.
  63. 63High severityFrequency: OccasionalVolvo XC60 ISeat belt recalls: anchorage cable and front passenger buckleYes: Safety Gate records two seat belt campaigns for the first-generation XC60, one from 2017 for the front passenger seat belt buckle (2015-2016) and another from 2020 for the belt anchorage cable, whose steel could lose strength over time (built between March 2008 and April 2016).
  64. 64Critical severityFrequency: RareAudi A8 D4Incorrect mixture in airbag and pretensioner initiators (production from July to December 2016)Audi recalled A8s (and A1, A4, A5, A6, A7, Q5, Q7) built between July and December 2016 because a difference in the mixture of the initiators could prevent airbags or pretensioners from deploying.
  65. 65Critical severityFrequency: RareBMW Serie 3 G20Seat belt buckle sensor that wrongly detects the occupant as unbuckled (2019-2020)Yes: on 2019-2020 330i (G20) cars, the front seat belt buckle sensor can wrongly detect a buckled-up occupant as unbuckled, causing the airbag and pretensioner to deploy inappropriately in a crash.
  66. 66Critical severityFrequency: RareCupra FormentorFront seat belt could work looseIn August 2021 Cupra recalled a series of Formentors because the front seat belt could work loose with use instead of maintaining constant tension. Auto Express documents the recall, although we have not found the number of units or the official reference.Repair: €0
  67. 67Critical severityFrequency: RareDacia SpringCampaign for the rear right seat belt retractor (built April to October 2022)Dacia issued a recall in November 2022 for Spring cars built between April and October of that year because the rear right seat belt retractor could malfunction, which reduces its restraining capacity in an accident.
  68. 68Critical severityFrequency: RareFiat 500XLimited airbag and seat belt pretensioner function because of the ORC control unit (2017-2019 build)Yes: a campaign covers vehicles built between 24 October 2017 and 18 April 2019 in which the occupant restraint control unit (ORC) could limit the operation of the airbag and seat belt pretensioners; it is corrected with a software update.
  69. 69Critical severityFrequency: RareFord C-Max IISeat belt anchor bolt only partially engagedIn 2019 Ford recalled C-MAX cars built between May and September of that year because the bolt anchoring the seat belt could be only partially engaged.
  70. 70Critical severityFrequency: RareFord Fiesta VRecall over the rear seat belt mounting (limited series)Ford recalled a limited series of the Fiesta V over a problem with the mounting of the rear seat belts, according to fiches-auto.fr, with no further detail on dates or chassis numbers.
  71. 71Critical severityFrequency: RareFord Kuga IIFire risk from the B-pillar insulation after the seatbelt pretensioner is triggeredIn 2017 Ford recalled around 30,000 Kuga models built between July 2012 and June 2014 because the B-pillar insulation could catch fire in a collision in which the front seatbelt's pyrotechnic pretensioner was triggered.
  72. 72Critical severityFrequency: RareFord Mondeo VDriver's seatbelt pretensioner cable (recall)Mondeos built between 5 August 2015 and 31 July 2016 may have a driver's seatbelt pretensioner cable that could separate when the pretensioner fires in a crash.
  73. 73Critical severityFrequency: RareJeep RenegadeLimited airbag and seat belt pretensioner function due to the ORC control unit (built 2018-2019)Yes: two independent sources, one French and one German, document a September 2019 campaign for vehicles built between March 2018 and April 2019 in which an incorrect update of the occupant restraint control unit (ORC) could limit the function of the airbag and seat belt pretensioners.
  74. 74Critical severityFrequency: RareJeep RenegadePossible fault with the centre rear seat belt (built 2014-2015)Yes: a May 2015 campaign covers vehicles built between October 2014 and January 2015; one source says the centre rear seat belt buckle could open in a crash and another that the belt retractor needed to be checked.
  75. 75Critical severityFrequency: RareKia Ceed IIIRecall for seat belt pretensioner defect (2021-2022)On Kia Ceed III cars built in 2021 and 2022, a seat belt pretensioner defect can cause it to activate incorrectly in an accident and its cover can come off by itself, according to a recall recorded by Germany's KBA.
  76. 76Critical severityFrequency: RareKia Sportage IIIThe driver's seat belt pretensioner may not operate in a crashYes: Kia recalled Sportage SL cars built between October 2011 and November 2012 (7,219 vehicles in the UK, together with the Kia Soul of those dates) because the driver's seat belt pretensioner may not work correctly during a collision, according to the UK's DVSA.
  77. 77Critical severityFrequency: RareKia XCeedRecall for a seat belt pretensioner defect (2021-2022)On Kia XCeed units built between November 2021 and February 2022, a defect in the front seat belt pretensioner can cause it to activate incorrectly in a collision, according to a May 2022 recall reported by Fiches-auto.fr.
  78. 78Critical severityFrequency: RareMercedes-Benz Clase A W169Faulty seat belt buckle (August 2008 build window)Mercedes-Benz recalled a very specific build window of A-Class W169 cars built between 7 and 13 August 2008 because the seat belt buckle could fail and release under extreme load, such as in a crash.
  79. 79Critical severityFrequency: RareMercedes-Benz Clase B W245Defective seat belt buckle (August 2008 build window)Mercedes-Benz recalled a very specific window of B-Class W245s built between 7 and 13 August 2008 because the seat belt buckle could fail and open under extreme load, such as in a crash.
  80. 80Critical severityFrequency: RarePeugeot 2008 IDriver's seatbelt may fail (July 2015 production)Yes: a February 2016 campaign (ref. r2016031) covers a one-day production batch, 14 July 2015, in which the driver's seatbelt might fail.
  81. 81Critical severityFrequency: RareRenault Trafic IIIBadly configured crash sensors: airbags and pretensioners may not activateSafety Gate lists a Renault recall for Trafic vans built between February 2021 and November 2023: the crash sensors may be badly configured and the airbags and pretensioners may not activate as they should.
  82. 82Critical severityFrequency: RareToyota Aygo IIThe stitching of the centre rear seatbelt may tearA 2021 campaign inspected Aygo cars built between August and October 2020 because the inner stitching of the rear seatbelt could tear, compromising its restraining function in an accident.
  83. 83Critical severityFrequency: RareVolkswagen Touran IIMarch 2017 campaign for a possible airbag and seat belt pretensioner faultIn March 2017, Volkswagen recalled part of the second-generation Touran production over a possible fault in the airbag and seat belt pretensioners, according to the specialist British press, with no further detail on the exact technical cause or the number of units.Repair: €0
  84. 84Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalAlfa Romeo 166Airbag and seatbelt warning system fault on the Alfa Romeo 166On 1998-2002 166s, the airbag and seatbelt system warning shows as faulty at the Dutch roadworthiness test: between 11% of failures in 1998-1999 and 4% of those in 2001-2002.
  85. 85Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMazda CX-3The rear seat belts may not retract properlySeveral owners describe the seat belt in a rear seat no longer retracting normally after a while, staying slack or locked, without the manufacturer acknowledging it as a systemic defect.
  86. 86High severityFrequency: RareAudi A3 IVFaulty seatbelts (174 cars)In October 2022, Audi recalled 174 A3 cars built between September and November 2021 because they had faulty seatbelts fitted.Repair: €0
  87. 87High severityFrequency: RareBMW Serie 1 F40Defective bolts in the seat belt anchorage (around 64 units, 2021 build)Yes, although it affects very few units: BMW documented defective bolts in the seat belt anchorage on around 64 1 Series F40 vehicles from the 2021 build year, with a higher risk of injury in a crash.
  88. 88High severityFrequency: RareBMW X2 F39Faulty micro-generator in the seatbelt pretensioner (X2 built January-March 2022)Yes: BMW recalled X2 cars built between 11 January and 2 March 2022 because the seatbelt pretensioner's micro-generator may not meet specification, with a risk to the restraint function and of sparks.
  89. 89High severityFrequency: RareBMW X5 E70Seat belt buckle that may not release (X5 E70 from 2006-2007)Yes: according to Gebrauchtwagenberater.de and the KBA, on X5 E70s from 2006 and 2007 the seat belt buckle may not release, making it harder to get out of the car after an accident.
  90. 90High severityFrequency: RareFiat TalentoInsufficient tightening torque on the third-row seat belt boltsIn October 2019 Fiat notified that the bolts of the third-row seat belt mountings on the Talento built between August 2017 and March 2019 were tightened to an insufficient torque and could fail in a crash.
  91. 91High severityFrequency: RareFord Fiesta VIII2019 and 2021 campaigns over seat belt system faultsFord recalled the Fiesta VIII in December 2019 and again in April 2021 over seat belt system "glitches". Auto Express does not detail whether the second campaign extends the first or the number of vehicles affected.
  92. 92High severityFrequency: RareHyundai Kona IIRear seatbelt buckles that do not latch (built 2022-2023)A Safety Gate alert from August 2023 states that the rear seatbelt buckles on some Konas built between December 2022 and January 2023 do not latch properly and offer insufficient protection.
  93. 93High severityFrequency: RareMINI Cooper F55Gas generator in the seatbelt retractor of the five-door Mini Cooper (recall of 2022)In 2022 an alert was issued that the micro gas generator in the seatbelt retractors of some five-door Mini Coopers built between January and March 2022 may not meet specification, with a risk of the belt restraining less effectively and of sparks being produced.
  94. 94High severityFrequency: RareNissan Micra VSeat belts: pretensioner sensor and seat anchorages (recalls)The European list records two campaigns on the Micra's seat belts: an internal sensor in the retractor that might not act (2017) and a driver's seat that might affect the seat belt anchorages (2016-2021).
  95. 95High severityFrequency: RareOpel Mokka AFront seatbelt pretensioners on the Mokka that can loosen after firingA 2015 recall affects Mokkas built in 2013 and 2014: the front seatbelt pretensioners might not lock properly after firing and can loosen under the weight of the occupant.
  96. 96High severityFrequency: RareOpel Vivaro BBadly manufactured third-row seat belt guidesIn November 2018 Opel reported that some components of the third-row seat belt guide rail of the Vivaro B (March 2017 to July 2018) might be badly manufactured and fail to guarantee the belt's protection.
  97. 97High severityFrequency: RareOpel Zafira Tourer CRear seatbelt and seat bolts not tightened properly (2016-2017 production)A 2017 recall covers Zafira C built between 20 July 2016 and 2 February 2017: the bolts on the second-row seatbelts and the third-row seats may not have been tightened enough.
  98. 98High severityFrequency: RarePeugeot 108Defective rear seat belt buckle stitching (2020 production)A 2021 recall (code KEA) covers 108s built between 27 August and 1 October 2020: the stitching on the rear seat belt buckles could be defective. Gebrauchtwagenberater puts the batch at around 147 cars.
  99. 99High severityFrequency: RareRenault Twingo IIIFaulty seat belt buckle (built September-October 2014)Yes: Twingo III cars built between 29 September and 29 October 2014 were part of a recall over a faulty seat belt buckle, according to a German used-car guide.
  100. 100High severityFrequency: RareVolkswagen BoraInsulation that could catch fire when the seatbelt pretensioner fires (recall 1999)ADAC lists a February 1999 recall (around 10,000 units in Germany) for the Bora with 2.0, 2.3 or 1.9 TDI 81 kW engines and four-wheel drive, due to the risk of the insulation catching fire when the pretensioner fires. Gebrauchtwagenberater also mentions it.
  101. 101High severityFrequency: RareVolkswagen up!Airbag initiators and pretensioners with an out-of-specification mixVolkswagen recalled up! and e-up! models built between 8 July 2016 and 6 February 2017 because the chemical mix of the airbag and seatbelt pretensioner initiators was out of specification, and they might not deploy in a crash.
  102. 102Low severityFrequency: CommonRenault Scénic IIIFalse electronic warnings: seat belt, generic faults and R-Link bugsSeveral Scénic III owners describe unfastened seat belt warnings with the seat empty, fault messages with no apparent cause and occasional glitches in the R-Link multimedia system, without Renault acknowledging it as a series fault.
  103. 103Medium severityFrequency: RareAlfa Romeo GTAirbag or seatbelt warning fault on the Alfa Romeo GTIn the Dutch roadworthiness inspection, a faulty airbag or seatbelt warning device appears among the most common defects of GTs built in 2004, 2005 and 2006 (4-5% of defects each year). This is data from cars that fail; the source does not explain the cause.
  104. 104Medium severityFrequency: RareKia Picanto IIFrayed seat beltsAccording to the fiches-auto.fr reports, several owners of the 2011 Picanto had to replace frayed seat belts at around 40,000 km, with bills of between €400 and €680 in France. No official recall is on record.
  105. 105Medium severityFrequency: RareMazda 2 IIMazda 2 (DJ) rear seat belt retractors lockingAccording to owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the rear seat belt retractors on the 2015 Mazda 2 can lock or fail to retract the belt properly (3 or more cases among 65 reports).
  106. 106Medium severityFrequency: RareOpel Corsa ESeatbelts that stick when pulled out or retracted (2019 campaign)The DVSA records a 2019 campaign covering 1,122 Corsa Es built between May and June 2019, in which some seatbelts could stick when pulled out or retracted.
  107. 107Medium severityFrequency: RareToyota Yaris IVCentre rear seatbelt anchorage with a sharp edge on 2020 YarissesA December 2020 campaign affected Yarisses built between July and October 2020: the metal anchorage of the centre rear seat belt could have a sharp edge that could damage the webbing in an impact.
  108. 108Low severityFrequency: OccasionalPeugeot 3008 IIIScreen freezes, erratic voice control and false rear seat belt warningsSeveral Peugeot 3008 III owners describe black screens, system freezes and erratic voice recognition from the first few kilometres, as well as rear seat belt warnings that appear with nobody sitting there.
  109. 109Low severityFrequency: RareHonda Jazz IIICentre rear seatbelt sensor that may stop workingAccording to car-recalls.eu, which reproduces UK data, a 2020 campaign covers Jazzes built between 28 August and 25 September 2019 whose centre rear seatbelt sensor could stop working.

Problems with seat belts by make

Problems with seat belts in your car

4 cars have several documented faults with seat belts. Choose yours to see only the ones that affect them, by engine and by year.

Jeep 1
Land Rover 1
Renault 1
Volvo 1

How much it costs to repair a fault with seat belts

Sorted from the most expensive repair to the cheapest. Prices in Spain including VAT (parts and labour); what each figure includes is on its page.

How we calculate costs · The most expensive repairs across all engines

Frequently asked questions

Which cars have problems with seat belts?

Among those we have analysed: Seat Arona (the centre rear seat belt can also unfasten the left one), Seat Ibiza V (the rear centre seat belt can also unfasten the left one), Volkswagen Polo VI (the centre rear seat belt can also unfasten the left one), Rover 75 (seat SRS connector fault with airbag and seatbelt warning light on), Volkswagen Passat B8 (2015-2016 campaigns over unintended activation of the airbag and seat belt pretensioners), Land Rover Defender II (third-row seatbelt lower anchorage with a welded stud of insufficient strength), Audi A1 I (airbags and pretensioners with out-of-specification ignition mix (campaign for July to December 2016)) and BMW i4 G26 (seatbelt pretensioner gas generator out of specification on 2022 i4 models). In total, 105 cars with documented faults with seat belts.

How much does it cost to repair a fault with seat belts?

It depends a lot on the engine or car. At a dealer, from €0 to €0, including VAT, based on the 6 faults with a documented cost. The most expensive is 2015-2016 campaigns over unintended activation of the airbag and seat belt pretensioners (Volkswagen Passat B8).

What symptoms does a fault with seat belts cause?

The most frequently cited in the documented faults: seatbelt fault warning light or message, airbag warning light on, intermittent electronic warnings or sensor faults and screen or infotainment system freezes or restarts.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. Used Volkswagen Passat (Mk8, 2014-2021) review and buyer's guideAuto Express · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026
  2. Porsche Panamera Recalls in EU (page 1)Car-Recalls.eu (Safety Gate) · Official body · consulted 29 October 2026
  3. Fiabilité Porsche Panamera (2009-2016): pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 29 October 2026 · in French
  4. Gebrauchtwageninfo: Suzuki Swift (2005-2010)ADAC · Reliability study · consulted 29 October 2026 · in German
  5. Used Cupra Formentor (Mk1, 2020-date) buyer's guide: stylish and family-friendlyAuto Express · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026
  6. Used Volkswagen Touran reviewAuto Express · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026
  7. Used Audi A3 Mk4 (2020-date) buyer's guide: classy used hatchbackAuto Express · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026