my 96 tacoma seatbelts dont retract hardly at all, ive heard that honda warrants them 100% free replacement forever...does toyota do this too assuming no modifications etc?

 

Good question! Has anyone asked Toyota? Someone mentioned that there might be a consumer law on point requiring them to warranty seatbelts for life.

 

whether you have modded your rig or not, the seatbelts should be replaced under warranty. there is a defective retraction spring mechanism that is not working properly somewhere. if the stealer wont replace them under warranty, politely explain that you are disappointed that they are not at all interested in the safety and well being of their valuable customers. this may result in guilting them into replacing the seat belts, if it doesnt, thank them for their time and let them know in no uncertain terms, that you will be advising family, friends and news outlets of their indifference to a valid safety concern. be polite at all times, make your point, if nothing happens, leave. oh, the time to do this would be when the service or sales areas are busy, nothing like making your point infront of a ready made audience! good luck!

lee

 

i meant no modification to any part of the seatbelt system

 

I definitely want to know how this turns out. The shop's T100 belts are fubar. The last money I sunk into my previous vehicle was to replace a bad belt and the dealer wanted $203 for it without labour. Eventually found one at a yard for $20 but that still is more money than I want to pay for something I have no intention of ever needing albite, wearing religously.

 

Leebee! I am assuming the tongue-in-cheek icon is invisible. :pat:

First, there is no NHTSA or DOT or FMVSS reg requiring car manufacturers to warranty anything forever, including seat belts. (There is however, no statute of limitations on liability for manufacturing defects which cause injury, perhaps you are confusing that with this.)

Second, browbeating the dealer isn't fair. The dealer does not get to choose how to administer Toyota warranty. If you did "guilt" them into giving you new belts, it would just come out of their pockets (which is of course why you aren't likely to prevail with this tactic.)

Toyota seat belts are famous for 'poor' retractor operation. EVery set I've ever had, from 76 to 85 to 90 to 99 didn't retract fer crap when I unfasten them. I have to "feed" the belt to get it to retract 90% of the time. On the other hand, I kinda like that - compare it to GM seat belts which get tighter and tighter on every bump until finally your eyeballs pop out!! As long as they do the job of keeping yer head from dislodging the windshield in a collision, retraction is a luxury anyway. I've owned plenty of cars that did not even have retractable belts. (Dang I'm gettin' old....)

 

hey phil!

i stand corrected, thanks for keeping me on the straight and narrow.

lee

 

You can probably fix them w/o too much trouble, I've done this to several sets and they work great after a little TLC:

http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/minutemods/seatbelt/

Be sure and clean the belt well before reinstalling. I pull mine out on the sidewalk, soak it well with some upholstery cleaner, scrub well then hose off. Hang and allow to dry, then spray with some silicone or ScotchGard spray before reinstalling.

 

any more info?

 

they used to warrenty them up until aroung 1993/1994. I had an 85 celicva that they replaced them on for free, but I have tried to get it done to other Toyotas and the responce from Toyota Canada was that they no longer do it.

Matt

 

ok so i called, and they do warranty them for 5 years.

 

well just as a quick fix that is working pretty good right now is to clean them with some good soap and water, let dry and then i put on meguires nxt interior protectant on them...the whole belt..and now that sucker slides right up that it even makes an audible noise.

 

My buckles rattle (they never used to). I'm afraid that they arn't latching completly. Has anyone had/fixed this problem?

 

my drivers side rear belt spring snapped and it is loose all of the time rendering the seat useless for a passenger. i pulled it out and it made a pop then the spring unwound in there.