Hearth Record

Seat belts: front: buckle assembly (Lincoln, Ford and Mercury)

Vehicle safety improvement campaign 97I-003. NHTSA received FORD MOTOR COMPANY’s report on Oct 7, 1997.

  • NHTSA: a safety improvement campaign, not a safety recall
NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. NHTSA’s own record is on nhtsa.gov.

The short answer

NHTSA received FORD MOTOR COMPANY’s report on Oct 7, 1997. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 26, 2026.

Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.

What’s wrong with it?

NHTSA files this as a safety improvement campaign, not a safety recall.

NHTSA’s records of these campaigns say each is “not a safety recall”, but is “deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency”. What’s wrong and the fix are below, in NHTSA’s words.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 26, 2026. Updated daily.

IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THE OCCUPANT OF THE SEAT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND PERSONAL INJURY COULD OCCUR.

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATION 573.

HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY.

FORD IS INITIATING AN OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT WILL PROVIDE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, 12 YEARS AND UNLIMITED MILEAGE, FOR ALL SEAT BELT BUCKLES WITH FUNCTIONAL CONCERNS.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 26, 2026. Updated daily.

  • NHTSA’s part: Seat belts: front: buckle assembly.

What should you do?

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY, FOR 12 YEARS AND UNLIMITED MILEAGE.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 26, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: NOTE:FORD HAS DECIDED TO CONDUCT A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WITHOUT CHARGE.OWNERS CAN CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
  • Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.

Which ones does it cover?

NHTSA counts 299,600 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 26, 2026. Updated daily.

  • Lincoln Continentaland 1989 and 1990, before the model years listed here
  • Ford Taurusand 1989, before the model years listed here
  • Mercury Sableand 1989, before the model years listed here

Who is running it?

  • Made by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 26, 2026. Updated daily.

What the record doesn’t say

  • NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
  • Whether one vehicle or seat has been fixed: only its maker, or NHTSA’s lookup with a VIN, can say.
  • This campaign names only model years before 2015, which have no pages here. Your VIN, at NHTSA, says which recalls are open on a vehicle.
  • How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Source:

Hearth Record wrote these lines.

Sources

Source:

Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 26, 2026.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated monthly.

From the homeNone yet. Replies and paid listings aren’t open, and when they open they will sit here, below the record.

1 of 4

Every fact names its source.

Who published it, when, and how often it changes sit beside each fact, with a link to the agency’s own file.

Sign in

A free account keeps your watch list, shortlists, comparisons and saved searches on every device, and can email you when something you watch changes. Browsing never needs one.