Seat belts: front: buckle assembly (Lincoln)
Vehicle recall 97V-174. NHTSA received FORD MOTOR COMPANY’s report on Oct 7, 1997.
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The short answer
NHTSA received FORD MOTOR COMPANY’s report on Oct 7, 1997. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 24, 2026.
Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.
What’s wrong with it?
THESE CONDITIONS COULD REDUCE SEAT BELT USAGE INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.
THE FRONT OUTBOARD SEATING POSITION SEAT BELT BUCKLES MAY NOT LATCH OR UNLATCH.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Seat belts: front: buckle assembly.
What should you do?
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT OUTBOARD SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 15, 1998. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.
- Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 63,400 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily.
- Lincoln Continentaland 1989 and 1990, before the model years listed here
Who is recalling it?
- Made by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 24, 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 recall 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.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file before 2010 (FLAT_RCL_PRE_2010).
Released Oct 24, 2026 and checked Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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 24, 2026.