Passenger seat belt "stitching" ?

[Ric]

We have noticed the passenger seat belt has stitching about 20 inches from the bottom. No idea why it's there. The buckle catches on this stitching. Anyone else have this? If so, why is it there?

[acdii]

There is special stitching that breaks during an impact to lessen the severity of the belt against your body. When I did tower climbing we had a safety harness that attached to the back of your webbing and was stitched in such a way that if you fell it would slow your decent so the stop isn't so hard that you jerk yourself stupid. The cord is about 6 feet long, but stretches to about 12 or more feet. Its called a fall arrest device. Same principle is applied in seat belts, only they "stretch" a few inches.

 

These may be the stitches you are referring too.

[47Minutes]

I heard about this from some owners a while ago and finally remembered to check my belt. My Energi also has it. This doesn't seem like it is what Acdii is describing as the belt itself is not folded over in this area. It looks like a label or something was removed and the thread is just thick enough to make the buckle stop on it. I was going to give it a closer inspection and see if I can remove this stitching without harming the actual belt material. It isn't a bid deal for me as I clearly spend more time in the driver's seat.

 

But there are others out there that have the same issue.

[acdii]

I just checked the belt in the Flex, I don't see that kind of stitching on them, it may be on the spool side where I cant see it. I dont remember which car I have that kind of stitching in. On the Flex there is a button on the belt that stops the buckle from sliding to the floor, where some have belt material folded over and stitched like I described as the stop. With all the air bags and other crash protection, some cars use them, some dont. Since I dont have access to the new Fusion, cant say what it has. I will check the old Fusion if I remember to.

 

I know most cars though, when you have a crash where the air bags deploy, the seat belts should also be replaced as on some the locking actuator on them uses a small charge that is activated at the same time to lock the belt, or the stitching is ripped. I dont think any of the Fords use the charged lock, I think GM uses them still. The Fords use the weighted locks, as I'm sure everyone here knows works well when you stop quickly, your belt locks and sometimes stays locked if its too tight. Then there are some that use both mechanisms.

 

Here is a better description.

 

 

• Pretensioners preemptively tighten the belt to prevent the occupant from jerking forward in a crash. Mercedes-Benz first introduced pretensioners on the 1981 S-Class. In the event of a crash, a pretensioner will tighten the belt almost instantaneously. This reduces the motion of the occupant in a violent crash. Like airbags, pretensioners are triggered by sensors in the car's body, and most pretensioners use explosively expanding gas to drive a piston that retracts the belt. Pretensioners also lower the risk of "submarining", which is when a passenger slides forward under a loosely worn seat belt. An alternative approach being looked at by major car companies is the CG-Lock technology whereby the occupant is held in position via the lap belt in order to prevent the passenger from coming out of position in the event of a crash^{[citation needed]}. Some systems also pre-emptively tighten the belt in fast accelerations and strong decelerations even if no crash has happened.
• Webclamps clamp the webbing in the event of an accident and limit the distance the webbing can spool out (caused by the unused webbing tightening on the central drum of the mechanism). These belts also often incorporate an energy management loop ("rip stitching") in which the lower part of the webbing is looped and stitched with a special stitching. The function of this is to "rip" at a predetermined load, which reduces the load transmitted through the belt to the occupant, reducing injuries to the occupant

 

[47Minutes]

the passenger side does have the loop to stop decent of the buckle. But this stitching is about 8 inches or so above that.

[acdii]

I never sit on the passenger side unless I am not feeling well, so wouldnt notice. :)

[murphy]

the passenger side does have the loop to stop decent of the buckle. But this stitching is about 8 inches or so above that.

My Energi also has that stitching.

[acdii]

Take a pic, I have no clue, and wont for at least 2 weeks until mine arrives.

[Riggo]

Yep, mine has the same stiching on the passenger belt. It looks all frayed. Apparently this is how all of the belts are as my dealer checked other Fusions and offered to send me pics saying they were all like that. When I first picked it up I noticed this and pointed it out. We were going to have the belt replaced until we found out all of the cars are like this. Not sure why they did this. I know that my passenger seat belt kind of broke in and the buckle no longer gets caught on that area.

[murphy]

Here are front and back pictures.

 

 

 

 

[Riggo]

Here are front and back pictures.

 

P5210004.JPG

 

P5210005.JPG

 

 

 

Your stiching looks much better than mine, mine is all frayed.

[Ric]

I sent the following to Ford, received a reply within 15 minutes: Anyone else want to send them a friendly note? :)

 

(Sent) Your Inquiry: We have noticed the passenger seat belt has stitching about 20 inches from the bottom. No idea why it's there. The buckle catches on this stitching. The belt does have the button to stop decent of the buckle. But this stitching is about 8 inches or so above that. It looks all frayed and stops the belt buckle from descending. A smaller person may think the belt is secured, but it is not. This could be a serious safety issue. Is it OK to take a stitch ripper and remove this?

 

(Ford reply)

This is Micky with the Ford Customer Relationship Center (CRC). I received your email regarding your inquiry on removing the stitches on your 2013 Ford Fusion’s passenger seat belt. We appreciate you for considering our assistance with regard to this matter. I researched this for you. Please be advised that Ford Motor Company does not recommend changes to our products. Only changes that have been thoroughly tested and approved by Ford Engineering should be considered. Changes, installation or use of any after-market product will not necessarily void the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. However, if the after-market product fails or causes a Ford part to fail, the cost of the repair and any related damage(s) are not covered by your Ford warranty. At this time, our best recommendation is to have your vehicle inspected by a Ford Dealership to personally inspect the stitches and determine a diagnosis. Upon reviewing your email profile, I see that your attending Dealership is Maritime Ford-Lincoln, Inc. You may contact their Service Department .

 

If you have any other inquiries or concerns, please feel free to contact us. We are more than happy to address them for you.

Thank you for contacting Ford Motor Company.

 

Micky

Customer Relationship Center

Ford Motor Company

Edited May 21, 2013 by Ric

[corncobs]

Saying a lot but telling us nothing related to your question! A bit disappointing.

[Riggo]

Looks like an automated canned response to me.

[acdii]

Taken right out of the book!

[acdii]

Here are front and back pictures.

 

P5210004.JPG

 

P5210005.JPG

 

 

OK that was nothing like I was expecting. I have no idea what that particular stitching is for.

[Gunsmoke]

Had my new Fusion Hybrid a week and noticed the seatbelt stiching. Ford call it a comfort stiching and it allows the buckle to stay at shoulder height instead of dropping down to the floor. If you just grab the buckle and pull it over the stiching band does not go through the buckle--it's there to hold the buckle up at shoulder height. I just love my Fusion Hybrid Titanium here in northern Wi.

[47Minutes]

What you are describing is not what murphy has shown in his photos and not what I believe this thread to be talking about.

[acdii]

Had my new Fusion Hybrid a week and noticed the seatbelt stiching. Ford call it a comfort stiching and it allows the buckle to stay at shoulder height instead of dropping down to the floor. If you just grab the buckle and pull it over the stiching band does not go through the buckle--it's there to hold the buckle up at shoulder height. I just love my Fusion Hybrid Titanium here in northern Wi.

This is what its for. When I first got the car the buckle was below the stitching and was difficult to get past it, now its above the stitching and stays up high where it can be easily reached.

[orzz]

acdii is right, the stitching is to keep the buckle for easy reach AND to keep the buckle from bouncing off the door pillar or getting caught in the door jamb when you close the door.

[Kevin Kohlhagen]

blah blah

Edited November 21, 2014 by Kevin Kohlhagen

[FordService]

I have a 2014 Fusion Hybrid and I had the exact same stitching issue on the passenger seat I took it to the Ford dealer today and they took pictures of it and they're going to send it in to the factory for warranty repair authorization I will get back to you...

 

Thanks for keeping us in the loop, Kevin. I'll stick around this thread in case you need my help. :)

 

Crystal

Edited August 8, 2014 by FordService

[John Farmer]

I was notified today that ford approved the warranty repair. The part is on its way.