2001 Dodge Durango Seat Belts Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE DURANGO. THE MIDDLE ROW DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT HARNESS IS MALFUNCTIONING. THE LATCH OPENS ON ITS OWN WHEN THOSE SEATS ARE OCCUPIED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,946 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000. UPDATED 10-08-08 *BF UPDATED 10/08/08. *JB

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAT BELTS. THE SEAT BELTS IN THE SECOND AND THIRD ROWS ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY GRIPPING AND LATCHING. IF THE VEHICLE COMES TO AN ABRUPT STOP THE BELTS WILL NOT HOLD THE PASSENGER IN POSITION. OWNER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER. BOTH TOLD THE OWNER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WILL DO TO ASSIST THE OWNER. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM. CHRYSLER WAS NOT FULLY COOPERATIVE WHEN THE FIRST SEAT BELT FAILED AT THE END OF WARRANTY. THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM AFTER OWNER APPEALED TO DEALERSHIP OWNER. HA DHE NOT STEPPED IN CHRYSLER WOULD NOT HAVE FIXED THE SEAT BELT. CHRYSLER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THEY WILL CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP, BUT OWNER WOULD HAVE TO PAY A DIAGNOSTIC FEE TO HAVE THE OTHER FIVE SEAT BELTS EXAMINED. WHENOWNER ATTEMPTED TO RELAY THE SERIOUS NESS OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE, AND THE NEED FOR CHRYSLER TO MAKE REPAIRS, CHRYSLER LABELED THE OWNER AS A HAVING A RECORD OF A TROUBLE MAKER. OWNER FELT THAT CHRYSLER MUST BE COMPELLED TO TAKE SAFETY ISSUES, SUCH AS SEAT BELTS, SERIOUSLY. *AK

GEN 3 SEAT BELT BUCKLE. I HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT THIS SEAT BELT BUCKLE. IF THIS BUCKLE IS SO SAFE WHY DID THEY STOP PUTTING IT IN THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE? CHILDREN RIDE IN THE BACK AND CAN EASILY UNHOOK THEM SELVES AND CAUSING A HAZARD. AREN'T WE SUPPOSE TO DO ALL WE CAN TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE. I PRIDE MY SELF ON HOW TIGHT I PUT MY CAR SEATS IN AND KNOW I FIND OUT THE BUCKLE USE TO SECURE THE SEATS AREN'T SAFE ENOUGH TO KEEP IN THE FRONT. MY SON CAN BARELY REACH THE BUCKLE WHILE HE IS IN HIS BOOSTER AND UNHOOKED HIMSELF VERY EASY. MY SON HAS A HARD TIME USUALLY WITH THINGS THAT HE HAS TO PUSH IN. IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS ABOUT MY DURANGO I WOULDN'T HAVE WASTED $34,000 ON A VEHICLE THAT WON'T KEEP MY CHILD SAFE. WHAT CAN I DO TO REPLACE THESE BUCKLES? PLEASE HELP! I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO TRADE MY CAR IN OVER A SEAT BELT BUCKLE. *NLM

THE LIGHTWEIGHT LOCKING LATCHPLATES HAVE NEVER LOCKED PROPERLY. I MUST USE LOCKING CLIPS IN ORDER TO SECURE MY CAR SEATS (BECAUES THERE IS AN EMERGENCY LOCKING RETRACTOR). THE SEAT BELT FAILS THE LOCKABILITY STANDARD AND MAKES CAR SEAT INSTALLATION VERY MR