2000 Toyota Camry Seat Belts Problems

Your driver's side seat belt isn't working properly — the retractor won't pull the belt back, and the latch won't stay fastened or release when it should. You've notified the dealer about the problem, but it hasn't been fixed yet. Fixing this will likely require replacing the seat belt retractor assembly and latch mechanism.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA CAMRY CE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO OF THE FIVE SEAT BELTS IN THE VEHICLE WOULD RANDOMLY UNLATCH WHILE IN USE. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 167,000.

MAY 28 2008, DRIVER AND 1 PASSENGER KILLED IN 2000 CAMRY CAUSED BY SEAT BELTS AND AIR BAGS AND DETACHED SEATS IN A RUNAWAY TOYOTA THAT LURCHED AND BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND HIT A TREE (GOING UNDER 35 MPH). BECAUSE DRIVER WORE A MEDIC-ALERT BRACELET SAYING, "SEIZURE DISORDER", ALL ASSUMED THIS WAS THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. DRIVERS (ME) LIFE WAS RECOVERED IN EMERGENCY HOSPITAL, PASSENGER HAD CHEST CRUSHED BY FORCE OF AIR BAG AND SEAT BELTS WHEN SEAT BROKE LOOSE., BLED TO DEATH INTERNALLY. I , THE DRIVER HAVE A PERMANENT CRUSHED LARYNX PAIN FROM BROKEN CHEST BONES AND PERMANENT SMASHED FEET FROM SEAT BREAKING LOOSE AND ME BEING SHOVED UNDER THE DASHBOARD.. 48 HOSPITAL OBSERVATION AND WEEKS OF FOLLOW UP REPORTED NO SEIZURES. BLOOD TESTS SHOWED NO ALCOHOL OR DRUGS WERE INVOLVED. LAST PREVIOUS SEIZURE PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS SOME 5 YEARS PRIOR. I NOW HAVE PERMANENT LEG AND /FOOT DAMAGE AND MUST WALK WITH A WALKER AND CANNOT WEAR REGULAR SHOES, NOR CAN SIT FOR MORE THAN 1 HOUR AND HAS TO SLEEP IN A RECLINER DUE TO THE PAIN AND INABILITY TO BREATH LYING DOWN IN A BED. USES CANE IN APARTMENT. LIVES ALONE (AGE 77) TOYOTA CLAIMS REFUSES ANY RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE CAR INSURER TOTALED CAR BEFORE TOYOTA COULD INSPECT TO SEE THE USED AIRBAGS, FRONT SEATS BLOOD AND CUT AWAY SEAT BELTS TO GET PERSONS INTO AMBULANCES. FRONT WAS TOO SMASHED TO DETERMINE ANY STEERING ISSUES. TIRES IN GREAT SHAPE... 34 DVD PHOTOS AND FULL POLICE REPORT AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. REGARDLESS OF LOSS OF CAR CONTROL. SEAT BELTS AND AIR BAGS AND SEATS BREAKING LOOSE ARE THE MAJOR ISSUES OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR 1 DEATH AND 1 PERMANENT PHYSICALLY DAMAGED DRIVER. *TR UPDATED 06/03/10*BF ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THIS WAS A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT WAS TWO OCCUPANTS. UPDATED 07/19/10*TR UPDATED 6/29/11*CW

I OWN A 2000 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH 65,000 MILES. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY REGARDING THE FOLLOWING SAFETY DEVICE FAILURE. THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SEAT BELT HAS FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE BEST TOYOTA WILL DO IS CHARGE ME 50.00 TO FIX IT. THIS IS IN THE FACE OF A MAJOR RECALL FOR THE TOYOTA SIENNA VAN WITH A RECENT SEAT BELT FAILURE. I BELIEVE THAT THE SEAT BELT IN QUESTION IS THE SAME MODEL IN BOTH VEHICLES. TOYOTA HAS AGREED TO REPLACE ALL SEAT BELTS IN THE VAN AT NO CHARGE TO THE VAN'S OWNERS. THE SEAT BELT HAS BEEN CERTIFIED AS DEAD BY HANDY TOYOTA, HOWEVER TOYOTA REFUSES TO EXTEND THE SAME OFFER TO ME. *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT DOES NOT LOCK. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

SEAT BELT WOULD COME ACROSS THE NECK WHEN USED, DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT GET BINDING IN RETRACTOR GUIDE. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

SEAT BELT FIT ACROSS THE DRIVER NECK

FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT HAS BROKEN THREE TIMES IN TWO MONTHS. BELT JAMS WHEN PASSENGER LEANS FORWARD WHILE WEARING THE BELT (THE BELT THEN HANGS LOSE). BELT SEEMS TO TWIST OR FOLD OVER AT THE POINT WHERE IT COMES OUT OF THE SIDE OF THE CAR. SPEED DURING FIRST INCIDENT - ABOUT 40 MPH AND BRAKING, SECOND INCIDENT 55 MPH, THIRD INCIDENT 0 MPH (AT A STOP LIGHT). DEALER INITIALLY REPLACED THE BELT, BUT ONLY "UNTWISTED" IT THE SECOND AND THIRD TIMES. SERVICE TECH AT DEALERSHIP TELLS ME IT'S A "DESIGN FLAW" AND IS GOING TO KEEP HAPPENING IF I'M NOT "CAREFUL" WITH THE SEATBELT. SERVICE DEPT SAY THEIR HANDS ARE TIED, CAN'T DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN FIX IT WHEN IT DOES BREAK - AND THEY SAY IT WILL PROBABLY WILL BREAK AGAIN. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I CALL TOYOTA CUSTOMER RELATIONS IN CA - THEY SIMPLY MADE A REPORT AND TOLD ME TO WORK THE PROBLEM OUT WITH MY DEALERSHIP. I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT THE SEATBELT WILL FAIL DURING AN ACCIDENT.

CONSUMER'S SHOULDER BELT TWISTS & DOES NOT LAY STRAIGHT. VEHICLE HAS A SAFETY FEATURE THAT RETRACTS THE SEATBELTS BACK IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. TOYOTA BASICALLY REPLIED THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS DESIGNED. THE CONSUMER SAID THAT SEAT BELT WAS UNCOMFORTABLE & UNSAFE.*AK