2000 Volkswagen Passat Seat Belts Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND DROPPED DOWN APPROXIMATELY ONE FOOT. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER THREE TIMES. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS PINNED HALFWAY OUT OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE OTHER HALF UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. HE SUFFERED SEVERE HEAD TRAUMA AND PASSED AWAY AT THE SCENE. THE OTHER PASSENGER, WHO WAS THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES, A CONCUSSION, AND MINOR CUTS AND BRUISES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. HE BELIEVES THAT THE SEAT BELT IN THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE RESTRAINED HIS BODY WITHIN THE VEHICLE. HE HAS NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT A FRIEND REFERRED HIM TO NHTSA. HE BELIEVES THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 95,000. UPDATED 2/2/09 *CN UPDATED 02/04/09. *JB

INTERMITTENTLY THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT RELEASE FOR MORE ROOM, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO WEAR THE SEAT BELTS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK...*AK

VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE PRESSURE OF THE DRIVER IMPACTING THE CONSOLE, CAUSED THE CONSOLE TO TWIST AND ACTIVATE THE SEAT BELT RELEASE BOTTOM. THIS RESULTED IN THE DRIVER BEING THROWN FROM THERE SEAT, WHICH CAUSE THEM TO HAVE HEAD INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

MIDDLE REAR SEAT, WHEN BACK SEAT IS FOLDED DOWN SEAT BELT WILL GET STUCK.DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

THE EXPLOSIVE IN THE SEAT BELT WENT OFF WHEN THE DOOR WAS CLOSED WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED. INJURING THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WITH EAR RINGING AND BRUSING. THE VEHICLE FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY WONDER WHY THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. NOW THEY WANT ME TO DRIVE THIS CAR AGAIN. *AK