As there have been a couple of threads about the recall/repair of the motorized seatbelts, just thought I'd have a new thread that someone may be able to find with the search.
The following was copied from the NHTSA website:
(Year would be 1989/1991)

[/B]
Make : MAZDA Model : RX7 Year : 1989
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 96V173000 Recall Date : SEP 13, 1996
Component: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 17800
Summary:
THE RAIL OF THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT CAN WEAR SUFFICIENTLY SUCH THAT THE CABLE WHICH RETRACTS THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WILL BECOME JAMMED IN THE RAIL RENDERING THE SHOULDER BELT INOPERATIVE.
Consequence:
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE COLLISION, THE OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE ADEQUATELY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE INOPERATIVE SHOULDER BELTS. MAZDA HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY COVERAGE ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT RAIL AND MOTOR FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.
Notes:
OWNER NOTIFICATION: OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING OCTOBER 1996. NOTE: 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 MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.

 

I vote for this to be ARCHIVED!!!!!


Santiago

RATE this thing a 5

 

hell yeeaa.

 

very nice.

 

It is archived

Here

 

I've got it written up here also...
http://fc3spro.com/TECH/PROBLEMS/INT/sbelt.htm

I also have a link to scan of the official memo that was sent out.



-Ted

 

I just called my dealership and asked about the recall/warranty on the seatbelts. They run my VIN number and told me my car was covered and that I just needed to bring it by so they can look at it. And it would probably require a second trip to the dealership with the car because it might take a week to order the parts.

 

I just went thru that a few months ago. I did have to make a second trip back. The asswhipe on the phone wanted the car for a whole day, but after some severe negatiations, I convinced him that the job should not take longer than an hour. Guess what? They were done in 30 minutes.

 

When I had mine done in '96 the dealership (Billco Motors in Wexford, PA) totally destroyed the A-pillar trim. In fact, it was literally hanging down partially blocking the driver's view. They actually had the ***** to tell me the car was "ready to go" and handed me the keys. Needless to say they had to order all new trim and put it in for me.

 

I just got the car back from the dealer. While it was there, I asked the service advisor to see if my broken passenger seatbelt is part of the recall. He looked it up and told me the recall has already been performed on the car, and that it was a recall on just the cable railings, and that it's my retractor motor that broke, so the recall does not cover it.

is that even correct? or is the dealer just trying to make me pay them $400+ for a new retractor motor?!?!?!

 

They are wrong. Seatbelt doesn't work? Then it doesn't work. The parts that make it move and encompass its function are covered under the recall.

 

ok just got off phone with Mazda Customer Service, and the rep pretty much said the same thing Josepi said, everything regarding the seatbelt mechanism are covered under warranty.

goddamn service advisor grrrr, i'm gonna call him again and tell it to his face

 

Call the number on the recall letter. Complain. They put those shitty rodents into our cars, they better make sure that they work.

 

For those of you who have went to the dealer for the recall how long is this seatbelt job gonna take? My passenger side just went out.

 

should i take it to another dealer to get this done, or should i go back to the same dealership and make him eat his words???

EDIT: just made an appt w/ another dealership, screw arlington mazda

 

I had called the dealership and they told me my car was under recall and lifetime warrany for seatbelt issues and that I would need to drop my car off twice. Once for them to see what they needed to order and another time after they had the parts necessary to fix it.

Tuesday night I dropped off my car at the dealership for them to assess what all they had to order but when I got there I was told they had all the parts in stock and it would be done the following day.
Wednesday afternoon I picked up my car with seatbelts that move fast and amazingly quiet now!

 

funny that this came up, mine locked this morning. stupid running rats.

on another note, can the S4 stuff be retrofitted into the S5?

 

My mousebelt failed inbetween my friend/rotary guru's test drive and mine when I bought the car. I had run a carfax on the car and knew about the recall so i wasn't worried. The dealership took a week to schedule me an appt to even see the car, and didn't believe me that it was under recall, then told me the car "wasn't safe to drive". It took them a week and a day to order the parts and they told me the repair would take 5 hours....I'm not going back there unless I have NO other choice....

 

yea.. i've heard of that recall for some times now.. and just last night while fixing a s4t2.. a machanic friend of mine was talking about the recall on the rx7's seat belts.. and i was just wondering.. does the recall just cover the seat belt itself only? or the whole thing on how its really suppose to work.? i don't know if mine is dead or not.. but sometimes, when i get out of the car it just locks up. and doesn't open back (like when the doors open) as its suppose to.. but it just locks up, and for me to get out.. i either have to sit in the car for a few mins. or just close and open the door back and fourth until it lets me out(for the auto belt to roll back).. does the recall cover a thing like this, or does it not.? i was just curious, cause it is a part of the seat belt system and how its to work.. right.?!?!...

1990_whitecomet

 

Does this cover broken plastic trim peices due to the seatbelts getting jammed?...such as the a-pillar

 

probably not, as the dealer didn't replace my a-pillar trim.

 

bump

got my car back today from Brown's Fairfax Mazda, now both seatbelts work like they are suppose to! awesome!

and to quote CarmonColvin, the car now have seatbelts that move fast and amazingly quiet now!!!

and the best part is, it's all on Mazda's money thanks extended lifetime warranty!!!

 

How long did the job take and did they touch anything else on the car? I'm kinda reluctant to bring my car in.

 

Sorry, but maybe I had a hard day at work. Why would anyone with a tripple or high single digit I.Q. be worried about a dealer " touching anything else on the car". You get a guaranteed repair, the car is safer, if they break anything they fix and it did not cost you a dime. Give me a break!!!!

 

I have had friends who brought in their cars for dealership maintenance/repairs and things were done that were not requested (example washing the car/changing spark plugs). Maybe it doesnt seem like a big deal but if you just washed the car yourself would you want them to risk scratching up the paint or changing some expensive platinum spark plugs you just put in yourself? It's not like Mazda has a great reputation dealer service pertaining to the rotary.

It's ok I get hard days at work too haha.