Common Seat Belt Safety Problems (And How to Fix Them)

July 29, 2020
/ FAQs
/ By Alice Brown

Don't let seat belt safety get in the way of your driving or cause you to pay a costly fine. Here's how to identify and fix the most common seat belt issues.

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Many car manufacturers these days are lining their vehicles with the latest and greatest safety technology. However, there's no aspect of the car that's more important to your safety than the seat belt.

The seat belt is the most underrated and overlooked aspect of the car. While many drivers wave it off as a nuisance, it can be the difference between life and death in a crash.

In fact, seat belts are so important that there are laws against you not wearing one.

Keep reading below for an in-depth guide on the most common seat belt safety problems and what you can do to prevent them.

Choosing Not to Wear It

There are many different features in your car that are used to show off your style and swagger, but the seat belt is not one of them. You shouldn't view it as a cramp in your style, but rather a safety net in the event of a car crash.

Whether you're trying to "look cool" or just don't choose to put it on for a quick two-minute drive, there are consequences of that choice. Police officers everywhere have been trained to spot those that drive without their seat belts on.

If they see you driving without one, they'll write you a ticket without a warning. Of course, the first question on everyone's mind is, "Do seatbelt tickets affect insurance?"

But you should also ask yourself, "What could happen if I get into a crash when I'm not wearing it?"

Be smarter than that. Always wear your seat belt and encourage your friends to do the same!

Seat Belt Not Locking

Perhaps your decision to not wear the seat belt isn't because it affects your swagger but rather because it isn't working properly.

There are many situations in which the lock of the seat belt won't work as needed. It will either lock in place or not lock at all. It might also get stuck in one position and take some aggressive shaking to unlock.

If any of these apply to your seat belt, make sure that you get it fixed as soon as possible.
The argument can be made that the lock is the most important part of the seat belt. It's what locks your belt in place, thus giving the seat belt the support that it needs.

The lock itself will only cost around $50 to $100. Just find the auto shop with the cheapest labor rates near you and the cost will be fairly inexpensive.

Retractor Is Having Issues

Have you ever wondered what part of the seat belt is responsible for tightening up when you jerk too quickly? That's the seat belt retractor's job!

Without the retractor operating properly, your seat belt is virtually useless. While the seat belt lock will hold you in place, there won't be anything to stop you from the immediate force of the collision.

It could be that your seat belt's retractor is either not tightening up, allowing you to move freely even when you jerk suddenly, or is staying tightened up. In any case, the retractor isn't operating correctly and needs to be fixed right away.

Fortunately, the retractor will cost you just about as much as the seat belt lock. The part on its own costs between $50 and $100. So a modest auto shop should be able to do a labor cost as low as $100, bringing your total to $200 or so.

Improper Size for Your Children

The trickiest part of making sure your seat belt can correctly do its job is figuring out when your kids are old enough to forego their car seats.

However, it's not just about the age of the child. It's also important to factor in the height and weight of your kid before getting rid of the booster seat.

Recent studies have shown that you want to wait until your child is taller than 4 feet and 9 inches tall They should also weigh more than 80 to 85 pounds and be at least 8 years old. Once they check off all of those boxes, they no longer need the car seat.

Obviously, there are some cases where that can be skewed a bit. Your kid might grow to be 5 feet tall before they reach 85 pounds. Or they might be 10 years old and still be under 4 feet 9 inches tall.

In those cases, use your best judgment as a parent to decide when it's time to let them wear the seatbelt and get rid of the booster seat.

Seat Belt's Webbing Is Damaged

Perhaps your car has a seat belt or two in which the webbing has a cut or is starting to fray. This is especially common in older models, so be sure to keep an eye out for any signs of it wearing out.

If the webbing is damaged or fraying in any way, you should view it as a threat to your safety. In the event of a crash, a seat belt with a damaged webbing might not work as it should.

The webbing could snap under the brute force, which will send you or your passengers forward.

Because this is such a common problem, the webbing part will cost you as little as $20 to replace. Be sure to reach out to your car manufacturer to see which webbing has the right dimensions for your car's year and model.

Enhance Your Seat Belt Safety With These Tips

Now that you've seen several common seat belt safety issues that you should look out for, it's important that you avoid them at all costs.

Be sure to take a hard look at each of the seat belts in your car. Fasten them all in place to make sure the lock works and quickly jerk them to make sure the retractor is up to snuff.

Also, make sure to browse our website for more articles on seat belt safety, as well as many other helpful topics!

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