17C12 - Left-Hand Rear Seatbelt Buckle Inspection - 2015-2017 Ford F-150 & 2017 F-250 & F-350

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NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V526
Manufacturer Ford Motor Company
Components SEAT BELTS
Potential Number of Units Affected 117,423

Left Rear Seat Belt may Detach/FMVSS 210

If the left rear inflatable seat belt buckle separates from it’s mounting bracket, the seat occupant may not be adequately restrained, increasing their risk of injury.

Summary

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 F-150, and 2017 F-250 and F-350 trucks equipped with a crew cab.

The left rear inflatable seat belt buckle assembly may be inadequately attached to its mounting bracket.

As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 210, “Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages.”

Remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat belt assembly, replacing the attaching rivet as necessary, free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin October 16, 2017.

Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332.

Ford’s number for this recall is 17C12.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Check if your Vehicle has a Recall

November 8, 2017

TO: All U.S. Ford and Lincoln Dealers

SUBJECT: NEW VEHICLE DEMONSTRATION / DELIVERY HOLD – Compliance Recall 17C12 – Supplement #1
Certain 2015-2017 F-150 and 2017 F-Super Duty Vehicles Equipped with Rear Inflatable Seatbelts
Left-Hand Rear Inflatable Seatbelt Buckle Inspection & Repair

New! REASON FOR THIS SUPPLEMENT

Service Action: A new service procedure is available to repair the left-hand rear inflatable seatbelt buckle. Inflatable seatbelt buckle replacement is no longer required.
Parts Requirements / Ordering Information: Part ordering information is updated for the repair procedure. A one-time seed stock of repair parts will occur no later than the week of November 13, 2017.

AFFECTED VEHICLES

Vehicle	Model Year	Assembly Plant	Build Dates
F-150	2015-2017	Dearborn Truck	July 20, 2015 through June 16, 2017
F-150	2015-2017	Kansas City	July 20, 2015 through June 16, 2017
F-Super Duty	2017	Kentucky Truck	October 20, 2015 through June 16, 2017

Affected vehicles are identified in OASIS and FSA VIN Lists.

REASON FOR THIS COMPLIANCE RECALL

Some of the affected vehicles may not conform to the requirements specified by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 210: Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages. An inadequate rivet head thickness may allow separation of the left-hand rear inflatable seatbelt buckle from its mounting bracket during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

New! SERVICE ACTION

Before demonstrating or delivering any new in-stock vehicles involved in this recall, dealers are to inspect the left-hand rear inflatable seatbelt buckle following the Technical Information and repair, if necessary. This service must be performed on all affected vehicles at no charge to the vehicle owner.

Rotunda Seatbelt Rivet Gauge 501-420 is required to complete the inspection. Rivet Gauges were shipped to dealers starting September 22, 2017. One gauge was shipped directly to each dealer with at least one affected vehicle.
To place an order for an additional inspection gauge, submit a VIN-specific request via the Special Service Support Center (SSSC) Web Contact Site (use General Contact type with the words Rotunda Seatbelt Rivet Gauge 501-420).

New! OWNER NOTIFICATION MAILING SCHEDULE

Owner letters were mailed the week of October 16, 2017 informing owners of the recall and that parts were not currently available in sufficient quantities to repair all vehicles. Owner letters are expected to be mailed the week of December 4, 2017 informing owners that parts are available. Dealers should repair any affected vehicles that arrive at their dealerships, whether or not the customer has received a letter.

PLEASE NOTE:

Federal law requires dealers to complete this recall service before a new vehicle is delivered to the buyer or lessee. Violation of this requirement by a dealer could result in a civil penalty of up to $21,000 per vehicle. Correct all vehicles in your new vehicle inventory before delivery.

New! ATTACHMENTS

Attachment I: Administrative Information
Attachment II: Labor Allowances and Parts Ordering Information
Attachment III: Technical Information
Owner Notification Letter

QUESTIONS & ASSISTANCE

For questions and assistance, contact the SSSC via the SSSC Web Contact Site. The SSSC Web Contact Site can be accessed through the Professional Technician Society (PTS) website using the SSSC link listed at the bottom of the OASIS VIN report screen or listed under the SSSC tab.

Sincerely,

Michael A. Berardi

ATTACHMENT I

NEW VEHICLE DEMONSTRATION / DELIVERY HOLD
Compliance Recall 17C12 – Supplement #1
Certain 2015-2017 F-150 and 2017 F-Super Duty Vehicles Equipped with
Rear Inflatable Seat Belts
Left-Hand Rear Inflatable Seatbelt Buckle Inspection & Repair

OASIS ACTIVATION

OASIS was activated on August 29, 2017.

FSA VIN LISTS ACTIVATION

FSA VIN Lists were available through https://web.fsavinlists.dealerconnection.com on August 29, 2017. Owner names and addresses were available by October 27, 2017.

NOTE: Your FSA VIN Lists may contain owner names and addresses obtained from motor vehicle registration records. The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any purpose other than in connection with this recall is a violation of law in several states, provinces, and countries.

Accordingly, you must limit the use of this listing to the follow-up necessary to complete this recall.

SOLD VEHICLES

Owners of affected vehicles will be directed to dealers for repairs when parts become available in sufficient quantities to repair all vehicles.
Correct other affected vehicles identified in OASIS which are brought to your dealership.
Dealers are to prioritize repairs of customer vehicles over repairs of new and used vehicle inventory.

STOCK VEHICLES

Correct all affected units in your new vehicle inventory before delivery.

DEALER-OPERATED RENTAL VEHICLES

The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act law effective June 2016 prohibits a rental company from selling, renting or leasing vehicles subject to a safety or compliance recall. Please consult your legal counsel for legal advice.

TITLE BRANDED / SALVAGED VEHICLES

Affected title branded and salvaged vehicles are eligible for this recall.

ADDITIONAL REPAIR (LABOR TIME AND/OR PARTS)

Additional repairs identified as necessary to complete the FSA should be managed as follows:

For vehicles within new vehicle bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage, follow existing warranty and policy guidelines for related damage claims. No SSSC approval is required for these vehicles:
- Ford vehicles – 3 years or 36,000 miles
For vehicles outside new vehicle bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage, submit an Approval Request to the SSSC Web Contact Site prior to completing the repair.

OWNER REFUNDS

Refunds are not approved for this program.

RENTAL VEHICLES

Rental vehicles are not approved for this program.

New! CLAIMS PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION

Enter claims using Direct Warranty Entry (DWE) or One Warranty Solution (OWS).
- DWE: refer to ACESII manual for claims preparation and submission information.
- OWS: when entering claims in DMS software, select claim type 31: Field Service Action. The FSA number (17C12) is the sub code.
Additional labor and/or parts must be claimed as related damage on a separate repair line from the FSA.
Claims with labor operation code 17C12AA and 17C12B must have a repair date on or before November 17, 2017 to be eligible for payment.

ATTACHMENT II

New! LABOR ALLOWANCES

Description	Labor Operation	Labor Time
Inspect the left-hand rear inflatable seatbelt buckle – PASS – repair not required	17C12A	0.2 Hours
Inspect the left-hand rear inflatable seatbelt buckle – DOES NOT PASS – remove and repair the left-hand rear inflatable seatbelt buckle	17C12C	0.5 Hours

NOTE: Claims with labor operation code 17C12AA (does not pass inspection– part not available) and 17C12B (buckle replacement) must have a repair date on or before November 17, 2017 to be eligible for payment.

New! PARTS REQUIREMENTS / ORDERING INFORMATION

To place an order for an additional inspection gauge, submit a VIN-specific request via the SSSC Web Contact Site (use General Contact type with the words Rotunda Seatbelt Rivet Gauge 501-420).

Base Part Number	Description	Order Quantity	Claim Quantity
W714836-S451	Bolt (4 bolts per package, 1 bolt per vehicle required)	1	1
W520103-S442	Nut (4 nuts per package, 1 nut per vehicle required)	1	1

The DOR/COR number for this recall is 51093.

To ensure an equitable distribution of service parts, there will be a one-time seed stock of part number W714836-S451 and W520103-S442 to dealers no later than the week of

November 13, 2017. Each dealer will receive parts equal to at least 15% of the vehicles assigned to them on their FSA VIN Lists.

NOTE: Each package of bolts/nuts will repair 4 vehicles. Keep all unused bolts/nuts for repair of additional affected vehicles.

Once seed stock orders are placed, dealers will be able to view their seed stock quantities on the PTS website under the white SSSC tab. Select the Part Seed Stock Status menu for details. It is anticipated that open ordering will take place by the end of November 2017. Dealers will be notified via a DOES II communication when open ordering is available.

DEALER PRICE

For latest prices, refer to DOES II.

PARTS RETENTION AND RETURN

Follow the provisions of the Warranty and Policy Manual, Section 1 – WARRANTY PARTS RETENTION AND RETURN POLICIES.

EXCESS STOCK RETURN

Excess stock returned for credit must have been purchased from Ford Customer Service Division in accordance with Policy Procedure Bulletin 4000.

ATTACHMENT III

CERTAIN 2015-2017 F-150 AND 2017 F-SUPER DUTY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH REAR INFLATABLE SEATBELTS — LEFT-HAND REAR INFLATABLE SEATBELT BUCKLE INSPECTION & REPAIR

OVERVIEW

New! SERVICE PROCEDURE

Recommended Tool List:

Seatbelt Rivet Gauge 501-420

3/8″ Drive Impact Gun

3/8″ Drive 13mm and 19mm Deep Socket

3/8″ Drive Extension 3 in (76 mm) and 6 in (152 mm)

3/8″ Drive Torque Wrench

3/8″ Drive ratchet

T50 Torx Bit

Drill

1/8″, 11/32″ and 7/16″ Drill Bits

Punch

Die Grinder

Hammer

Position the rear seat cushion up to access the left-hand (LH) rear inflatable seatbelt buckle assembly.
See Figure 1.

FIGURE 1

Using Seatbelt Rivet Gauge 501-420, check the outboard rivet head height.
1. Place the wide groove (height measurement) of the gauge flat against the outboard rivet head bracket. See Figure 2.
2. Attempt to slide the gauge over the rivet.
3. Does the gauge stop at the edge of the rivet?
  - Yes – Rivet head height meets specification, proceed to Step 3.
  - No – Proceed to Inflatable Seatbelt Buckle Repair on Page 4.

FIGURE 2

Using the same Seatbelt Rivet Gauge, measure the outboard rivet head width.
1. Place the narrow groove (width measurement) of the gauge flat against the outboard rivet head bracket. See Figure 3.
2. Attempt to slide the gauge over the rivet.
3. Does the gauge stop before sliding completely over the rivet head?
  - Yes – Rivet head width and height PASSES inspection, replacement not required.
  - No – Proceed to Inflatable Seatbelt Buckle Repair on Page 4.

NOTE: The gauge has to hit and stop ON BOTH SIDES of the gauge. If the gauge slides over the outboard rivet head on either side of the gauge, repair of the LH rear inflatable seatbelt buckle will be required.

FIGURE 3

Inflatable Seatbelt Buckle Repair

Remove the LH rear inflatable seatbelt buckle. Please follow the WSM procedures in Section 501-20A.
Disconnect the two pin-type wire harness retainers from the seatbelt buckle anchor bracket.
Secure the seatbelt buckle assembly anchor bracket in a vise as shown in Figure 4.

NOTE: To protect the finish of the seatbelt buckle anchor bracket, use a pair of shop rags or equivalent to cover the clamping surface of the vise.

FIGURE 4

Use a punch to create a pilot mark in the center of the rivet head. See Figure 5.

NOTE: It is critical to align the pilot mark at the center of the rivet head. If the alignment is incorrect, the rivet head will not drill out and separate properly.

FIGURE 5

With the help of an assistant to hold the inflatable seatbelt buckle, drill out the rivet to separate the inflatable seatbelt buckle from the anchor bracket.
1. Cover the inflatable seatbelt buckle with a shop rag during drilling to prevent metal shavings from entering the buckle assembly.
2. Using a 1/8″ drill bit, drill a pilot hole in the center of the rivet no more than 1/8″ (3.2 mm) depth.
3. Using a 11/32″ drill bit, drill out the rivet head. If the drill bit begins to contact the anchor bracket, stop drilling and use a punch to separate the remaining portion of the rivet from the anchor bracket. See Figure 6.

NOTE: It is important to have an assistant hold the inflatable seatbelt buckle assembly during the drilling procedure to catch the assembly once separated to prevent dropping and damaging the inflatable seatbelt buckle. See Figure 6.

NOTE: If the drill bit immediately begins to drill off center, grind the top of the rivet and return to Step 4.
Use caution not to contact and/or damage the anchor bracket.

FIGURE 6

Using a 7/16″ drill bit, enlarge the anchor bracket to match the specified bolt. See Figure 7.

FIGURE 7

Place the shoulder of the bolt through the white plastic bushing on the inflatable seatbelt buckle bracket. Install the bolt, wave washer and nut to secure the inflatable seatbelt buckle to the anchor bracket. See Figure 8.
- Tighten fastener to 30 lb.ft (40 Nm).

NOTE: Ensure that the wave washer is centered around the shoulder of the bolt and is not pinched between the shoulder and the bracket prior to final torque.

FIGURE 8

Ensure the inflatable seatbelt buckle freely rotates on the attaching bolt shoulder.
Connect the two pin-type wire harness retainers to the seatbelt buckle anchor bracket. See Figure 9.
Install the LH rear inflatable seatbelt buckle. Please follow the WSM procedures in Section 501-20A. See Figure 9.

FIGURE 9

December 2017

* * * IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL * * *
(PROGRAMA DE SEGURIDAD IMPORTANTE)

Compliance Recall Notice 17C12 / NHTSA Recall 17V-526
Aviso de Revisión de Cumplimiento 17C12

Mr. John Sample
123 Main Street
Anywhere, USA 12345

Your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): 12345678901234567

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

Ford Motor Company has decided that your vehicle, with the VIN shown above, fails to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 210: Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages.

We apologize for this situation and want to assure you that, with your assistance, we will correct this condition. Our commitment, together with your dealer, is to provide you with the highest level of service and support.

What is the issue?	On your vehicle, the rivet connecting the left-hand rear inflatable seatbelt buckle to the floor anchor may have an inadequate head thickness.
What is the risk?	Inadequate rivet head thickness may result in separation of the left-hand rear inflatable seatbelt buckle from its mounting bracket during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
What will Ford and your dealer do?	Parts are now available to repair your vehicle. Ford Motor Company has authorized your dealer to inspect and, if necessary, repair the left hand rear seatbelt buckle free of charge (parts and labor).
How long will it take?	The time needed for this repair is less than one-half day. However, due to service scheduling requirements, your dealer may need your vehicle for a longer period of time. In addition, your vehicle will require an inspection to determine if parts need to be ordered.
What should you do?	Please call your dealer without delay and request a service date for Recall 17C12. Provide the dealer with your VIN, which is printed near your name at the beginning of this letter. If you do not already have a servicing dealer, you can access www.Fordowner.com for dealer addresses, maps, and driving instructions. Ford Motor Company wants you to have this recall completed on your vehicle. The vehicle owner is responsible for making arrangements to have the work completed. Please note: Federal law requires that any vehicle lessor receiving this recall notice must forward a copy of this notice to the lessee within ten days. NOTE: You can receive information about Recalls and Customer Satisfaction Programs through our FordPass App. The app can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play. In addition there are other features such as reserving and paying for parking in certain locations and controlling certain functions on your vehicle (lock or unlock doors, remote start) if it is equipped to allow control.
What if you no longer own this vehicle?	If you no longer own this vehicle, and have an address for the current owner, please forward this letter to the new owner. You received this notice because government regulations require that notification be sent to the last known owner of record. Our records are based primarily on state registration and title data, which indicate that you are the current owner.
Can we assist you further?	If you have difficulties getting your vehicle repaired promptly and without charge, please contact your dealership’s Service Manager for assistance. RETAIL OWNERS: If you have questions or concerns, please contact our Ford Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332 and one of our representatives will be happy to assist you. If you wish to contact us through the Internet, our address is: www.Fordowner.com. For the hearing impaired call 1-800-232-5952 (TDD). Representatives are available Monday through Friday: 8:00AM – 8:00PM(Eastern Time). FLEET OWNERS: If you have questions or concerns, please contact our Fleet Customer Information Center at 1-800-34-FLEET, choose Option #3, and one of our representatives will be happy to assist you. If you wish to contact us through the Internet, our address is: www.fleet.ford.com. Representatives are available Monday through Friday: 8:00AM – 8:00PM (Eastern Time). If you are still having difficulty getting your vehicle repaired in a reasonable time or without charge, you may write the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C. 20590 or call the toll free Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153) or go to www.safercar.gov. Reference NHTSA Safety Recall 17V-526.
Para asistencia en Español	Visite nuestro sitio web para ver este anuncio en Español al siguiente dirección: https://es.owner.ford.com/recall. Si necesita ayuda o tiene alguna pregunta, por favor llame al Centro de Relación con Clientes al 1-866-436-7332 y presione 2 para Español.