# 1996 FORD EXPLORER — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
> **FATAL** · NHTSA complaint `317326` · 2001-10-01 · Ford Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 1
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** FORD
- **Model:** EXPLORER
- **Year:** 1996
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
## Narrative
ON 09/23/01 MY 24YR. OLD SONINLAW WAS KILLED WHEN HE LOST CONTROL AND HIT A MEIDIAN AND TREE WAS ON TWO TIRES THEN WENT 30FT THRU THE AIR BEFORE THE EXPLORER HE WAS DRIVING ROLLED AND THREW HIM OUT THE DRIVER WINDOW.  HE WAS WEARING SEAT BELT WHICH HE HAD HAD TROUBLE WITH SINCE PURCHASE FAILED AND HE WAS EJECTED ALSO HIS BROTHER IN PASSENGER SIDE COULDNT GET HIS BELT TO LATCH BUT HE WAS LUCKY AND WALKED AWAY.  THE TRUCK WAS ALSO EQUIPPED WITH AIRBAGS ON BOTH SIDES WHICH DIDNT DEPLOY EITHER.  MY SON IN LAW DIED THAT NIGHT WHEN HE WAS EJECTED AND THE TRUCK LANDED ON HALF OF HIS FACE.  HE LEFT BEHIND A WIFE AND 2SONS AND A 1 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER.  THESE EXPLORERS ARE DEATH TRAPS PLEASE DO NOT PURCHASE ONE.*AK
---
*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*