# 1994 NISSAN ALTIMA — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
> NHTSA complaint `568078` · 2006-01-04 · Nissan North America, Inc.
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** NISSAN
- **Model:** ALTIMA
- **Year:** 1994
- **Manufacturer:** Nissan North America, Inc.
- **Component:** SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
- **Miles at failure:** 104,990
- **Speed:** 65 mph
## Narrative
VEHICLE: 1994 NISSAN ALTIMA GXE.  PROBLEM: SEAT BELT RETRACTOR DOES NOT OPERATE, RETRACT, OR EVEN LOCK UP.  IN ORDER TO AVOID AN 18 WHEELER FROM RUNNING OVER ME ON THE FREEWAY, I SWERVED TO THE RIGHT, LOST CONTROL, AND ENDED UP IN A DITCH.  ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, NOR, DID THE SEAT BELT LOCK UP AS DESIGNED.  I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD REPLACE BOTH ITEMS, BUT, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM.  I EXPLAINED THAT WITH BOTH SAFETY ITEMS NOT WORKING, THIS COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR EVEN DEATH.  THEY STATED THAT EVEN THOUGH IT IS A SAFETY ITEM, IT IS ONLY COVERED FOR THE NEW CAR WARRANTY PERIOD.  THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS 105,490 MILES ON IT, AND HAS HAD ONLY ONE OWNER SINCE NEW.  I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE MANY 1994 - 1997 ALTIMA'S WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.  THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AND ALTHOUGH WE CURRENTLY HAVE SEAT BELT LAWS IN TEXAS, I AM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING TAKING THE RISK OF NOT UTILIZING THIS SYSTEM.  PLEASE INVESTIGATE. VIN CAN BE PROVIDED IF NEEDED..  THANKS.  *NM
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*