# 1998 FORD RANGER — SEAT BELTS
> **FATAL** · NHTSA complaint `706129` · 2009-01-29 · Ford Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 1
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** FORD
- **Model:** RANGER
- **Year:** 1998
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** SEAT BELTS
- **Miles at failure:** 197,500
- **Speed:** 35 mph
## Narrative
TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 FORD RANGER.  WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO TWO OTHER VEHICLES.  THE DRIVER WAS EJECTED OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW AND WAS FATALLY INJURED.  THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A POLICE OFFICER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE SAFETY BELT BEING SEPARATED.  THE CAUSE OF THE SEPARATION WAS CAUSED BY THE SEAT HINGE FAILING, WHICH CUT THE SAFETY BELT.  THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER.  THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 197,500.  UPDATED 02/24/09.  *LJ  UPDATED 02/25/09. *JB
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*