Occupant harness buckle failure

An NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation into Century vehicles. Closed 4 September 1998.

Investigation
PE98029
Type
Preliminary Evaluation
Opened
13 May 1998
Closed
4 September 1998

What NHTSA investigated

Odi opened PE98-029 based on two reports indicating the buckle of the occupant harness broke and came apart.odi was able to recover and inspect both of the broken harness buckles.the inspection revealed the buckle housings experienced cracks along a seam where the buckle housing is joined together.furthermore, odi's inspection of a new buckle reveals thatinadvertent buckle release may also occur in use without fracture.in it's response of july 31, 1998 to odi's information request century provided information concerning 92 additional reports of broken buckles.century also provided information concernig seven reports of buckle releasing.

Vehicles covered

MakeModelModel years
CenturyCHILD SAFETY SEATModel year not recorded

Source

From NHTSA’s investigation file, rebuilt daily. To report a problem with your own vehicle, go to nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem. All open investigations.