Free lifetime seatbelt replacement from Subaru

[Matty2Hotty]

They said they are going to look into cause my "postal" title on my RHD is commerical use so they are trying to get me to spend $396 on a replacement which the sales dude was like, there is only one left here in the states. Really stupid since my belt doesnt retract. Might throw a fit about this one to SOA if they call me back and doesnt go through.

[Soul Shinobi]

Interesting scenario, keep us posted. "Last one in the country" sounds like a cheesy sales pitch, I'm always skeptical when I hear that crap.

[98outbackpdx]

Interesting scenario, keep us posted. "Last one in the country" sounds like a cheesy sales pitch, I'm always skeptical when I hear that crap.

i had to wait for the rear outboard seat belts after the japan earthquake until the production got back online. they can get them in just fine. you might have to wait but they can get them from japan they are not as common as the LF seat belt but they can still get them.

[Benfolio]

I was told by a dealer I wholesale with TODAY that they no longer cover it, and they had one denied a few weeks ago because it was not a "mechanical defect" of the belt.

Is Subaru tightening down on its warranty?

[elislider]

i got one replaced just 1 week ago under warranty, in a 98 impreza outback sport. the "dot" that holds the buckle had fallen off (so it would fall to the floor) and the edge of the belt was starting to fray.

if you get denied at your dealer, go to another dealer. if they deny you, and you believe its a legit claim, contact SoA (subaru of america)

[Soul Shinobi]

Yes I'd contact SOA.

[Wagonista]

I had this done about 3 years ago by a dealer, and my buddy had it done a few months ago as well. The dealer we went to was very helpful. They just told us that if it looked like we had been gnawing on it or something they would have to charge, but both of ours had just been frayed from being old and worn down by granolas.

[elislider]

i was recently denied a replacement on my newly acquired 03 legacy gt, for a rear seatbelt. however, it was because the previous owner (or shop i bought the car from) took what was originally the extremely frayed belt, and cut the rest of the way through, slicing the belt completely. so it was half frayed and half sliced, and they denied it based on the fact it was completely severed. i was told if it was still extremely frayed (halfway across) but not sliced the rest of the way, it would have been covered.

damnit! to the junkyard...

[Soul Shinobi]

Did you consider contacting SOA? Has anyone else here been denied, and had that denial reversed by SOA?

[Zangado1]

Ok,i just put 03 WRX seats in my 1995 BK and after the install im am so thrilled with the upgrade and how easy they were to put in the car. Today saw a cop checking inspection stickers sitting in the middle of the medium so naturally i went to reach for my seatbelt so T.J. Hooker won't stop me for not wearing a seatbelt and go to click it in and "No Click" but it fits in the slot. I did not read on here in this post or the interior thread about these seatbelt buckles not being compatible and the bad news is the original seats are long gone from mondays dumpster pick up. You think i can smooze the dealer into making my restraint system to work or am i going to the salvage yard to buy new buckles?

[Soul Shinobi]

That's a tough one. I think you'd have to be real smooth or they'd have to be really nice.

[98legwag]

Ok,i just put 03 WRX seats in my 1995 BK and after the install im am so thrilled with the upgrade and how easy they were to put in the car. Today saw a cop checking inspection stickers sitting in the middle of the medium so naturally i went to reach for my seatbelt so T.J. Hooker won't stop me for not wearing a seatbelt and go to click it in and "No Click" but it fits in the slot. I did not read on here in this post or the interior thread about these seatbelt buckles not being compatible and the bad news is the original seats are long gone from mondays dumpster pick up. You think i can smooze the dealer into making my restraint system to work or am i going to the salvage yard to buy new buckles?

Id say salvage yard. It will be much quicker. Plus the dealers will say you modified the car by changing seats.

[Zangado1]

Ok,i just put 03 WRX seats in my 1995 BK and after the install im am so thrilled with the upgrade and how easy they were to put in the car. Today saw a cop checking inspection stickers sitting in the middle of the medium so naturally i went to reach for my seatbelt so T.J. Hooker won't stop me for not wearing a seatbelt and go to click it in and "No Click" but it fits in the slot. I did not read on here in this post or the interior thread about these seatbelt buckles not being compatible and the bad news is the original seats are long gone from mondays dumpster pick up. You think i can smooze the dealer into making my restraint system to work or am i going to the salvage yard to buy new buckles?

Id say salvage yard. It will be much quicker. Plus the dealers will say you modified the car by changing seats.

Thats what i though a trip to the salvage yard. I realy wish i read something about this issue in the interior postings now im learning the hard way. I never wear a seatbelt anyway but you gotta have them.

[Soul Shinobi]

Wear your god damned seatbelt.

[Dead91silvia]

Wear your god damned seatbelt.

+ a million!

This might be blunt and mean, but only idiots dont use one...

[Soul Shinobi]

If you're not falling out of your seat you're not driving fast enough. :smt077

[elislider]

If you're not falling out of your seat you're not driving fast enough. :smt077

this.

also yeah if it wasnt already apparent, they changed the buckle shapes around 98 or 99 or something, so youll have to get the receiver part from a 99+ model car.
i dont think you can buy just the receiver part from the dealer. or if you can, they are like $200 each or something absurd

[Zangado1]

If you're not falling out of your seat you're not driving fast enough. :smt077

this.

also yeah if it wasnt already apparent, they changed the buckle shapes around 98 or 99 or something, so youll have to get the receiver part from a 99+ model car.
i dont think you can buy just the receiver part from the dealer. or if you can, they are like $200 each or something absurd

Im going to the salvage yard to get two new ones when i get a chance,i know of two 96 97 Legacy wagons about 40 mins from me to grab a pair.

[1-3-2-4]

My drivers side belt is really F***ed now, first of all it wont retract on it's own and it's frayed where the buckle is and the sholder area is like big time (pictures when I go out) But this morning I could not get it to extend at all... I ended up being late for work because I spent 10 min fighting with it to get it to come out and the most I could get it to move was maybe a few inches, not enough to put one arm in and try and drive.

I wonder if the dealer is going to give an issue? I never drive without my seat belt and I had no other option to early this morning.

[harrymaneuvers]

I doubt you will get much pushback from the dealer. They will replace it as long as it isnt obvious that you knowingly contributed to the damage on the belt.

Fraying is VERY common with seatbelts... Especially on the drivers side door where getting the belt slammed in the door is much more likely (usually) then the other belts.

Just go into the dealership, go to the service department and explain to them that you are here to have someone replace the seatbelt under Subaru's Lifetime seatbelt replacement program.

If they give you any grief... I would then ask to talk to the service manager and explain to him that you have done nothing on purpose to cause the belt to fail and that it is severely affecting your ability to operate the vehicle safely.

Can a missing or broken seat belt (especially drives side) cause you to fail an inspection in your state?

[Dead91silvia]

My drivers side belt is really F***ed now, first of all it wont retract on it's own and it's frayed where the buckle is and the sholder area is like big time (pictures when I go out) But this morning I could not get it to extend at all... I ended up being late for work because I spent 10 min fighting with it to get it to come out and the most I could get it to move was maybe a few inches, not enough to put one arm in and try and drive.

I wonder if the dealer is going to give an issue? I never drive without my seat belt and I had no other option to early this morning.

I doubt you will get much pushback from the dealer. They will replace it as long as it isnt obvious that you knowingly contributed to the damage on the belt.

Fraying is VERY common with seatbelts... Especially on the drivers side door where getting the belt slammed in the door is much more likely (usually) then the other belts.

Just go into the dealership, go to the service department and explain to them that you are here to have someone replace the seatbelt under Subaru's Lifetime seatbelt replacement program.

If they give you any grief... I would then ask to talk to the service manager and explain to him that you have done nothing on purpose to cause the belt to fail and that it is severely affecting your ability to operate the vehicle safely.

Can a missing or broken seat belt (especially drives side) cause you to fail an inspection in your state?

When I had mine done, I also had the right rear belt replaced. It only had a small nick in the belt from the plastics, but they still replaced it.

I so go in there and just say, "I have a messed up driver belt and I cant really even use it anymore and I'm told Subaru has a lift time warranty." If they want to charge you, go to another dealer.

I never had a problem. Mine wasnt even that bad other then the re-tractor was slow and I had fraying. I just in passing told the guy about the rear one and he got approved as well. $800+ worth of labor and parts I didnt have to pay for.

On a side note, Toyota DOES NOT do this! One reason Subaru is AWESOME!

[danieltrusty]

I went to the dealer today to check on having my drivers seat belt replaced because it wouldn't retract right. They looked at the car, cleaned everything an sprayed with some silicone stuff, and now it works great. Mine wasn't frayed or anything, though

[meanjoaquin]

Mine was frayed and wouldn't retract. Took it in, and the dealer ordered the part, called me when it arrived, and changed it that same day.