Safety Recall NHTSA · 02V160009 Reported October 31, 2002

Thomas built/seat belt retractors

Freightliner Llc · N/A · 2,371 vehicles potentially affected

NHTSA ID
02V160009
Manufacturer Campaign
NR (Not Reported)
Manufacturer
Freightliner Llc
Component
N/A
Vehicles Affected
2,371
Recall Type
Vehicle
Report Received
October 31, 2002

Defect Summary

On certain school or transit buses with passenger seat belts with retractors, the cover halves for the retractable portion of the belt can separate completely and release the seat belt connector. if this occurs, one of the load bearing pins in the connector could separate from the connector and render the seat belt unusable. in the event of a crash, the seat occupant would not be properly restrained resulting in an injury. the seat belt supplier, amsafe, will provide a snap on "over-cover" to owners to prevent the seat belt cover from separating.

Safety Consequence

If this occurs, one of the load bearing pins in the connector could separate from the connector and render the seat belt unusable. in the event of a crash, the seat occupant would not be properly restrained resulting in an injury.

Corrective Action

Dealers will provide a plastic outer cover that snaps over the existing cover on units in the field and will replace broken seat belts free of charge. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact thomas built at 336-841-5924 or amsafe at 574-266-8330.

What you should do

  1. Look up your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm this recall applies to your vehicle.
  2. Contact an authorized Freightliner Llc dealer and reference recall ID 02V160009 or campaign NR (Not Reported).
  3. Schedule the free repair. By federal law, the manufacturer must remedy the defect at no cost.
View Official NHTSA Notice →
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FAQ: Recall 02V160009

Your rights, the repair process, and what each field on this page means.

What is recall 02V160009?

NHTSA recall 02V160009 was issued by Freightliner Llc on October 31, 2002. It addresses: Thomas built/seat belt retractors. The recall affects approximately 2,371 vehicles, with the defect involving the N/A component.

How do I get this recall repaired?

Contact any authorized Freightliner Llc dealer and reference NHTSA recall ID 02V160009 or the manufacturer campaign number NR (Not Reported). Under federal law, the repair is completely free regardless of vehicle age or owner history.

Is my vehicle included in this recall?

The only way to confirm is to look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's tool will tell you if VIN-by-VIN this exact recall applies.

How long do I have to get a recall repair done?

There is no expiration on most federal safety recalls. Even if your vehicle is years old and you bought it used, the manufacturer is required to perform the repair at no cost.

Where does the data on this page come from?

All information on this page is sourced directly from the U.S. Department of Transportation public dataset for NHTSA recalls. Last refreshed: 2026-05-22. For the most current official notice, visit nhtsa.gov/recalls.