Interpretation ID: aiam3967
1302 Potter Road
Bellevue
NE 68005;
Dear Mr. Maloney: Thank you for your letter of April 17, 1985, concerning the safet belts in your 1984 Ford Tempo. You explained that Ford has offered to replace the safety belt buckle in your car and you asked if such an alteration is permissible under the Federal law. As discussed below, Ford can replace the buckle as long as the safety belt would continue to comply with our safety standard for safety belts.; Our agency has issued Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 209 *Seat Belt Assemblies*, which sets performance and marking requirements for safety belts. All safety belts sold as items of original or aftermarket equipment must be certified as meeting Standard No. 209. The alteration or repair of items of safety equipment is affected by section 108(a)(2)(A) of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. That section provides, in part, that:; >>>No manufacturer, distributor, dealer or motor vehicle repai business shall knowingly render inoperative, in whole or part, any device or element of design installed on or in a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment in compliance with an applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standard....<<<; Thus, if a dealer alters a safety belt, the dealer must ensure that i is not rendering inoperative the belt's compliance with Standard No. 209.; I hope this information is of assistance. If you have any furthe questions, please let me know.; Sincerely, Jeffrey R. Miller, Chief Counsel