I AM A RIDESHARE DRIVER. ON FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 2021 PASSENGERS BEGAN TO COMPLAIN THAT THE RIGHT-SIDE SEAT BELT (ON THE 2ND ROW OF SEATS) WOULD NOT FASTEN. AFTER ARRANGING FOR PEOPLE TO MOVE AROUND TO THE OTHER SIDE (LEFT-HAND SEAT) FOR A WHILE, I FINALLY QUIT DRIVING TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE MYSELF. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE BUCKLE, I GAVE UP AND STARTED CALLING AROUND FOR THE PART--BUT COULD NOT FIND IT. FINALLY I NOTICED A RECALL NOTICE ONLINE FOR THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE IN 2014-2019 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDERS. ON MONDAY (APRIL 26) I CALLED SCOTT ELDER MITSUBISHI IN CEDAR PARK, TEXAS TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR, BUT WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THEY ALSO DID NOT HAVE THE PART AND COULD NOT OBTAIN ONE FOR AT LEAST A WEEK. I THEN CALLED THE MANUFACTURER DIRECTLY TO LEARN WHY MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED FOR THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT IS A 2019 AND HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. THEY COULD NOT GIVE ME A SATISFACTORY ANSWER, NOR ANY ALTERNATIVE RECOURSE TO RESOLVE MY ISSUE. AS STATED ABOVE, I AM A RIDESHARE DRIVER. I CANNOT DO MY JOB WITH AN UNUSABLE SEAT BELT. SWITCHING PASSENGERS TO THE OTHER SEAT WON'T ALWAYS WORK BECAUSE I OFTEN PICK UP 3 OR MORE PASSENGERS. EACH DAY I AM WITHOUT THE USE OF THE VEHICLE FOR WORK IS COSTING ME $250-$300 PER DAY (NOT COUNTING BONUSES).
NHTSA ODI 11414012