2001 Mercury Cougar Owner Guide 2nd Printing - Page 127

Seating and safety restraints Ford recommends that all safety belt assemblies used in vehicles involved in a collision be replaced. If the collision was minor and a qualified technician finds that the belts do not show damage and continue to operate properly, they do not need to be replaced. Safety belt assemblies not in use during a collision should also be inspected and replaced if either damage or improper operation is noted. Due to the energy management feature on the front safety belts, the safety belts MUST be replaced after any collision causing the deployment of the front air bags. Failure to inspect and, if necessary, replace the safety belt assembly under the above conditions could result in severe personal injuries in the event of a collision. Refer to Cleaning and maintaining the safety belts in the Maintenance and care chapter.