# 2021 Mazda MX-5 Miata - Seat belt problem

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2021-mazda-mx-5-miata-seat-belt-problem/196110>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** mazda\
**Created:** [September 5, 2024, 5:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2021-mazda-mx-5-miata-seat-belt-problem/196110 "2024-09-05T17:55:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Pigasoft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ab097/32.png) [@Pigasoft](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Pigasoft)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2024, 5:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2021-mazda-mx-5-miata-seat-belt-problem/196110/1 "2024-09-05T17:55:44Z")

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Seat belts do not retract even after Mazda service replaced it.

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**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2024, 6:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2021-mazda-mx-5-miata-seat-belt-problem/196110/2 "2024-09-05T18:20:31Z")

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Well, take it back, service department should warrant their work.  
Unless, you have the same dealership that is near me, I would like a Miata, but I purchased a new car from them in the past, service dept horrible. Only other dealership is about 40 miles away.

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**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2024, 9:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2021-mazda-mx-5-miata-seat-belt-problem/196110/3 "2024-09-05T21:52:40Z")

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Seems like it is a bad design issue with using to weak of a spring…

I found this:

_Bottom line is, the return springs thst Mazda uses for the retractors are just too weak, and they get worse pretty quickly with usage._  
_Unless Mazda changes the design of the retractors and maybe the guides, to help, they will just get bad again after some time._  
_What we need is NHTSA to order a recall if they can conclude that the low belt tension might in an unsafe condition. This will stop Mazda from just replacing a badly designed part with another to temporarily “fix” the problem._

> **[Seat belt not retracting? - MX-5 Miata Forum](https://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?p=10435105)**
>
> Seat belt not retracting? ND General discussion

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 3:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2021-mazda-mx-5-miata-seat-belt-problem/196110/4 "2024-09-06T15:20:19Z")

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> [@Pigasoft](#):
>
> Seat belts do not retract even after Mazda service replaced it.

One word:  
**Warranty**

A toll-free phone call to Mazda’s customer support line should enable the OP to get satisfactory repairs.

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**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 5:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2021-mazda-mx-5-miata-seat-belt-problem/196110/5 "2024-09-06T17:55:49Z")

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Complain to the manufacture, they will make an appointment with a dealer who can show you how to return the shoulder belt to the stowed position.

If the retractor tension were tighter, people would complain that the belt is too tight and uncomfortable. The seatbelt is either too tight or too loose, some people are never satisfied.