1993 Eagle Summit Problems

What owners report

Complaints for this model year center overwhelmingly on the motorized front shoulder belts: owners describe belts that stop tracking along the guide rail, fail to retract or release, or stop moving entirely, and many say repairs done under the belt recall did not hold. Remaining reports are scattered across transmission and all-wheel-drive problems, cooling and engine oil leaks, door latches, brakes and body structure. Mileage is recorded in only a handful of the sampled complaints, so most reports cannot be tied to a specific odometer reading.

1. 1
   Seat belts

   Motorized shoulder belt stuck or inoperative

   • 45 complaints (49%)
   • median 138,750 mi at 12.2 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2005

   Owners describe the automatic front shoulder belt stopping partway along the A-pillar track, failing to retract after the door closes, tightening unexpectedly, or releasing on its own. Several say the cable came out of the guide rail or the drive motor quit, leaving the belt locked in one position or usable only as a lap belt. Many report that repairs performed under the shoulder-belt recall either were never carried out because parts were unavailable or the problem returned afterward, and some were told the vehicle was not covered by the campaign. Reports span the late 1990s into the mid-2000s with no clear mileage cluster; the one complaint that lists mileage gives about 138,750 miles at the time of the report.

   Recall 97V073002

   What to check: Move both front belts through their full travel with the doors open and closed, checking that the cable stays in the track and the belt retracts and releases cleanly. Ask whether recall 97V073002 work was completed and whether the belt has needed repeat repairs since.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My driver's side seat belt--the cable came down from the track and now it's useless. I mentioned that to armory and they said it would cost me $850. To fix it. I was never notified of this in the mail or phone. I feel I shouldn't have to pay. If I'd have receive the recall notice back then, this may have never happended. Please let me know what to do next.”

   NHTSA complaint #764366, filed 2002-07

   “The dealer removed the shoulder belt system and told the consumer that the proper part had to be ordered, several months passed and the part had not arrived, once the parts arrived the dealer informed the consumer that the motor assembly was broken and had to repaired at the owners expense ($1000) before seatbelt recall could be performed. Nlm”

   NHTSA complaint #559811, filed 2001-02
2. 2
   Seat belts

   Shoulder belt lap/shoulder pairing and buckle trouble

   Mentioned in 7 of 53 sampled complaints

   Owners report the shoulder portion of the front belt not engaging while only the lap belt locks, belts that come unbuckled while driving, and belts that clamp down during stops and resist release when exiting. Some describe belts that loosen over bumps or fail to lock at all on the passenger side, with the dealer replacing parts without resolving the behavior. Complaints in this group were filed from the mid-1990s through the mid-2000s, mostly without a recorded odometer reading.

   Recall 97V073002

   What to check: Buckle and unbuckle each front belt several times, tug the shoulder section to confirm it locks, and check for grease or fraying around the retractor and track.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving the motor in the seat belt was burned out. Also, one can hear noise coming from driver's seat, and there was wiring sticking out of the seat. When driving the seat will move backward and forward. Consumer took the vehicle in for repair service and the problem has returned.”

   NHTSA complaint #833303, filed 1999-01

   “Motorized seatbelt on driver's side seat popped open when vehicle went over a bump. The passenger's side shoulder belt did not lock, only the lap belt locked.”

   NHTSA complaint #10055609, filed 2004-01
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission and all-wheel-drive engagement problems

   • 6 complaints (7%)
   • typically at 6.1 yrs old
   • filed 1996–2002

   Owners describe the automatic transmission intermittently refusing to shift into gear and, in one case, dropping into neutral whenever the shifter button was pressed. Another report describes the wheels locking up while driving, with a shop finding a broken axle and a failed viscous coupling; owners also mention repeated transmission replacements that did not resolve the shifting fault. Filed between the mid-1990s and early 2000s, with no mileage recorded in the sampled complaints.

   Recall 98V1680031 related service bulletin

   What to check: On a test drive, shift through every gear including reverse and listen for clunks from the all-wheel-drive system; ask whether recall 98V168003 for the transfer case was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When driving the engine will high idle position, open throttle position, to stop vehicle put into nuetral or apply the brakes. Consumer states while pulling into traffic, vehicle would not move the engine was racing the transmission grabbed jerking the vehicle foward squealing the rear tires, consumer states this was not the firt time this has happened.”

   NHTSA complaint #984144, filed 1996-05

   “Was getting vehicle up to speed when the wheels locked up. Felt like brakes were on when they were not. Could not go backwards or forward. Had heard a noise as if something snapped, after forcing vehicle forward. At a repair shop, was informed that the axle had broken & the viscus clutch was broke.”

   NHTSA complaint #836769, filed 1999-04
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Engine oil leaks and cooling-system overheating

   Mentioned in 4 of 53 sampled complaints

   Owners describe recurring oil leaks traced to the head gasket, drain plug and main seal, and in one case oil apparently burning inside the engine with the oil light coming on. Other reports describe the radiator overheating and splitting after a cooling fan belt failure, and a check engine light with power loss and an oil leak at highway speed. Reports were filed from the late 1990s to the early 2000s; no mileage is recorded in the sampled complaints.

   What to check: Look for fresh oil residue around the head gasket, drain plug and front seal, check the oil and coolant levels, and inspect the radiator and fan belt for wear.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On the internet, I found where my car had a recall in 1998 for the power train transmission automatic. I never received any notice of this recall. Over the last two years, I have been having oil leaks. I had a head gasket replaced in late 1999. I had an oil leak again this year, in march 2001. They had to repair the oil drain plug. Then in may 2001, I had to get the main seal valve fixed. Late july 2001, the oil light comes on again. Now apparently the oil is burning inside the engine. …”

   NHTSA complaint #749609, filed 2001-08

   “When driving vehicle will stall out and die without warring. Dealer has replaced engine three times, butproblem has reoccurred. Please provide further information.”

   NHTSA complaint #8008311, filed 2002-04

Buying note. The front motorized belts are the defining concern on this model year, so verify they work fully and that any belt recall work was actually completed before purchase. Also budget for checking transmission and all-wheel-drive operation and for common oil and cooling leaks given the age of these vehicles.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 53 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.