2013 Sutphen Minitower Recall: When the button is pressed to release the seat belt, the latch plate can…
NHTSA campaign 14V456000 · Seat Belts · filed Jul 2, 2014 · verified Jul 30, 2026
The defect
Sutphen Corporation (Sutphen) is recalling one model year 2013 Minitower fire truck manufactured in January 2013, and equipped with IMMI-brand L9 seat belt buckles. When the button is pressed to release the seat belt, the latch plate can become partially engaged with the buckle, making the seat belt difficult to unlatch. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
The risk
If the latch plate remains partially engaged after the button is pressed, egress from the vehicle could be hindered which would increase the risk of injury in the event of an emergency.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →The fix — what to do
Sutphen will notify the owner and a Sutphen representative will inspect and replace the seat belt buckle, as necessary, free of charge. Owners may contact Sutphen customer service at 1-866-287-5549.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Affected vehicles
Related recalls
Other campaigns involving Sutphen vehicles
Source: NHTSA recall database, campaign 14V456000. Data last verified Jul 30, 2026.