14 of the
3,273 complaints about the 2017 Ford Escape are about the
seat belts — 0% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
33,000 miles.
2017 Ford Escape In 2025 driver's side front seat belt would not retract. Car taken to Balise Ford in Hyannis, MA. Balise Ford did an inspection (for which a charge was imposed) to determine if repair can be done. Seat belt could not be repaired and needed to be replaced. Replaced in January 2025. Information is being submitted since it was noticed that there was a recall for 2018 Ford Escape with seat belt retraction problem. Invoiced for repair are attached.
NHTSA complaint #11744131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Champaign, IL
SEAT BELTS
Coolant issues, calipers needing replaced/seized but maintenance has always been up-kept and done at dealer, odor from turbo.
NHTSA complaint #11662977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dexter, MI
SEAT BELTS
The driver seatbelt will not lock when fully extended or in the event of an accident. This will be the third time that I will have had to have this repair done. Ford warrants the part for 5 years or 60,000 miles. I am out of the five year window but I just turned 60,000 miles. Repair will cost upwards of $800. Unfortunately I am not in the habit of checking my seatbelt to see if it works. There was no warning that the seatbelt was not operating properly. If I am in an accident, the seatbelt will be useless. I discovered the malfunction by chance the other day.
NHTSA complaint #11650133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gladwin, MICrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS
My son and I hit a deer and his back passenger seat seatbelt didn’t lock and my air bag light came on but they never deployed
NHTSA complaint #11553078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mooresville, IN
SEAT BELTS
The backseat passenger side seat belt locked up. The seat belt pulls out, but it will not retract without being forced in. This means I cannot have a passenger in this seat, because they would not be properly restrained if an accident were to occur. There have been no accidents with my vehicle to have caused this malfunction, but it is a serious issue. I had it examined by the dealership that sold it to me (Ray Skillman in Avon), and I was told that while it is a common issue it is not covered under warranty or on recall. I was also told that it could be months until the part would get in, because it still has to be ordered from Ford and it is so common that the part is on back order. I was not aware of this until I had a passenger in the backseat (still a new car to me since I bought it used with no accidents reported on it and the dealership does not check the seatbelts prior to sale of vehicles, only the engine), and they pointed it out to me. It is available for inspection upon request.
NHTSA complaint #11505228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Campobello, SC
SEAT BELTS
When folding down the rear seats to expand storage seatbelt buckles can become crushed, even when doing so per the manual's direct instructions, rendering the rear restraint system useless.
NHTSA complaint #11480293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Peoria, AZ
SEAT BELTS
The front passenger seat belts do not lock during hard braking. Seats belts fail to lock and engage. This is a very serious safety issues. If we were to get into an accident I fear the possible damage during impact
NHTSA complaint #11473153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 61,000 milesFelton, CA
SEAT BELTS
THE FRONT DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELTS ARE NOT RETRACTING PROPERLY. I DID A SEARCH ONLINE FOR OTHER MODELS OF THIS YEAR AND MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH THIS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS AS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11413102 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 49,000 milesAberdeen, SD
SEAT BELTS
VEHICLE IS ONLY FOUR YEARS OLD AND DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTS SLOWLY. I ALSO OWN A 2010 FORD ESCAPE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE SEAT BELT ENDS UP GETTING SLAMMED IN THE DOOR WHICH I AM SURE IS EVENTUALLY GOING TO COMPROMISE THE INTEGRITY OF THE BELT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A FEW MONTHS
NHTSA complaint #11399002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesHemet, CA
SEAT BELTS
FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT DOES NOT HOLD PERSON BACK WHEN BREAKS ARE FIRMLY PRESSED. PASSENGER CONTINUES TO GO FORWARD AND SEATBELT DOES NOTHING TO HOLD PASSENGER BACK, IF I WERE IN A CRASH MY PASSENGER WOULD GO RIGHT THROUGH THE WINDOW. THE LAP BELT DOES STAY IN PLACE, HOWEVER THE BELT THAT GOES FROM ACROSS THE CHEST TO SHOULDER DOES NOT TIGHTEN TO HOLD MY PASSENGER SECURE.
NHTSA complaint #11360598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fleming, CO
SEAT BELTS
ENGINE LIGHT CONSISTENTLY COMES ON AND STAYS ON. TOOK TO LOCAL FORD DEALER. THEY CHARGE US OVER $200 TO FIX IT. LIGHT STILL COMES ON ALL THE TIME. AT THE SAME TIME WE ENQUIRER ABOUT WHY THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT SNAP BACK INTO PLACE PROPERLY. THEY TOLD US IT WOULD COST US OVER $400. TO FIX THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT. ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE COVERED AND A SAFETY CONCERN. IF WE ARE EVER IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE SEAT BELT DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY, IT WILL DEFINITELY BE THE FAULT OF FORD. WE WILL NEVER BUY FORD AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #11328741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 6,113 milesWoodburn, ORCrash2 injured
SEAT BELTS
WE WERE INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON A HIGHWAY WHEN I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AND A CAR CAME UP AND HIT THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WELL AND ENDING UP TEARING OFF THE FRONT OF THE CAR. AS OUR CAR CAME TO A STOP THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT KEPT TIGHTENING AND MY ABDOMEN STARTED TO BE PUSHED UP INTO MY DIAPHRAGM AND WAS CAUSING ME TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY BREATHING AND SO AT FIRST THE BELT DID NOT WANT TO RELEASE SO PUSHED THE RELEASE A COUPLE OF TIMES AND FINALLY IT RELEASED. TWO OTHER PASSENGERS, THEIR SEAT BELTS DID NOT RESPOND THE SAME WAY. IF I HAD BEEN UNCONSCIOUS WOULD THE BELT HAVE CONTINUED TO CLOSE OFF MY BREATHING UNTIL I EXPIRED? I DO HAVE PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE AND ROADWAY IF YOU NEED ANY INFORMATION FROM THEM.
NHTSA complaint #11142418 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 17,000 milesReseda, CA
SEAT BELTS
WITHIN 17,000 MILES ON THE 2017 FORD ESCAPE THE BRAKES AND THE ROTORS WENT OUT AND WITHIN 8 MONTHS OF HAVING BOUGHT THE ESCAPE ONE OF THE REAR SEATBELTS IS NOT WORKING
NHTSA complaint #11129512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 16,296 milesLake Station, INCrash3 injured
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE WAS DRIVING 70 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF WHAT WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE SEAT BELTS ENGAGED; HOWEVER, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM AND CONTUSION, THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED BRUISED RIBS AND A SCRAPED ELBOW, AND THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM AND COLLAR BONE, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE SEAT BELT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,296.
NHTSA complaint #10969821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.