20 of the
199 complaints about the 1989 Ford Escort are about the
seat belts — 10% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
100,000 miles.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD ESCORT. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE SHE WAS REAR-ENDED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO HER HEAD AREA. SHE MENTIONED SHE WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELTS AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH AND BELIEVED THE FAILURE OF THE SEATBELTS CONTRIBUTED TO HER INJURIES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #10318126 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Orange, MA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
IN TRYING TO BUY RECYCLEED PARTS I ENCOUNTERED MANY INSTANCESES OF THE SAME PROBLEM
NHTSA complaint #733961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Parkdale, OR1 injured1 killed
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
REAR SEAT PASSENGER WAS KILLED IN A SINGLE CAR ROLLOVER, DUE TO SEAT BELT FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #545173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington, DC
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED/REPAIRED THREE TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #780320 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Harrisburg, NC
SEAT BELTS
MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS REMAINED/LOCKED UP IN FORWARD POSITION; HINGE AT TOP END GEARS HAVE STRIPPED; MOTOR TURNS WITH NO EFFECT; ACCORDING TO DEALER, ENTIRE SYSTEM NEEDS REPLACING.
NHTSA complaint #819032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Albany, GA
SEAT BELTS
SOMETIMES THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BECOMES EXTREMELY TIGHT WHEN CLOSING THE DOOR. THE CONSUMER MENTIONED THAT HE HAS TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF IN ORDER FOR THE BELT TO LOOSEN. DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THE SITUATION.
NHTSA complaint #828997 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sioux Fall, SD
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELT FAILED ON DRIVER'S SIDE, CAUSING TWO ACCIDENTS
NHTSA complaint #532309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wausau, WICrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
EA90008; WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE DEFECTIVE DRIVER'S SEATBELT MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE OCCUPANT TO SUSTAIN SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE CHEST AND NECK, AND BENT THE STEERING WHEEL.
NHTSA complaint #819352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Porter Corners, NY
SEAT BELTS
THE DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT NO LONGER RUNS ALONG THE TRACK BECAUSE THE MOTOR BURNT OUT AND THE SEAT BELT CAN NO LONGER BE USED.
NHTSA complaint #814979 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ventura, CA
SEAT BELTS
DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC RESTRAINT SYSTEM HAS BROKEN TWICE, CAUSING THE BELT TO STICK/NOISE.
NHTSA complaint #515062 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cuyahoga, OH
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. THAT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT IS NOT PERFORMING CORRECTLY.
NHTSA complaint #807277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Salt Point, NY
SEAT BELTS
AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT DOES NOT COME ACROSS SHOULDER WHEN DOOR IS CLOSED.
NHTSA complaint #807112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jackson Heights, NY
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
WHEN INSERTING THE SEAT BELT INTO THE BELT BUCKLE, THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LOCK IN PLACE.
NHTSA complaint #805981 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bakersville, NCFire
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO SCHOOL, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON, NOTICED SMOKE GETTING UP THE HILL, VEHICLE DIED, PUSHED VEHICLE OUT OF WAY, VEHICLE FRONT ENGULFED IN FLAMES, DRIVER STUCK IN SEAT BELT.
NHTSA complaint #801240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Middletown, NY
SEAT BELTS
THE AUTOMATIC SAET BELT DOES NOT RETRACT. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #979777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Middletown, NY
SEAT BELTS
THE AUTOMATIC SAET BELT DOES NOT RETRACT. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #979777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bardonia, NY
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DURING NORMAL STOPPING CONDITIONS SEAT BELT ANCHORED TO THE FLOOR BROKE. OWNER HAS DEFECTIVE COMPONENT. TT
NHTSA complaint #977626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fairfax, VA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
DRIVER'S SHOULDER BELT DOES NOT LOCK IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, PREVENTING DRIVER FROM BEING HELD SECURELY. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #484565 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Harrisonburg, VA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE, HAD TO BE CUT OUT. TT
NHTSA complaint #965060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hamburg, NY
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT PROPERLY RETAIN CAR SEAT IN EVENT OF SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT. FITS LOOSE, TOO MUCH SLACK. TT
NHTSA complaint #960010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.