162 of the 725 complaints about the 1995 Ford Escort are about the seat belts — 22% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 105,880 miles.
162
Complaints
20
Crashes
0
Fires
18
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SEAT BELTS
THE PASSIVE SEAT RESTRAINT DOES NOT RETRACT FULLY. THIS OCCURS WHEN YOU TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. IT HAS TO BE MANUALLY DISCONNECTED. WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE ON IT HESITATES BEFORE RETRACTING TO DRIVERS BODY. THE CAR IS STATIONARY WHEN THIS OCCURS.
NHTSA complaint #11060790 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
STRONG ORDER OF GAS FROM GAS TANK, TOOK IT TO MECHANIC, SAID I HAVE A HOLE IN GAS TANK... DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT , CLICKING NOISE, WIRES CAME OUT , HANGING, NOW BELT IS STUCK...HAD TO REMOVE FUSE, TO STOP LOUD ANNOYING CLICKING NOISE...
NHTSA complaint #10655158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
PASSENGER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEATBELT QUIT WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRACK, THE CABLE WAS HANGING DOWN, GOT GREASE ALLOVER, INCLUDING ON ME. DISCONNECTED EVERYTHING ,AND THROUGH IN GARBAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10578809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
HELLO, I HAVE A 1995 FORD ESCORT WITH THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT. HAVE REPLACED THE TRACK AND HARDWARE. THE PROBLEM STILL HAPPENS ..... THE / OR ONE OF THE GUIDE CABLES COMES OUT OF THE TRACK CASING AND THE LOCK REFUSES TO SHUTTLE. THE MOTOR DOES A CLICK-CLICK ..... CLICK-CLICK AND THE LOCK TRIES TO SHUTTLE BUT DOES NOT. IS THERE A FIX FOR THIS? WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE SHUTTLE TRACK? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10491574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER SIDE IS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION, WHICH GETS IN THE WAY OF THE WHEEL AND PROVIDES NO SAFETY SUPPORT WERE I TO GET IN A CRASH. ALSO THE PASSENGER SIDES SEAT BELT OFTEN GOES WILD AND CONTINUOUSLY OPENS AND CLOSES ON THE PASSENGERS NECK WHEN TRYING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO COVER THE COSTS OF THIS REPAIR AND FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD DO SO CONSIDERING IT PUTS THE DRIVER IN GREAT DANGER.
NHTSA complaint #10468359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
THE MOTORIZED RETRACTING SHOULDER BELT FOR THE DRIVER'S SAFETY BELT CEASED WORKING AND IS STUCK IN THE NON-LOCKED POSITION AS IF THE DRIVER IS GETTING IN OR OUT OF THE CAR. AN EMERGENCY CRANK IS PROVIDED TO MANUALLY MOVE THE BELT ALONG THE TRACK BUT IT WILL NOT MOVE. THE MOTOR FOR THE BELT DRIVE SEEMS TO BE OK BUT THE CABLE IN THE TRACK SEEMS TO BE STUCK. AN ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR IS $600.00 AND THE MOTOR AND CABLE TRACK IS OVER $400.00.
NHTSA complaint #10192309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR STOPPED WORKING AND JAMMED IN ITS GUIDE TRACK.
NHTSA complaint #10188497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
MAKING LEFT HAND TURN AND WAS HIT ON PASSENGER SIDE. MY SEAT BELT BROKE. CAR WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #10169424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
MAKING LEFT HAND TURN AND WAS HIT ON PASSENGER SIDE. MY SEAT BELT BROKE. CAR WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #10169424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSIVE RESTRAINTS STOP AT THE CORNER OF THE DOOR POST AND DO NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER. THERE IS A GAP OF SIX INCHES BETWEEN THE SAFETY BELTS AND DOOR POST. A REPLACEMENT TRACK FOR THE SAFETY BELT WILL BE OBTAINED THROUGH A SALVAGE YARD TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT, WHO IS A MECHANIC, HAS SEEN MANY OF THE 1991 THROUGH 1996 ESCORTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. BECAUSE THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT IS NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED, THE CONTACT FEELS THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACE THESE PASSIVE RESTRAINTS WITH REGULAR SAFETY BELTS.
NHTSA complaint #10156715 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
WHEN ON HIGHWAY 55 MPH OR MORE TRANSMISSIONS ACTS LIKE IT GOES INTO NEUTRAL HAVE NO OVERDRIVE OR DRIVE THEN ALSO SLIPS IN AND OUT. ALSO HAVE LIKE POWER SURGES WHEN USING THE HEATER IN THE CAR THE ENGINE REVS UP AND DOWN LIKE YOU ARE STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL EVEN WHEN IN PARK HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THESE ISSUES YET. ALSO HAVE HAD THE REAR WIPER MOTOR AND STUFF REPLACED AND STILL DO NOT GET WASHER SOLVENT TO REAR WIPER THE BRAKE LIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF BACK WINDOW DOES NOT WORK EITHER CAUSES STILL UNKNOWN IT IS A 1995 FORD ESCORT LX WAGON WITH ONLY 73000 MILES 1.9 L.
NHTSA complaint #10156484 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS HAVE COME OFF THE TRACK. THIS OCCURRED ON BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. BOTH SEATBELT ASSEMBLIES WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10150937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
MY PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER BELT IS STUCK IN A POSITION SO THAT IT CANNOT BE USEFUL AT ALL IN AN ACCIDENT. IT IS STUCK ALL THE WAY FORWARD SO THAT IT DOESN'T TOUCH THE PASSENGER AT ALL. ALSO, THE DRIVERS SIDE SHOULDER BELT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY "STOP" TO IT - I WORRY IN AN ACCIDENT IT WOULDN'T HOLD ME IN. I CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE THIS IN TO GET IT FIXED AND WOULD LIKE FORD TO FIX IT FOR FREE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING CONTINUOUSLY IN THE 6 MONTHS I'VE HAD THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10149193 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
SEAT BELTS FAILED (CAME OFF TRACK) HEATER WIRING FAILED
NHTSA complaint #10124124 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
BOTH FRONT SEAT BELT MOTORS ARE INOPERATIVE ON THE 1995 FORD ESCORT. *BF *SC
NHTSA complaint #10112829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
THE DRIVER SEAT BELT IN MY FORD ESCORT 95 HAS BEEN BROKEN. THE PERSON I BOUGHT IT FROM SAID IT WAS THAT WAY FOR A LONG TIME, BECAUSE OF THE TRACT FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10104909 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
FAILURE OF POWER ASSISTED SHOULDER HARNESS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS UPPER BODY INJURY. I REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE ASSEMBLE WITH ONE FROM AN AUTO SALVAGE YARD BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSE OF A NEW ONE ($265.00).
NHTSA complaint #10102248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
BOTH FRONT SEAT RETRACTOR MOTORS/TRACKS HAVE FAILED, RESULTING IN FRONT SEAT BELTS INOPERABLE. BELTS STUCK IN PARTIAL RETRACTED MODE RESULTING IN SHOULDER BELTS NOT CORRECTLY POSITIONED TO PROPERLY RESTRAIN DRIVER OR FRONT PASSENGER. ONE BELT IS POSITIONED IF USED WOULD COME ACROSS THE SEATED PERSON'S NECK. IF THIS WHERE A MANUAL SEATBELT SYSTEM THERE WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM, BUT THERE IS NO WAY TO MANUALLY LOCK THE SHOULDER BELT IN THE PROPER POSITION DUE TO THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM EMPLOYED IN THIS VEHICLE AND IT'S FAILURE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED IT HAD 90158 ACTUAL MILES. THE USED CAR DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE RESOLVED WITH THE INSTALLATION OF "SALVAGE" PARTS SINCE THE EXPENSE OF REPAIRING THE SEAT BELTS BY "FORD" WOULD EXCEED THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONFIRM THIS BY TALKING WITH THE REPAIR DEPARTMENTS AT SEVERAL FORD DEALERS IN THE AREA. TALKING WITH A NUMBER INDEPENDANT AUTO REPAIR SHOPS IN THE AREA THIS IS A "COMMON PROBLEM" WITH THESE VEHICLES, HOWEVER FORD WILL NOT HONOR REPAIR OF THIS "SAFETY" ISSUE. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND THIS IS ALSO A COMMON PROBLEM. I HAVE OBSERVED THAT YOUR SITE HAS AN NUMBER OF THE SAME OR SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF NHTSA CONSIDERS THIS A "PASSENGER SAFETY ISSUE" REQUIRING A RECALL, OR DOES DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY HAVE TO OCCUR BEFORE AN ACTION IS TAKEN? SEVERAL COMMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE ON LINE THAT BECAUSE HIS IS A "PASSENGER SAFETY ISSUE" INVOLVING A "REQUIRED SAFETY COMPONENT" THAT FORD IS OBLIGATED TO REPAIR THE SEAT BELT WHTHER OR NOT UNDER WARRENTY WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE VEHICLE OWNER AS LONG AS THE ITEM WAS NOT DAMAGED IN AN ACCIDENT OR SUBJECTED TO IMPROPER USE OR REPAIR. THIS VEHICLE ACCORDING TO CARFAX HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE WAS UNDER 100000 MILES, THE LIMIT OF FORD'S GENERAL WARRANTY.
NHTSA complaint #10086314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. DRIVER'S SEAT BELTSNAPPED IN HALF, AND CONSUMER WAS INJURED.
NHTSA complaint #10083616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
FAILURE IN THE DRIVERS SIDE SHOULDER HARNESS MECHANISM ALLOWING ONLY THE LAP BELT TO BE USED. DEALERSHIP STATES IT'S AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR. CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD HAVE TO BE CORRECTED AT MY EXPENSE. I FEEL THIS IS WRONG AS THE HARNESS IS A REQUIRED SAFETY FEATURE.
NHTSA complaint #10072441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
ENGINE DEVELOPED A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD. THE ONLY REASON IT COST 600.00 WAS THAT I REPAIRED IT MYSELF. SEATBELTS AND TRANSMISSION HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #10069107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
ON APRIL 11, 1995 I PURCHASED A NEW 1995 FORD LX, 1.9L SEFI , VIN# [XXX]. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR A FEW DAYS AND SETTLING INTO IT, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM WHAT TO ME SOUNDED LIKE THE ENGINE AREA ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE STEERING COLUMN. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TEST DRIVEN AND I WAS SIMPLY TOLD THAT IT WAS PROBABLY JUST NEW ENGINE NOISE AND IT WOULD STOP. AS TIME WENT ON THE CLICKING CONTINUED. I CALLED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES THEN I JUST GAVE UP BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING OKAY AND HAD CAUSED NO CONCERN. ON SEPTEMBER 8, 1997 (CLICKING NOISE STILL THERE) I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR OTHER PROBLEMS. AS INVOICE STATES, NOISE MAY BE COMING FROM ENGINE AREA. ON MAY 22, 2002 WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT JUST STOPPED!!!!! REFERENCING NORTH CENTRAL FORD INVOICE NO. [XXX] (WHICH IS ATTACHED) YOU CAN SEE THE WORK THAT WAS PERFORMED. IN REFERENCE THE ABOVE-MENTIONED INVOICE, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THE TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED, ONE OF THE PHONE CALLS I RECEIVED WAS TO EXPLAIN THAT THE TIMING BELT HAD SNAPPED. PLEASE NOTICE THAT YOU WILL FIND NOWHERE MENTIONED THAT VALVES OR ANYTHING ELSE WAS CHECKED. BY THE TIME ALL OF THIS TOOK PLACE, THE CLICKING NOISE HAD BECOME MORE APPARENT AND THEY WERE MADE AWARE THAT IT WAS STILL THERE. NOW FOR THE GRAND FINALE, ON APRIL 29, 2003 I DROVE THE CAR TO A NEARBY STORE AND WHEN I CAME BACK OUT THE CLICKING NOISE TURNED INTO A NOISE AS IF THE ENGINE WERE GOING TO EXPLODE. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND IT WAS TAKEN TO NORTH CENTRAL FORD. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE MECHANIC THOUGHT PUSH ROD HAD GONE. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MORE THAN ONE MECHANIC (ASE CERTIFIED) WHO CLEARLY BELIEVES THAT THE VALVES SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT LEAST CHECKED WHEN THAT BELT BROKE. THIS [XXX] VEHICLE WAS MY PRIDE AND JOY IT WAS PAMPERED. THE MILEAGE ON IT WAS A MERE 74,639. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10070263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
DRIVERS SIDE AUTOMATIC SEATBELT WILL NOT ENGAGE. INTERIOR LIGHT WILL NOT WORK.
NHTSA complaint #10071153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THE DRIVER'S SIDE RETRACTABLE SHOULDER HARNESS HAS FAILED AND NO LONGER FUNCTIONS. IT LOCKED IN THE MID-TRACK POSITION CAUSING A SIGNIFICANT DRIVING AND SAFETY HAZARD. THE BELT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT 49,000 MILES BY GRASS VALLEY FORD, CA, UNDER WARRANTY AND HAS AGAIN FAILED IN THE SAME MANNER AT 98,000 MILES. FORD WILL NOT REPLACE THE RESTRAINT AFTER 50,000 MILES UNLESS THE CUSTOMER PAYS FOR IT. I GUESS THEY DON'T MIND THE LIABILITY INVOLVED WITH LAWSUITS AND INJURIES CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE BELTS. FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPLACE EVERY BROKEN SEATBELT TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM A KNOWN FAULTY DESIGN THAT HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. THIS SHOULD BE A MANDATORY RECALL BY NHTSA!!!
NHTSA complaint #10066003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
AUTOMATIC SHOULDER SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT BACK INTO LOCKING POSITION, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR CONSUMER TO WEAR PROPERLY A SEAT BELT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10059179 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT MOTORIZED SEAT BELT PROBLEM. THE SEAT BELT FROZE ON THE TRACK IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD. HOWEVER, FORD STATED THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING, AND WOULD CHARGE CONSUMER AN ASTRONOMICAL FEE TO REPAIR THE MOTORIZED SEAT BELT.
NHTSA complaint #10050262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT INOPERATIVE, VEHICLE OWNER CITED BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES FOR BELT VIOLATION.
NHTSA complaint #10045252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
THE DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT IS STUCK FOUR INCHES ABOVE THE LOCK POSITION. IT CAN NOT BE MOVED USING THE MECHANICAL OVER RIDE. A FORD SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE HAS INSPECTED IT AND CLAIMS THE TRACK ITSELF IS DAMAGED AND AS A RESULT, THE MOTOR IS BURNED OUT. ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR IS MORE THAN $500. THERE ARE A NUMBER IF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS IN THE NHTSA DATABASE, INCLUDING AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT BY FORD SERVICE PERSONAL THAT THE PROBLEM IS WIDE SPREAD. IT IS AN UNSAFE SITUATION, AS THE DRIVER IS NOT SECURELY STRAPPED IN, EVEN WHEN FASTENING THE BELT MANUALLY, BECAUSE IT IS TOO FAR FROM THE SHOULDER TO PROTECT THE DRIVER IN A COLLISION. *JB ****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****769306
NHTSA complaint #10008526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
THE DRIVERS SIDE HARNESS STRAP WOULD NOT HOLD. *NLM.
NHTSA complaint #10021667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
THE FRONT AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT CONTINUOUSLY FAILED, WHICH RESULTED IN THE BELT BEING INOPERATIVE. THE ENTIRE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10019460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.