1996 Ford Escort seat belt problems

SEAT BELTS

THE DRIVER SIDE MOTORIZED SEAT BELT HAS CEASED FUNCTIONING AND IS NOW STUCK MIDWAY ALONG THE TOP PART OF THE SEAT BELT TRACK. THIS BEING THE CASE THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT PROTECT THE DRIVER IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP. IN THIS POSITION IT IS LIKELY THAT IN A SUDDEN STOP THE DRIVER'S HEAD WOULD HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND A MORE SEVERE THAN NORMAL WHIPLASH IN THE NECK WOULD OCCUR. I HAVE NOTED THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SEAT BELT ISSUE FOR THIS VEHICLE ONLINE. I CONTACTED FORD CORPORATE AND THERE IS NO RECALL NOTICE OR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. I THINK THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE ON FORD'S PART. AS A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, WHO HAS WORKED IN A HOSPITAL NEUROSURGERY UNIT, THE POTENTIAL FOR A SERIOUS HEAD INJURY RESULTING FROM A MALFUNCTIONING SEAT BELT SUCH AS REPORTED ABOVE IS VERY REAL. IT SHOULD NOT BE AN OPTION FOR FORD TO NOT REPLACE SUCH A FAULTY SAFETY DEVICE - FORD SHOULD BE MANDATED TO REPLACE SUCH DEFECTIVE SAFETY DEVICES AND THERE SHOULD BE NO TIME LIMIT ON SUCH A REPLACEMENT OR RECALL. A MEDICAL LEGAL LIABILITY CASE WOULD COST FORD MORE THAN THE COST OF REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT.

NHTSA complaint #10678517 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

I AM ADDING ANOTHER COMPLAINT TO THE VAST LIST OF PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING MY 1996 FORD ESCORT AND THE FAILURE OF MY PASSIVE RESTRAINT SHOULDER BELT. IT HAS BEEN GIVING ME PROBLEMS FOR PROBABLY THE LAST 8-10 YEARS. IT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STOP MID-TRACK AND "BOUNCING" THE DOOR AGAINST THE HINGE WOULD GET IT TO MOVE. TWO WEEKS AGO, IT STOPPED DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRACK. I, TOO, COULD HEAR THE MOTOR TRYING TO MAKE IT GO. I LEFT IT ALONE AND ABOUT 4 DAYS LATER, IT RESUMED OPERATING. NOW A WEEK LATER, IT HAS FROZEN AGAIN, A LITTLE MORE FORWARD IN THE TRACK THAN PREVIOUSLY. I AM DISHEARTEN TO LEARN THAT OTHERS WHO HAVE TRIED THE PROCESS EXPLAINED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL TO MANUALLY MOVE THE BELT IN THE TRACK HAS FAILED. I AM AT A LOSS AS TO WHY FORD, HAVING BEEN NOTIFIED OF SO MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS SAME EXACT FAILURE OF THEIR SAFETY EQUIPMENT, HAS CHOSEN TO IGNORE IT! I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT IF THIS IS EVIDENCE OF HOW THEY TREAT THEIR FAITHFUL CUSTOMERS! CAN ANYTHING BE DONE ABOUT THIS???

NHTSA complaint #10459733 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTER DOES NOT RETRACT.

NHTSA complaint #10158829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

THREE SEAT BELTS OF 5 IN MY 1996 FORD ESCORT DO NOT WORK. THE SPRINGS OF THE SHOULDER HARNESS OF THE TWO REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT WORK. THE ESCORT WAS UNDER WARRANTY BUT FORD REFUSED TO FIX WITHOUT SUBSTANTIAL COST FOR THE PARTS BECAUSE SEAT BELTS WERE NO LONGER COVERED. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SHOULDER HARNESS MOTOR DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, CAUSING THE SHOULDER HARNESS TO NOT BE IN A SAFE POSITION. NO INJURIES AT THIS POINT. IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT PASSENGERS AND DRIVER WOULD NOT BE ADEQUATELY PROTECTED BY SEAT BELTS. INCIDENT DATE BELOW IS APPROXIMATE DATE REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #10139650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

WE ARE THE OWNERS OF A 1996 FORD ESCORT WAGON VIN: [XXX]. WE HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. WE ARE WRITING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE FAILURE OF THE LAP SHOULDER SAFETY BELTS IN THE REAR SEAT ON BOTH SIDES. BOTH OF THE REAR LAP SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR MECHANISMS HAVE FAILED WITHIN A SHORT TIME OF EACH OTHER. THIS MEANS THE SEAT BELTS WILL NO LONGER RETRACT OR PULL TIGHT WHEN SOMEONE TRIES TO USE THE REAR SEAT BELTS. THE REASON WE FEEL COMPELLED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS FAILURE IS THAT UNTIL AROUND 9 MONTHS AGO, WE RARELY (A HANDFUL OF TIMES AT THE MOST) USED THE REAR LAP SHOULDER SEAT BELTS. IN AUGUST 2004 WE SWITCHED OUR SON'S CAR SEAT OVER TO A BOOSTER SEAT, MOVED THE SEAT FROM THE MIDDLE TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND STARTED USING THE LAP SHOULDER SAFETY BELT. IN EARLY NOVEMBER WE WERE FORCED TO MOVE OUR SON'S BOOSTER SEAT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE BECAUSE THE DRIVER'S SIDE BELT FAILED TO RETRACT AND WAS UNUSABLE. TODAY WE WERE DRIVING HOME IN OUR CAR WHEN WE HEARD A LOUD METALLIC NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR, AND WE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH OUR SON'S LAP SHOULDER SEAT BELT. WHEN WE STOPPED TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS WE DISCOVERED THAT THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE LAP SHOULDER SEAT BELT HAD HAPPENED TO THE PASSENGER SIDE ONE AS WELL. SO, IN THE NINE MONTHS SINCE WE SWITCHED OVER TO THE TWO POINT SYSTEM ON OUR SON'S BOOSTER SEAT, WHERE THE SEAT BELT WAS REGULARLY DEPLOYED AND RETRACTED, THE RETRACTOR MECHANISM HAS BROKEN ON BOTH SIDES. THIS SEEMS LIKE A SUSPICIOUSLY CONCURRENT EVENT. WE BELIEVE THE RETRACTOR MECHANISMS ON THE REAR SEAT BELTS WERE EITHER DEFECTIVE OR WERE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY WHEN OUR CAR WAS BUILT. BOTH MECHANISM BROKE WHILE THE SEAT BELT WAS ON OUR SON, NOT WHILE WE WERE PUTTING ON THE SEAT BELT. THE SEAT BELT WAS ALREADY BUCKLED AND IN PLACE WHEN THEY FAILED. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #10121811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILURE AT APPROXIMATELY 86,000 MILES. SYSTEM FAILURE CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD IN EVENT OF CRASH.

NHTSA complaint #10110318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

MY 1996 FORD ESCORT'S DRIVER SIDE SHOULDER BELT WON'T MOVE TO THE LOCKED POSITION ON THE B-PILLAR. IT IS STUCK TOWARD THE REAR OF THE TRACK JUST PAST THE UPPER BEND IN THE TRACK. *AK I DISCONNECTED THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS FOLLOWING THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SHOULDER BELT WOULD NOT MOVE MANUALLY WHEN I USED THE EMERGENCY HANDLE TURNING IT CLOCKWISE. EVERYTHING I TRIED TO MOVE THIS INTO POSITION HAS NOT WORKED. I WENT TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID IT ISN'T A RECALL ITEM BUT THE PERSON IN THE PARTS DEPARTMENT SAID THE SHOULD HARNESS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH ESCORTS. HE DID NOT HAVE ALL OF THE PARTS IN STOCK. I WENT TO SEVERAL CAR REPAIR FACILITIES INCLUCING SUBURBAN FORD IN WATERFORD, MI. EVERYONE SAID THIS IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR BECAUSE THE INTERIOR BODY WOULD HAVE TO BE DISMANTLED TO GET TO THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. I ALSO SPENT A GOOD DEAL OF TIME ONLINE TONIGHT RESEARCHING WHETHER THIS SHOULDER BELT PROBLEM IS COMMON. BINGO. STUCK, STALLED, STICKING DRIVER SIDE SHOULDER RETSTRAINT COMPLAINTS ARE COMMON FOR THE 1996 FORD ESCORT. I CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND ESCORTS SHOULD BE RECALLED TO REPAIR THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I WORK FOR A FIRE DEPARTMENT AND A MALFUNCTIONING OR NON-FUNCTIONING SHOULDER HARNESS DURING AN ACCIDENT COULD BE THE CAUSE OF DEATH OR SERIOUS DISABILITY. MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS I REVIEWED COMPLAINED THAT THE SHOULDER HARNESS WAS STUCK IN THE SAME POSITION MINE IS. THIS STINKS OF A DESIGN FLAW. HOW DO I GET FORD MOTOR TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AND MAKE THIS REPAIR AT THEIR EXPENSE?

NHTSA complaint #10093334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

RIGHT BEFORE I WAS DUE FOR MY SAFETY INSPECTION, MY AUTOMATIC SAFETY BELT MECHANISM STOPPED WORKING, SO WHEN I WENT TO HAVE IT INSPECTED AT DOBBS AUTO CENTER, OF COURSE, IT DID NOT PASS BECAUSE OF THIS AND I HAD TO HAVE A NEW MOTOR INSTALLED AT A COST OF $363.77. EVEN THE GUY WHO INSPECTED IT SAID THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL BECAUSE OF SAFETY ISSUES AND THAT I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED. I CAN FAX YOU A COPY OF THE BILL IF NECESSARY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.

NHTSA complaint #10088314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED.CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE OWNED A ANOTHER FORD ESCORT OF A DIFFERENT YEAR AND THE SEAT BELTS FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #10087351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

THE FRONT AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT FULLY, AND THE REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT AT ALL. THIS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO RESTRAINT THE OCCUPANTS OR A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10083752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

THE FRONT AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT FULLY, AND THE REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT AT ALL. THIS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO RESTRAINT THE OCCUPANTS OR A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10083752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

TRIES TO ACCELERATE AND PUSH THROUGH STOPLIGHTS WHEN MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE. ACCELERATES WITH OUT ME AND EVEN TRYING TO BRAKE WON'T STOP. STOP AND PUT IT IN PARK AND IT REVS THE ENGING TO VERY HIGH RPM'S.

NHTSA complaint #10070426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF A SEAT BELT PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC RETRACTABLE SEAT BELTS, AND THE TECHNICIAN HAD TO DISCONNECT THE MOTOR OF THE RETRACTABLE SEAT BELTS BECAUSE IT WAS GETTING TOO HOT.

NHTSA complaint #10061089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

MY SON OWNS A 1996 FORD ESCORT WHICH HAS A MOTORIZED SHOULDER HARNESS ASSEMBLY. THE SHOULDER HARNESS JAMMED AND HE COULD NO LONGER USE THAT PART, ALTHOUGH THE SEAT BELT WORKED. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID PARTS & LABOR TO REPLACE THE TRACK & MOTOR WERE OVER $500! THIS IS PROBABLY HALF OF WHAT THE CAR IS WORTH. HE WAS THEN STOPPED FOR A SEAT BELT VIOLATION AND TOLD BY THE WISCONSIN STATE TROOPER IT HAD TO BE FIXED. AFTER SEVERAL CALLS TO SALVAGE YARDS I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO FIND A USED ONE AT AT REASONABLE PRICE. HOWEVER I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND OUT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, AND MOST OF THE SALVAGE YARDS DIDN'T HAVE THEM BECAUSE OF THE DEMAND. I DON'T THINK SUCH AN IMPORTANT SAFETY ITEM SHOULD COST SO MUCH TO REPLACE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE APPARENTLY A POOR DESIGN AND COMMONLY NEED FIXING.

NHTSA complaint #10054600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

FAILED DRIVER SIDE RESTRAINT SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #10052625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED. THERE WAS NO UPPER BODY RESTRAINT FOR PASSENGERS.

NHTSA complaint #10037669 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

ON 7/17/2003 THE DRIVER SIDE REAR SEAT BELT WAS PULLED OUT FOR USE AND WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPAIRED THE RETRACTOR. CURRENTLY, PASSENGER SIDE REAR SEAT BELT HAS DONE THE SAME THING. *AK *TS *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10032197 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT THE FRONT SEAT BELTS DO NOT HOLD THE DRIVER NEITHER THE PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

NHTSA complaint #8024000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

RESTRAIN BELTS AUTOMATIC SYSTEM FRONT SEAT DRIVING SIDE IS NOT WORK PROPERLY, DEALER HAS REPLACED TWICE AND STILL REOCCURRING THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

NHTSA complaint #8020871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

CONSUMER STATES THEN WHEN DRVR'S DOOR IS SHUT THE AUTOMATIC DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT DOES NOT FULLY RELEASE OR SECURE OCCUPANT. THE BELT WILL ONLY MOVE TO THE HALFWAY POINT ON THE TRACK. CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE BELT WILL CONTINOUSLY CLICK AS IF TRYING TO MOVE BUT CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO ADJUST MANUALLY. NLM

NHTSA complaint #8020083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

BOTH REAR SEATBELT RETRACTORS NO LONGER WORK, PARTS WERE REPLACED IN JULY 1997.

NHTSA complaint #8016484 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

SEATBELT RETRACTOR IS BROKEN . DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #8014291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT UNRAVELED AND MALFUNCTIONED. WHEN SUDDEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED TENSION IN SEAT BELT DIDN'T RESPOND. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8013650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HAS JAMMED IN IT'S TRACK. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE SEATBELT MOTOR AS WELL. THE WARRANTY COVERING THIS PART IS ONLY 5 YRS/50,000 MILES. I FEEL THAT FORD INSTALLED FAULTY EQUIPMENT ON MY CAR AND AM DISAPPOINTED IN THE QUALITY OF THIS MAJOR PART OF THE SAFETY SYSTEM. I THINK FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THIS PRODUCT GIVEN THE SERIOUS NATURE OF THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #763854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

WHILE DRIVING, DRIVERS SEAT BELT BROKE, CAUSING SEAT BELT TO BECOME INOPERABLE. ALSO SEAT BELT SENSORS ARE NOT PROPERLY ENGAGING. *AK *SLC

NHTSA complaint #8000855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

BOTH REARSHOULDER SYSTEMS HAVE FAILED. SHOULDER HARNESSES ARE FULLY EXTENDED AND WILL NOT RETRACT.

NHTSA complaint #752939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

BOTH REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELTS FAILED (BECAME INOPERABLE) WITHIN 1 WEEK OF EACH OTHER, THROUGH NORMAL USAGE. FORD REFUSED TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELTS AT NO COST BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED LESS THAN 2 MONTHS BEFORE. SINCE 3 YOUNG CHILDREN ARE NORMALLY SEATED IN THE REAR, THIS BECAME A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THIS WAS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR AND HAD THERE BEEN AN ACCIDENT INVOLVED, THERE MOST WOULD LIKELY WOULD HAVE BEEN MAJOR INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #752021 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

DO PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE SOMEONE TAKES ACTION AND HOW MANY. NO SAFETY DEFEC TMENTIONED.

NHTSA complaint #752244 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.