12 of the 729 complaints about the 1997 Ford Escort are about the seat belts — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 70,000 miles.
12
Complaints
5
Crashes
0
Fires
6
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKED AROUND CHILD'S NECK AND ALMOST CAUSED A FATAL INJURY. THE RETRACTOR WOULD NOT RELEASE. *NLM THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKED AROUND CHILD'S NECK AND ALMOST CAUSED A FATAL INJURY. THE RETRACTOR WOULD NOT RELEASE.
NHTSA complaint #10015292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
THE BACK SEAT BELTS WHICH HAVE NEVER BEEN USED TO JUST RECENT TO NOT RETRACT. YOU PUT THEM ON AND CAN NOT MOVE. FORD WILL NOT COVER THIS EXPENSE SINCE IT IS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I BOUGHT THE CAR OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED SINCE IT IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH. THE SEAT BELTS ARE ON SO TIGHT YOU CAN'T BREATHE. THESE WERE PROBABLY DEFECTIVE FROM THE BEGINNING. WE USUALLY DON'T HAVE ANYONE IN THE BACK OF THE CAR AND JUST DISCOVERED IT. I WOULD LIKE IT FIXED SINCE IF SOMEONE IS BACK THERE THEY WILL NOT WHERE THE SEAT BELT SINCE YOU CAN NOT BREATHE. THEY WANT OVER $400.00 TO CHANGE THE RETRACTOR. I BELIEVE IT WAS DEFECTIVE SINCE IT IS ON BOTH SIDES AND IF NO ONE IS BACK THERE HOW WOULD WE KNOW IT WAS DEFECTIVE. SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE I FEEL THEY SHOULD BE LIABLE. I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS NOT COVERED. DT
NHTSA complaint #768832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
WHILE IN MOTION, CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE SEAT BELT ALSO DID NOT HOLD. CONSUMER SUFFERED CHEST INJURIES TO THE RIB CAGE. CONSUEMR WISHES TO HAVE AIRBAGS OPENED AND INSPECTED AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP.
NHTSA complaint #566933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
REAR SEAT BELT ON PASSENGER'S SIDE, FAILS TO LATCH PROPERLY. LATCH FAILS TO ENTER THE BUCKLE BECAUSE INSIDE LOCKING MECHANISM WAS BROKEN. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE MECHANIC CHECK IT.
NHTSA complaint #854329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING ON A RAMP VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE SEATBELTS DID NOT LOCK UP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FUTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #851627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS ON REAR LEFT/ RIGHT IS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #843518 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AT 45MPH, SEAT BELTS DID NOT RETRACT PROPERLY, AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #842197 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELTS NEVER LOCKED DOWN. WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS DEPLOYED IT SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD. GLASS WAS ON THE PASSENGER'S SEAT AND IF SOME ONE WAS THERE THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN CUT.
NHTSA complaint #705926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH CONSUMER'S SON PULLED OUT THE SHOULDER BELT. BUT WHEN SEAT BELT RETRACTED, THEY COULDN'T TAKE IT OFF HIS NECK AND THEY HAD TO CUT THE BELT. DEALER WAS CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #826984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH AIR BAGS.
NHTSA complaint #527075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH VEHICLE WENT OVER A PATCH OF ICE, CAUSING OWNER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE THEN ROLLED OVER 3-4 TIMES, AND THE MIDDLE REAR LAP BELT DID NOT HOLD CHILD SEAT IN PLACE.
NHTSA complaint #819349 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION FRONT DRIVERS SIDE BELT BUCKLE SEPERATED.
NHTSA complaint #812416 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.