17 of the
470 complaints about the 1998 Ford Escort are about the
seat belts — 4% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
85,878 miles.
MY SON WAS DRIVING MY 1998 FORD ESCORT LX ON A 35 MPH ROAD WHEN THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF HIM SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES. MY SON IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO STOP THE CAR, BUT HE REAR-ENDED THE OTHER CAR BEFORE HE COULD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. DURING THE IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK IN PLACE AND THE DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY - ALLOWING MY SON'S UPPER BODY TO CONTINUE FORWARD UNTIL HIS FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE LAP BELT FUNCTIONED PROPERLY, HOLDING MY SON'S LOWER BODY IN PLACE.
NHTSA complaint #10247134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 81,756 milesColumbia, PACrash2 injured
SEAT BELTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD ESCORT. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS, BUT THAT DID NOT PREVENT THEM FROM BEING THROWN TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND INJURED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND FACE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS PARTIALLY DESTROYED AND THE FRONT BUMPER, BUMPER SUPPORT, RADIATOR AND SUPPORT, AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSER, AND POWER STEERING RESERVOIR WERE DAMAGED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 81,756.
NHTSA complaint #10239844 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Upland, CA
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
DT: 1998 FORD ESCORT. BOTH OF THE REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT WORK. THE SEAT BELT STRAPS WILL NOT PULL OUT FROM THE SEAT, WHICH MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO USE THEM. ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR SEAT BELT STOPPED RETRACTING. THIS WAS IN JUNE OF 2004. AND ON 7-25-05 THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SEAT BELT STOPPED RETRACTING. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN IT TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS AND THEY TOLD HER THAT THE SEAT BELTS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WHEN SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY TOLD HER THE SAME THING. THERE WERE NO OTHER KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN 2002. BUT, IT WAS JUST A FENDER BENDER TYPE ISSUE. NO ONE WAS IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10130856 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Defiance, OHCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
NHTSA complaint #10115186 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 70,000 milesGainesville, FL
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
REAR OUTBOARD SEAT BELTS ARE UNABLE TO RETRACT. AS A RESULT, THE CHILD SEATS ARE NOT BEING RESTRAINT.
NHTSA complaint #10076180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Manitowoc, WI
SEAT BELTS
I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, AS YOU ARE DRIVING THE BACK OF THE SEAT WILL DROP DOWN. I HAD TAKEN IT IN TO THE SERVICE CENTER AND MADE COMMENT OF THIS TO WHICH I WAS TOLD I HAVE NEVER HEARD ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE. WHAT I HAVE FOUND OUT OVER THE YEARS AND MILES, IS THAT THE SEATBELT STRAP AT THE LAP CAN CATCH ON THE RELEASE LEVER OF THE SEAT AND ANY SHIFTING IN POSITION WILL PULL ON THE LEVER AND RELEASE THE SEAT BACK. THIS IS JUST A WARNING TO OTHERS AS IT CAN CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT AS IT CATCHES THE UNSUSPECTING DRIVER OFF GUARD WHEN THE BACK OF YOUR SEAT FALLS. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN OVER A DOZEN TIMES SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10070873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 92,000 milesWest Hills, CA
SEAT BELTS
VEHICLE'S REAR SEAT BELTS ARE LOCKING IN THE RETRACT POSITION AND WOULDN'T RELEASE. CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO PROPERLY RETRAIN CHILDREN IN CSS. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM NEEDS REPLACEMENT IN ORDER THE CORRECT PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10031584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sandusky, MI
SEAT BELTS:INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT
WHEN THE CONSUMER PLACED HER DAUGHTER INSIDE OF THE CHILD INTERGRATED CAR SEAT, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE STRAP HAD SEPARATED.
NHTSA complaint #10018285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kearney, NE
SEAT BELTS
DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEATBELT IS GOES UP AND DOWN INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. BELT IS STUCK HALF WAY BECAUSE IT IS OFF THE TRACK. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #8000754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Leandro, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEATBELT RETRACTORS IN THE BACK OF VEHICLE CONTINUALLY TIGHTEN, AND WILL NOT ALLOW FOR CONSUMER TO LEAN OR MOVE FORWARD. CONSUMER HAS TO RELEASE BUCKLE AND REATTACH BUCKLE IN ORDER HAVE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.
NHTSA complaint #888761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Spicewood, TXCrash2 injured
SEAT BELTS
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE HIT POLE, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATBELTS DID NOT WORK, DRIVER AND PASSENGER HIT THEIR HEADS ON WINDSHIELD.
NHTSA complaint #883039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
River Forest, ILCrash2 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
WHILE WAITING TO MAKE A TURN ANOTHER CAR HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON RIGHT SIDE. DASHBOARD CRACKED, BUT NONE OF FRONTAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. ALSO, SEAT BELT CAME LOOSE. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED DURING THE ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #880622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Golden, COCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
CAR "TOTALED" IN REAR-END WRECK. PASSENGER SEATBACK COLLAPSED WHEN HIT FROM REAR, HARD CONTACT WITH 3-POINT SEAT BELTS WHEN THROWN FORWARD WHEN CAR CRASHED INTO VEHICLE STOPPED IN FRONT. GOT RIDE TO HOSPITAL IN AMBULANCE! DRIVER SIDE SEAT BACK DID NOT COLLAPSE, DRIVER OKAY.
NHTSA complaint #736255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Juan Capistrano, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT FROM THE DOOR.
NHTSA complaint #607547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lowell, INCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE SPINNED OUT OF CONTROL, HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE BY THE PASSENGER'S SIDE RIGHT REAR WHEEL. BEFORE THE IMPACT, CONSUMER NOTICED SPEED OF 50 MPH. DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK IN PLACE, AND AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER. NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #834165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Philadelph, PACrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG DURING A COLLISION. ALSO DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. ENTIRE FRONT PART OF VEHICLE WA SCRUSHED WHEN VEHICLE HIT A POLE.
NHTSA complaint #538329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EL Cajon, CACrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
WHILE TURNING AT 15 TO 20 MPH VEHICLE WAS STRUCK AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE ON PASSENGER'S SIDE, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S OR PASSEGERS SIDE AIRBAGS. ALSO DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN OCCUPANT.
NHTSA complaint #822366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.