SEAT BELTS
AUTOMATIC SEATBELT IS JAMMED AND SEATBELT NO LONGER WORKS
NHTSA complaint #11141699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ford Escort seat belt problems
660 of the 5,050 complaints filed about the Ford Escort are about the seat belts — 13% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1995.
660
Complaints
13%
Share of all complaints
98
Crashes
4
Fires
Seat Belts complaints by model year
1983 Escort
1
0.2%
1984 Escort
5
0.8%
1985 Escort
3
0.5%
1986 Escort
2
0.3%
1987 Escort
3
0.5%
1988 Escort
17
2.6%
1990 Escort
10
1.5%
What owners said
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
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.
1995 Ford Escort
Collingswood, NJ
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.
1994 Ford Escort
Westminster, CO
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
1994 FORD ESCORT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PASSIVE RESTRAINT SHOULDER BELT NOT WORKING FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STOP AT MID-TRACK AND BOUNCING THE DOOR AGAINST THE HINGE WOULD GET IT TO MOVE. TWO WEEKS AGO, IT STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRACK. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE COULD HEAR THE MOTOR TRYING TO MAKE IT MOVE. SHE LEFT IT ALONE AND ABOUT FOUR DAYS LATER, IT RESUMED OPERATING. A WEEK LATER, IT FROZE AGAIN, A LITTLE MORE FORWARD IN THE TRACK THAN PREVIOUSLY.
NHTSA complaint #10476361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1995 Ford Escort
Newport, OR
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
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:REAR/OTHER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHIFT ANTI- LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED OCTOBER 24, 2003 WHEN THE DEALER REPLACED THE SHIFTER AND THE CABLE ASSEMBLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT DID NOT WORK PROPERLY AND THAT THE SHOULDER STRAP WOULD NOT BUCKLE PROPERLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. THE ABS LIGHT WOULD RANDOMLY ILLUMINATE. UPDATED 12/15/11 UPDATED 12/28/11*LJ THE RIGHT REAR SEAT BELT WAS TWISTED, WHICH MADE IT INOPERABLE, THE BRAKE SHIFT INTER-LOCK MALFUNCTIONED AND THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE FROM PARK TO DRIVE. UPDATED 03.12.12
NHTSA complaint #10437580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2001 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK AFTER ENGINE STARTUP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE SHIFTER AND SHIFT CONSOLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS TWISTED AND CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO NOT LOCK PROPERLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
NHTSA complaint #10437578 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
WHILE TRAVELING ON A FREEWAY AT THE SPEED LIMIT OF 65 MILES PER HOUR, I ENDED UP IN A SKID ON DRY PAVEMENT. I DON'T REMEMBER HOW I GOT INTO THE SKID DUE TO HEAD INJURIES RECEIVED IN THE RESULTING ACCIDENT. THE CAR SKIDDED SIDEWAYS FOR QUITE A WAYS AND DID NOT RESPOND NORMALLY TO ATTEMPTS TO STEER IT. PERHAPS THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE POWER STEERING WAS NO LONGER WORKING. THE CAR EVENTUALLY HIT THE RAISED CONCRETE RUMBLE STRIPS WHILE SKIDDING SIDEWAYS. THE CAR THEN FLIPPED OVER IN THE AIR AND TUMBLED DOWN THE MEDIAN, WITH THE FIRST IMPACT LIKELY TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE ROOF, KNOCKING OUT THE DRIVER. THE CAR CONTINUED TO TUMBLE DOWN THE MEDIAN UNTIL THE CAR VAULTED AND LANDED ON ITS TOP. I REMEMBER BEING UPSIDE DOWN IN THE AIR, BUT NOTHING ELSE UNTIL I CAME TO HANGING UPSIDE DOWN FROM MY SEAT BELT WITH BLURRED VISION. I HAD 2 LARGE LUMPS ON THE TOP OF THE HEAD, A BADLY SWOLLEN JAW AND GUMS, A SWOLLEN TONGUE (BITTEN ON BOTH SIDES), ONE NOSTRIL FILLED WITH BLOOD, THE BACK OF MY HEAD NECK AND SHOULDERS WERE SWOLLEN BY WHAT FELT LIKE ABOUT 1/4 TO 1/2 INCH THICK. I HAD BRUISES AROUND MY RIGHT ELBOW, ON MY RIGHT THIGH, AND LIKELY OTHER PLACES, AS WELL AS A COMPRESSION FRACTURE OF THE SECOND LUMBAR VERTEBRA FROM THE BOTTOM (L4?). SINCE I HAD DIFFICULTY BREATHING, THEY DID A TRACHEOTOMY ON ME WHILE WAITING FOR THE AMBULANCE. THEY PRIED OPEN THE REAR HATCH TO GET ME OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL 5 DAYS, OUT OF WORK 5 WEEKS, AND IN VARIOUS DEGREES OF PAIN FOR ABOUT 1 YEAR. THE ROOF FAILED TO PROTECT ME, THE INERTIA LOCK SHOULDER HARNESS FAILED TO PREVENT MY CHIN FROM HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL AND ITS FAILURE TO WORK LIKELY RESULTED IN THE COMPRESSION FRACTURE WHICH THE DOCTOR SAID WAS PROBABLY FROM LUNGING FORWARD. THE ONLY THING THAT KEPT ME IN THE CAR WAS THE MANUAL ADJUSTED LAP BELT, WHICH IS NO LONGER INSTALLED IN FORDS. ALL BELTS ARE INERTIA LOCK, LIKE THE SHOULDER BELT OF THIS CAR WAS. THE VEHICLE HAD A MANUAL TRANSMISSION.
NHTSA complaint #10351100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
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.
SEAT BELTS
PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT SEATBELT STOPPED WORKING IN OCTOBER 2003, DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT STOPPED WORKING ABOUT FEBRUARY 2004, AUTOMATIC BELT RETRACTORS TRY TO MOVE THEN STOP. A GRINDING / WHIRRING CAN BE HEARD AT TIMES. BOTH BELTS ARE UN USABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10273940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
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.
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.
SEAT BELTS
MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS INOPERATIVE. LAP BELT DOES NOT RESTRAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10226055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1999 Ford Escort
Huntington, WV
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
DURING THE USE OF THE BACK PASSENGER SEAT BELT, IT BECAME JAMMED AND WILL NOT COME OUT ENOUGH TO USE OR ROLL BACK UP TO TRY AND REUSE.
NHTSA complaint #10208200 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1994 Ford Escort
Fredericksburg, VA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT INOPERATIVE WHILE THE PASSENGER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT REMAINS OPERATIVE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO REMEDY THIS FAULT.
NHTSA complaint #10207294 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD ESCORT. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE FRONTAL SEAT BELT WEBBINGS DID NOT LOCK (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04E048000) AND THE FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED SEVERE STRAIN, SPRAIN, AND BRUISES TO HER CHEST AND NECK. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 104,308. UPDATED 09/12/07
NHTSA complaint #10201045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.