80 of the 5,050 complaints filed about the Ford Escort are about the seats — 2% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1993.
80
Complaints
2%
Share of all complaints
31
Crashes
3
Fires
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
I DO NOT HAVE ANY EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE CONSISTED OF MY SEAT BACK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE SNAPPING AT THE BASE. AFTER PULLING THE SEAT COVER OFF I NOTICED THAT THE STAINLESS STEEL FRAME ON THE SEAT COMPLETELY BROKE/SNAPPED ALLOWING THE SEAT TO FALL BACK UNCONTROLLABLY. I WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME AND ALMOST WRECKED. I REPLACED THE SEAT WITH A LIKE SEAT FROM A USED VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10138928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
NOTICED THAT ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS COMING UP ON AND OFF, CHANGED SPARK PLUGS,WIRES, LIGHT WOULD GO OFF FOR A PERIOD AND THAN COME BACK ON. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY BETWEEN 65-70 MILES/HOUR WHEN I HURED A LOUD BANG , PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY, I HAD THE CAR TAKING TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, SERVICE WRITER TOLD ME THAT THE VALVE SEAT IN THE HEAD HAD SEPERATED AND FELL INTO THE MOTOR. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE 1.9 MOTOR HAD A FLAW IN THE HEAD AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY NEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR MANY YEARS. THAN HE SHOWED ME ANOTHER ESCORT THAT6 HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AND THAT THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST CAR HE SEENED WITH THIS PROBLEM. SECOND PROBLEM: I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 3 TRANSMITIONS WITH IN A YEAR, WHICH WAS COVERED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND POSSIBLY A 4TH. I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE THE MOTOR WENT. THIRD PROBLEM: WHILE AT A STOP SIGN A WAS REAR ENDED AN ABOUT 30-35 MILES/HOUR, MY SEAT BELLT DID NOT HOLD ME AND MY SEAT COLLEPSED ON TOP OF MY CHILD WHO WAS IN A CAR SEAT BEHIND ME. THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOPE ABOUT THE WEEK BEFORE THE MOTOR WENT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM HAD TO DO WITH THE TRANSMITION BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE COMPUTER IN THE CAR NEW THAT THE VALVE WAS PREPERING TO FAIL. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAD REDESIGNED THE HEAD, SO THIS PROBLEM COULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10127536 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. THE BOLTS THAT SECURED THE SEAT POSITION BROKE. SINCE THE 36,000 MILES WARRANTY EXPIRED FORD WOULD NOT REPAIR VEHICLE WITHOUT FULL PAYMENT. CONSUMER HAD THE SEAT REPAIRED AT AN AFTER MARKET REPAIR SHOP.
NHTSA complaint #10057691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
THE METAL PIECE UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT BROKE, CAUSING THE DRIVER SEAT TO ROCK BACK AND FORWARD WHILE DRIVING. *AK THE BRACKET, WHICH ATTACHED TO THE SLIDING MECHANISM, BROKE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT.
NHTSA complaint #10055352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
VEHICLE SEAT BROKE LOOSE DURING A COLLISION. *MR *CB. THE CONSUMER WAS A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE, WHEN IT WAS REAR ENDED. (LAWYER ANTHONY IRACE ON BEHALF OF CLIENT NANCY GOETCHIUS.)
NHTSA complaint #10034077 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
THE DRIVER'S SEAT REMAINS IN THE DOWN POSITION ONLY.
NHTSA complaint #10016503 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
WHEN TALKING TO A MACHINE SHOP THERE IS A TECH BULLETIN STATING THAT FORD ON 94-97 WHEN THEY BAKED THE POWDER METAL FOR THEIR INTAKE SEATS SOMETHING WENT WRONG AND THAT ALL SEATS IN HEAD SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE PEOPLE AT THE MACHINE SHOP SAID THEY HAD TO EVEN REPLACE ALL THE PISTONS IN THE MOTORS DUE TO THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE DEFECTIVE SEATS. AND IT IS ALL A FORD ERROR AND THEY KNOW IT
NHTSA complaint #763259 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS, I HAVE TRADED IT IN NOW, BUT I THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED.
NHTSA complaint #762548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
FRAME BROKE FROM UNDER PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT. CAN'T MOVE SEAT UP OR BACKWARDS. FRAME RUSTED OUT FROM UNDER SEAT. DEALER CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #8009254 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND DRIVER'S SEATBACK COLLAPSED COMPLETELY. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8007428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
WELDING UNDER DRIVER'S SEAT SNAPPED, AND SEAT ROCKS. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA complaint #8004482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN OFF POSITION WHEN IT SUDDENLY IGNITED DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, WHICH SPARKED UNDER DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT, BURNING THE INTERIOR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #895029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP WHEN IT WAS REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MPH BEFORE SLAMMING ON BRAKES AND SKIDDING FOR 188 FEET INTO THE VEHICLE. AT IMPACT, BOTH FRONT SEATS AND REAR SEAT BROKE AND FELL BACKWARDS. WHILE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS FALLING BACKWARDS, A 7 YR.OLD CHILD SITTING IN REAR PASSENGER SEAT WAS IN FOWARD MOTION WHEN HEAD RESTRAINTS OF FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HIT CHILD IN CHEST ,TEARING VALVE IN HEART AND PUNCTURING LUNGS . LATER, CHILD DIED DUE TO INJUIRES.DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. CONSUMER CONTACTED A LAWYER WHO SENT AN PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED SEATBELTS WERE IN WORKING CONDITIONS, AND REAR PASSENGER SEAT WAS PUSHED BACK, AND IWAS SITTING UNEVEN. ALL SEATS IN VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE AND WERE BROKEN.
NHTSA complaint #890196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
THE PART ABOVE THE DOOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WILL NOT GO BACK TO PROTECT THE PASSENGER, THE MOTORS MAKES NOISES BUT DOES NOT WORK
NHTSA complaint #745927 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
THE DRIVER SEAT ROLLS BACK AND FORTH. THE SEAT IS NOT SUPPORTED AND EFFECTS THE CONSUMERS DRIVING. THE DEALER COULDN'T HELP WITH THE CHARGES AND THERE WOULD BE A FEE TO DIAGINOS THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER IS SUPPOSE TO CONTACT THE CONSUMER FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE.
NHTSA complaint #886943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
I WAS REAR-ENDED BY A MOVING TRUCK (LIKE A RYDER TRUCK) WHO WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN HE HIT ME. I WAS ALMOST AT A COMPLETE STOP. THE PROBLEM THAT I AM ASKING ABOUT, BECAUSE I WANT TO KNOW IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY OTHER PROBLEMS LIKE THIS REPORTED, IS THAT MY SEAT, THE DRIVER'S SEAT, BROKE AND TWISTED ON IMPACT. AFTER THE IMPACT THE SEAT WAS LEFT BENT BACKWARDS AND TWISTED TO THE RIGHT CONSISTENT WITH MY INJURIES. I GUESS WHAT I REALLY WANT TO KNOW IS, SHOULD THE SEAT HAVE DONE THAT AT THAT IMPACT SPEED WITH A WOMAN SITTING IN THE SEAT THAT IS 5' 5" AND WEIGHT 140 LBS? I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN ANSWER MY QUESTION OR IF THIS IS EVEN THE RIGHT PLACE TO ASK BUT I JUST THOUGHT THAT I WOULD TRY. THANKS FOR ANY HELP THAT YOU CAN GIVE ME.
NHTSA complaint #744421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
DRIVER'S SEAT BACK BENT AND EVENTUALLY FAILED COMPLETELY IN RECLINED POSITION FOR NO APPARENT REASON OTHER THAN NORMAL USE. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR ABUSE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE, MY COST TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE IS IN EXCESS OF $400, AS A NEW SEAT FRAME WAS DETEMINED TO BE NECESSARY. IT SEEMS THE VEHICLE SEAT BACK DOES NOT HAVE DURABILITY TO WITHSTAND NORMAL EVERYDAY USE OVER A FIVE YEAR PERIOD. I BELIEVE NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING SEAT BACK FAILURES IN GENERAL, AND I JUST WANTED TO BE CERTAIN THIS CONCERN WAS ADDED TO THE INFORMATION YOU MAY BE REVIEWING ON THE MATTER. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #743014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
VEHICLE WAS AT STOP SIGN, GOT REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING ABOUT 25 MPH. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SEAT TRACK BROKE.
NHTSA complaint #880935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
VAN IN FRONT MADE A "U" TURN. CAUSING ESCORT TO SLAM ON BRAKES AND BE REARENDED AFTER DRIVING 45MPH. UPON IMPACT, FRONT SEATS COLLAPSED BACKWARDS. PASSENGER'S SEATBACK HIT CHILD'S SEAT, CHILD NOT IN SEAT, ALSO, CAUSED VEHICLE TO REAREND ANOTHER VEHICLE DUE TO NOTBEING ABLE TO SEE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUFFERED BACK & LEG INJURIES. EMERGENCY ROOM TREATMENT.
NHTSA complaint #877818 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
DRIVER/PASSENGER HEADRESTS HAVE STAPLES AT BOTTOM & THEY ARE COMING OUT. PART OF HEADREST IS SEWN. BOTTOM OF HEADREST IS NOT COMING APART EVEN THOUGH IT WAS LOSING STAPLES. HAVE NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER. HAD CONTACTED DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED TO BRING VEHICLE IN TO BE CHECKED. TOOK VEHICLE A FEW MONTHS LATER, AND REPRESENTATIVE CHECKED IT OUT. TOOK DOWN SOME INFORMATION & NOTHING ELSE.
NHTSA complaint #877273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.