2001 Ford Escape Seat belts Problems

I put money down on the vehicle the next day when I drove it I noticed that the seat belt doesn’t work. I told him about it and he told me to se if it stays clicked on the passenger side. It does but I couldn’t drive that way it was choking me. He said he would put a new one in it but never did. I have gone there several times a week and several times in a day for a couple of weeks. It has airbags or they don’t work. Because the light will flash a bunch of times and then stay on. I can’t drive it because there are no safety devices to keep me from being killed in the event of an accident. I would like help getting my down payment back so I can get a road worthy vehicle. I have spent all if this time trying to find away to get my money back. I have lost almost all of my clients due to not having reliable transportation to get to my the homes to clean them.

NHTSA ID

11739858

Incident

Feb 27, 2026

AFTER STARTING THE CAR, THE DASH LIGHT FOR AIRBAG/SEATBELTS FLASHES CONTINUOUSLY OR FLASHES AND THEN STAYS LIT. WAS TOLD THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AND WAS A WIRING/SENSOR ISSUE WITH THE SEATBELTS. ASSURED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SEATBELT OR AIRBAG. THIS WAS INTERMITTENT IN LATE 2016 AND BECAME CONTINUOUS BY JUNE 2017. AS THIS NOW HAPPENS CONTINUOUSLY, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW WHEN OR IF YOU ACTUALLY HAVE AN ISSUE WITH YOUR AIRBAG OR SEATBELT.

NHTSA ID

11018924

Incident

Dec 12, 2016

Mileage

160,000 mi

I WAS INVOLVED IN A HIGHWAY SPEED MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT. I REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IN THE ACCIDENT THE SEAT BELT PRE-TENSIONER (OR RETRACTOR) DID NOT LOCK THE BELT IN POSITION. WHEN I UNBUCKLED AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE BELT RETRACTED BACK INTO THE SIDE PANEL.

NHTSA ID

10948917

Incident

Jan 31, 2017

Mileage

190,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS CRASHED INTO ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CUTS AND BRUISES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WEBBING WOULD SEIZE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO EXTEND THE SEAT BELT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 11/14/12*LJ UPDATED 11/15/12

NHTSA ID

10478452

Incident

Sep 12, 2012

IN NOV. OF 2006, I TOOK MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE MY RIGHT REAR PASSENGER SEATBELT WAS TWISTING AND WAS NOT RETRACTING. MY CHILD'S BOOSTER SEAT WAS HELD WITH THIS BELT AND WAS NOT WORKING. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT DUE TO A FLAW, CONDENSATION WAS ABLE TO GET INSIDE AND THAT IT HAD CAUSED AN INTERNAL SPRING TO RUST AND BREAK. THEY TOLD ME THAT IN 2002 + MODELS, IT WAS REDESIGNED AND THAT COIL OR SPRING IS NOW PROTECTED WITH A PROTECTIVE COVERING. I CALLED FORD MOTOR CORP AND THEY COVERED THE REPAIR AND I HAD TO PAY A $75.00 DEDUCTIBLE. NOW 13 MONTHS LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM HAD RE- OCCURRED. THIS TIME FORD MOTOR CORP. SAYS THEY WILL NOT COVER IT BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I AGAIN REMINDED THEM THAT THIS FAULTY SEATBELT IS BEING USED TO SECURE MY SEVEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER'S BOOSTER SEAT AND IT TERRIFIES ME TO THINK OF WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO HER IF I WAS IN A SERIOUS COLLISION. FORD DID HAVE A SAFETY SEATBELT RECALL ON A FRONT SEATBELT LATCH AND I COMPLIED AND I THINK THAT WAS IN 2004. I BELIEVE THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS THE PROPENSITY TO LEAD TO A SERIOUS INJURY IF IT IS NOT RESOLVED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10217068

Incident

Feb 5, 2008

Mileage

114,400 mi

I WAS WRITING THIS FOR MY SISTER WHO IS NO LONGER HERE. SHE DROVE A 2001 FORD ESCAPE GOING 60 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THE PEOPLE IN FRONT OF HER STOPPED AND SHE REAR ENDED THEM. HER CAR FLIPPED SEVERAL TIMES AND SHE WAS EJECTED. ALTHOUGH THE STATE TROOPERS SAID SHE WASN'T WEARING HER SEAT BELT SHE CLEARLY HAD A 2" BY 4" ABRASION ON HER LEFT SHOULDER EXACTLY THE SIZE AND LOCATION THAT HER SEAT BELT WOULD HAVE BEEN. THE SUV WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED, NOT A PANEL ON IT WASN'T SMASHED - AND YET THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T GO OFF. IT WAS SO BAD THAT I WENT BY THE ACCIDENT AND DIDN'T EVEN RECOGNIZE THE CAR UNTIL A POLICE OFFICER CALLED OUR HOUSE AND TOLD US ABOUT THE ACCIDENT AND LOCATION. MY SISTER WAS 22 YEARS OLD WITH A HUSBAND AND A DAUGHTER AND NOW SHE IS NO LONGER HERE. I REALIZE THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE SEAT BELT, WE GOT A LETTER 2 MONTHS AFTER THE ACCIDENT EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL WAS 2 YEARS BEFORE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THE AIRBAGS THOUGH. R.I.P. AMANDA WHITMORE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10196164

Incident

Mar 16, 2006

SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER FIRED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND ENGINE WAS BEING STARTED. RIGHT SIDE FIRED ONE WEEKEND LEFT SIDE FIRED NEXT WEEKEND SAME CIRCUMSTANCES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10183441

Incident

Feb 20, 2007

Mileage

30,626 mi

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING THE 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING AT 35 MPH. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR. THE SUN BLINDED THE CONTACT, AND SHE REAR ENDED THE OTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS BADLY DAMAGED. THE FRAME WAS BENT. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON IMPACT. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AFTER THE CONTACT'S HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THE DRIVER WAS BELTED. THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER'S HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84000. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10182437

Incident

Feb 7, 2007

Mileage

84,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE PRETENSIONER IN THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. UPDATED 07/03/06.*JB

NHTSA ID

10158210

Incident

May 24, 2006

Mileage

33,282 mi

AIR BAG LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED OCCASIONALLY SINCE VEHICLE WAS NEW(NOV 1, 2001). SEAT BELT BUCKLE LATCH WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY IN JAN 03. PROBLEM FIXED. NEXT OCCURRENCE NOV 03. CONNECTIONS CLEANED AND TREATED, PROBLEM FIXED. IN MAY 05 PROBLEM APPEARED AGAIN, WITH THE ADDITION OF INTERMITTENT SEAT BELT LIGHT ILLUMINATION. VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO DEALER. A TSB HAD BEEN ISSUED BY FORD TO REPLACE THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE PRE-TENSIONER ON BOTH SEATS. THE TSB WAS NOT COVERED BY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, AND THE REPAIR WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $695. REPAIR WAS DECLINED. HOWEVER, OWNER WAS CHARGED $75 TO READ THE CODES. OWNER CLEANED AND TREATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS UNDER BOTH SEATS. LIGHTS ARE NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10137215

Incident

May 25, 2005

Mileage

57,630 mi

1. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD STAY ON OR FLASH 2. THERE WAS NO CONSEQUENCE OR FAILURE SINCE I RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY BY TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP 3. DIAGNOSTICS WERE RUN SHOWING DIAGNOSTIC CODE B1881, HIGH RESISTANCE, R&R BOTH SEATS, R&R PRETENSIONS R KITS. REINSTALL AND CLEAR CODES. I WAS TOLD THIS MEANT IN A CRASH, THE FRONT SEAT BELTS (BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER) WOULD FAIL TO RETRACT, IN ESSENCE, RENDERING THE SEAT BELTS USELESS. REPAIR KITS WERE INSTALLED ON EACH SEATBELT. PARTS INCLUDED WITH INSTALLATION ARE: PART NUMBER PATSKEY $35.00, 1L8Z 78610E22 AAA KIT REPAIR $103.33, 1L8Z 78610E23 AAA KIT REPAIR $103.33, PLUS LABOR $227.95 FOR A TOTAL OF $523.61. I DON'T THINK CONSUMERS SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR SUCH REPAIRS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE IN THIS CAR AND SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10134416

Incident

Aug 2, 2005

Mileage

89,936 mi

THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RESTRAIN THE CONSUMER WHEN THE BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10101725

Incident

Sep 20, 2004

Mileage

59,000 mi

THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT ON DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOES NOT LATCH PROPERLY. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10065270

Incident

Mar 30, 2004

Mileage

5,000 mi

NHTSA RECALL# 03V507000 SUBJECT:SEAT BELT BUCKLE COVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FREE REMEDY. THE CONSUMER ALSO ASKED THE MECHANIC TO DO AN OIL CHANGE. THE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR A WHILE AND RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE CONSUMER. AFTER ABOUT THIRTY MINUTES, THE DEALER'S MECHANIC CALLED AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE RECALL REPAIR AND THE OIL CHANGE WAS NOT DONE BECAUSE THE MECHANIC FORGOT TO DO IT. THE MECHANIC ONLY DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. *NM

NHTSA ID

10064868

THE REPLACEMENT PART TO PERFORM SEAT BELT BUCKLE RECALL 03V507000 REPAIRS HAD NOT BEEN AVAILABLE FOR OVER A MONTH. *AK

NHTSA ID

10064676

Incident

Feb 5, 2004

THE REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY DID NOT LOCK INTO PLACE DUE TO THE BUCKLE NOT ENGAGING. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

10058003

Incident

Jan 28, 2003

Mileage

49,000 mi

MAINTENANCE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10056245

Incident

Jul 29, 2003

Mileage

21,800 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. ALSO SEAT BELTS DID NOT HOLD THE PASSENGERS IN THE SEATS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10040492

Incident

Sep 24, 2003

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN A COLLISION AND THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK. DEALER NOTIFIED. *PH

NHTSA ID

10031674

Incident

Jul 30, 2003

NAR 05/28/2003 *MR THE CONSUMER MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIX INOPERABLE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY. SEAT BELT RESTRAINT SYSTEM REPLACED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *CB

NHTSA ID

10021727

Incident

May 10, 2001

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE PASSENGER IN THE SEAT, WHICH CAUSED THE PASSENGER TO SUFFER INJURIES TO THE FACE.*JB

NHTSA ID

10011818

Incident

Mar 12, 2003

POWER SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY EXPLODED TWICE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10001287

Incident

Dec 1, 2001

DRIVER'S BELT BUCKLE (FEMALE PORTION) FAILS TO LOCK PROPERLY, PREVENTING USE OF SEAT BELT. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN TRYING TO FIX. ORDERED WRONG PART ONCE AND HAS PROMISED OVERNIGHT DELIVERY OF REPLACEMENT. WHICH HE HAS ALSO FAILED TO DO. DT

NHTSA ID

769952

Incident

Nov 3, 2002

IN A FRONTAL COLLISION SEAT BELT DID'NT RETRACT ON IMPACT.*AK

NHTSA ID

8018987

Incident

Sep 18, 2002

SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEMS,; PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG COVER WILL POP OFF, AND OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, AIR BAG WILL START SEEPING OUT. THIS HAS BEEN REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES. ALSO DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT REMAIN (FEMALE PIECE) LATCHED. THIS HAS BEEN REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP TWICE. *AK *YH

NHTSA ID

8018070

Incident

May 1, 2001