2013 Ford Escape Seat belts Problems

Ford recall 14s21 was performed on this vehicle in 2015. I currently have a DTC b10a2. The code indicates that the restraint control module has failed. I contacted the local ford dealer, Cavalier Ford, and was told that the item was out of warranty. The issue is safety. The representative that I spoke with did not understand that the item that was the focus of the original recall has failed. Based on the original recall, the air bags and belt pretensioner could fail in the event of an accident. The replacement of the original item does not provide long term protection since it has failed again.

NHTSA ID

11668180

Incident

Jun 20, 2025

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon shifting the vehicle into drive, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact became aware that the vehicle responded as needed while shifted into reverse. The contact also stated that a message was displayed, alerting the contact of an air bag deployment. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V597000 (Air Bags, Seat Belts) and 22V413000 (Power Train); but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 141,000.

NHTSA ID

11619302

Incident

Oct 8, 2024

Mileage

141,000 mi

I purchased my vehicle may 6,2020 Accident accord in Winnie,Tx June 22,2020 on the highway me and my kids father were on the highway at the time the highway was getting construction work done as we were driving down the highway street someone hit us broke one of my ribs and my left elbow as well I didn’t have any knowledge of knowing my vehicle had a recall until I just realize searching on my vehicle I purchased and the reason why it wasn’t taken cared before I had family matters sorry so late Briana Roy The consumer stated that she suffered a lot of traumas during this incident. No assistance has been offered yet due to the incident occurring during the pandemic.

NHTSA ID

11536839

Incident

Jun 22, 2020

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the driver’s side front seat belt failed to retract as needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the retractor was replaced under warranty. The failure reoccurred approximately 2 months after the repair. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the retractor needed replacing again. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 10,000.

NHTSA ID

11513353

Incident

Jun 24, 2020

Mileage

10,000 mi

Puting car into reverse on 2way road to turn around car wouldn't go in reverse or forwards car shut off. Had to keep brake on kept shifting back and forth till car turned on had traffic stopped both ways. Seatbelt released not working at all. If car would of gone forwards upon started would of gone over cliff. This happened about 2nd week in July. Currently car has trouble upon driving shifting into gear. Please advise. Dangerous

NHTSA ID

11475669

Incident

Jul 9, 2022

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while on the highway during rush hour driving at 30 MPH, the vehicle behind failed to slow down causing her to crash into the vehicle in front when her vehicle was rear-ended. The contact stated the seat belt's pretensions failed to function, and the air bags failed to deploy. During the impact, the contact hit her head on the steering wheel. In addition, the contact sustained a fractured nose, facial bruises, and neck injuries. An ambulance arrived at the scene and treated the contact then transported her to the emergency room where a MRI and CT scan was performed. The police arrived on the scene and filed a police report. There was damage to the front bumpers and grill and rear of the vehicle, but it was drivable. The vehicle failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V597000 (Air Bags, Seat Belts). The approximate failure mileage was 99,000.

NHTSA ID

11474507

Incident

Jun 14, 2022

Mileage

99,000 mi

In my 2013 Escape, the driver's side seatbelt would no longer retract back in place on its own- and while driving it would not retract properly, usually staying loose and laying on my lap while buckled. The passenger side seatbelt would not fit snug around the passenger either. Both front seatbelts would not restrain anyone in the event of braking hard. I took it in for repair to Fred Bean's Ford in Exton, PA. It was unsafe to drive the car because both the driver and passenger would fly forward when the brakes were pushed hard- no restraining at all from either seatbelt. The dealership charged me over $1200 to install a new part called a pretensioner in both seatbelts. I saved my receipt.

NHTSA ID

11441773

Incident

Nov 23, 2021

The power steering overheated malted. Had to replace unit 2,500. Also seatbelts no longer retract...safety issues....told car could catch on fire if i drove car with bad power steering.

NHTSA ID

11418052

Incident

May 14, 2015

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT LATCH. ALSO, THE LEFT BACK DOOR WILL NOT OPEN.

NHTSA ID

11398826

Incident

Mar 1, 2021

TRANSMISSION WAS MESSED UP WHEN I BOUGHT OUT OF A DEALERSHIP I PAYED 4,000 TO FIX IT AND GET IT REBUILT FOR IT TO FAIL AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

11378182

Incident

Feb 20, 2019

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO LATCH SECURELY OR RETRACT. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FREMONT MOTOR LANDER (1731 W. MAIN STREET, LANDER, WY 82520, (307) 335-3359) AND IT WAS STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEAT BELTS SHOULD BE WARRANTIED FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

NHTSA ID

11364666

Incident

Oct 1, 2020

Mileage

87,000 mi

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT. AS A RESULT I TESTED IT BY INSERTING THE BUCKLE AND PULLED ON THE BELT QUICKLY/SHARPLY TO DETERMINE IF IT WOULD LOCK UP. WHILE THE PASSENGER SIDE RETRACTS AND LOCKS UP, THE DRIVER SIDE DOES NOT. DON'T BELIEVE THE SEAT BELT WOULD RESTRAIN THE DRIVER IN AN ACCIDENT. MY WIFE DRIVES THE CAR AND SAID THIS BEGAN ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS UNTIL RECENTLY.

NHTSA ID

11292501

Incident

Jun 1, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED AFTER BUCKLING THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT. ADDITIONALLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT ALARM WAS INOPERABLE AND DID NOT CHIME WHEN THE SEAT BELT WAS NOT FASTENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT SENSOR WAS FAULTY. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. *BF *JS

NHTSA ID

11265558

Incident

Sep 20, 2019

Mileage

60,000 mi

SEATBELT FAILS TO RETRACT PROPERLY. THE TENSION ON THE RETURN IS INADEQUATE. IT WILL RETRACT BY PUSHING THE SEAT BELT BACK INTO THE SLOT TO SOME EXTENT BUT NOT FULLY AND CERTAINLY NOT ON IT'S OWN.

NHTSA ID

11175031

Incident

Feb 7, 2019

Mileage

104,000 mi

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT FAILS TO RETRACT WHEN BUCKLING UP. SLACK REMAINS WHILE DRIVING.THIS DOESN'T EFFECT THE G LOCK MECHANISM. IF IN A CRASH THE SEAT BELT IS USELESS TO PREVENT IMPACT OF STEERING WHEEL. A PERSON WOULD ONLY HAVE AND AIRBAG TO PROTECT DURING AN IMPACT. SEAT BELT THAT DON'T RETRACT SHOULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN IN ANY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11170517

Incident

Jan 15, 2019

Mileage

94,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE, IT SER ME LIKE IT IS NOT RUNNING RIGHT, AND THINK IT IS GOING TO DIE ON US IN TRAFFIC. THE FRONT SEAT BELT DOES NOT GO BACK IN THE AREA WHERE IT BELONGS AND SITS ON THE FRONT SEAT. THE PASSENGER DRIVER SIDE DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE RIGHT WHEN YOU OPEN IT. IT WILL STAY OPEN UNTIL YOU PUSH THE HANDLE DOWN AND THEN IT WILL CLOSE AND LOCK. WE ARE AFRAID TO TRAVEL LONG DISTANCE WITH THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE CAR ACTS AND RUN. WE JUST WANT IT FIX OR REPLACE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11164098

Incident

Nov 1, 2018

Mileage

90,000 mi

DRIVER SEATBELT WILL NOT TIGHTEN WHEN BEING WORN AND NOT SURE WOULD LOCK IF IN ACCIDENT!

NHTSA ID

11143491

Incident

Oct 4, 2018

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT ALL THE WHY.

NHTSA ID

11084858

Incident

Apr 11, 2018

Mileage

100,000 mi

'UNSAFE AT ANY SPEED': WE BOUGHT A NEW 2013 FORD ESCAPE. IT HAD MANY PROBLEMS, INCLUDING MANY SAFETY RECALLS. I REQUEST FORD BUY THE CAR BACK MULTIPLE TIMES (THEY REFUSED). OUR DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED ON 12-25-2017 AT 09:55 AM, WHEN MY WIFE'S CAR WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY A CAR GOING 50 MPH. BOTH CARS WERE TOTALED. MY WIFE WAS IN THE DRIVERS SEAWEARING HER SEAT BELT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT & WAS THROWN FORWARD AND HIT HER HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO ENGAGE. SHE GOT A CONCUSSION INJURY AND HAD TO GO TO THE ER, ALSO A BAD WHIPLASH AND OTHER INJURIES, INCLUDING SEATBELT RASH ON LEFT COLLARBONE. SEAT BELT FAILED OR HER HEAD WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN INJURED. WE AREN'T FIRST FORD OWNERS TO BE INJURED BY SEAT BELT PROBLEMS. I FOUND MULTIPLE REPORTS ON THE NHTSA SITE OF DRIVER AND PASSENGER INJURIES IN 2013 & 2014 FORD ESCAPES DUE TO SEAT BELT FAILURES. (NOTE: THIS ISSUE MAY BE SIMILAR TO EXISTING NHTSA RECALL 16V875, FOR THE FORD FUSION, BUT NOT THE ESCAPE.) FORD HAS BEEN NOTIFIED MULTIPLE TIMES DRIVERS & PASSENGERS ARE BEING INJURED BY THE FAILURE OF DRIVER & PASSENGER SEAT BELTS, YET HAS TAKEN NO ACTION, NOR HAS NHTSA. PLEASE REVIEW THE SEAT BELT INJURIES IN 2013-2018 FORD ESCAPES. *** NOTE: I FOUND 12 NHTSA REPORTS OF SEAT BELT FAILURES IN J2013-2014 ESCAPES, INCLUDING 4 INJURIES. THE ESCAPE DESIGN CHANGED IN 2013. A. NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10562168 (INJURIES DUE TO SB FAILURE, INCLUDING BROKEN BONES, INCORRECTLY LOGGED AS NO INJURIES, CUSTOMER CALLED FMC) INCIDENT DATE JANUARY 28, 2014 B. NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10561343 (TWO INJURIES, BRAKES FAILED, SEAT & SEAT BELTS FAILED) INCIDENT DATE JANUARY 9, 2014 C. NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10618315, (2 INJURIES), INCIDENT DATE AUGUST 1, 2014 D. OTHER SEAT BELT FAILURE REPORTS (NO INJURIES): 11053916,11053318,10947832, 10811504, 10555439, 11034362, 10763929, 10618315, 11048052

NHTSA ID

11062827

Incident

Dec 25, 2017

Mileage

40,902 mi

MY DRIVER-SEAT SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT AND ALARM DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK. IT DOES NOT COME ON ON A CONSISTENT BASIS AT START-UP. IF I UNLATCH MY SEAT BELT WHILE THE DRIVING THE ALARM AND WARNING LIGHT DO NOT COME ON AT ALL. I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE BELT LATCHING AT ONE POINT AND THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE LATCH. MY BACKSEAT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT LATCH AT ALL. THIS IS THE SECOND BELT TO HAVE LATCHING DIFFICULTIES.

NHTSA ID

11053916

Incident

Dec 11, 2017

Mileage

92,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT WHEN ATTEMPTED TO BE USED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CLOQUET FORD (701 WASHINGTON AVE, CLOQUET, MN 55720, PHONE: (218) 879-4668) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT AND MOTOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID

11053318

Incident

Dec 5, 2017

Mileage

50,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WAITED A FEW MINUTES, AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR FAILED TO REMAIN LOCKED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V237000 (AIR BAGS), 14V239000 (STRUCTURE), 14V597000 (AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS), AND 16V643000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIRS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT AND VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10967634

Incident

Aug 10, 2016

Mileage

138,000 mi

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT TENSIONER QUIT WORKING. SEAT BELT WILL NO LONGER TIGHTEN WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RESTRAIN THE DRIVER IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP.

NHTSA ID

10947832

Incident

Dec 10, 2016

Mileage

61,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V597000 (AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS) AND 16V643000 (LATCHES/ LOCKS/LINKAGES). THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 01/06/2017*CT UPDATED 01/17/17.*JB

NHTSA ID

10924110

Incident

Nov 3, 2016

THE REAR SEATBELT BUCKLES APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IMPROPERLY AT THE FACTORY. ONE OF THE BUCKLES IS FORCED UP BY THE BOLT SPRING WHILE THE OTHER TWO ARE FORCED DOWN. THE TWO THAT ARE FORCED DOWN MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR REAR SEAT PASSENGERS TO BUCKLE IN. FURTHERMORE, WHEN THE SEAT BACK IS FOLDED DOWN, THE TWO SEATBELT BUCKLES TEND TO BE FORCED UNDER THE SEAT. THIS CAN LEAD TO THE BUCKLE(S) GETTING DAMAGED WHEN TRYING TO RAISE THE SEAT BACK TO ITS UPRIGHT POSITION. IN SOME CASES, THE BUCKLE CAN BE CRUSHED AND MADE UNUSABLE.

NHTSA ID

10893956

Incident

Jul 31, 2016