Owner-reported complaints naming the seat belt system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Seat belts reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Jun 15, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
<1%
of 2,654 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
6
What this page shows
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2017 Ford Escape submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming seat belt
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Seat belts
Filed Jun 15, 2026
2017 Ford Escape In 2025 driver's side front seat belt would not retract. Car taken to Balise Ford in Hyannis, MA. Balise Ford did an inspection (for which a charge was imposed) to determine if repair can be done. Seat belt could not be repaired and needed to be replaced. Replaced in January 2025. Information is being submitted since it was noticed that there was a recall for 2018 Ford Escape with seat belt retraction problem. Invoiced for repair are attached.
NHTSA ID
11744131
Incident
Jan 1, 2025
BrakesEngineSeat belts
Filed May 24, 2025
Coolant issues, calipers needing replaced/seized but maintenance has always been up-kept and done at dealer, odor from turbo.
NHTSA ID
11662977
Incident
May 24, 2025
Seat belts
Filed Mar 24, 2025
The driver seatbelt will not lock when fully extended or in the event of an accident. This will be the third time that I will have had to have this repair done. Ford warrants the part for 5 years or 60,000 miles. I am out of the five year window but I just turned 60,000 miles. Repair will cost upwards of $800. Unfortunately I am not in the habit of checking my seatbelt to see if it works. There was no warning that the seatbelt was not operating properly. If I am in an accident, the seatbelt will be useless. I discovered the malfunction by chance the other day.
NHTSA ID
11650133
Incident
Mar 21, 2025
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Nov 1, 2023
Crash reported1 injury reported
My son and I hit a deer and his back passenger seat seatbelt didn’t lock and my air bag light came on but they never deployed
NHTSA ID
11553078
Incident
Oct 17, 2023
Seat belts
Filed Feb 2, 2023
The backseat passenger side seat belt locked up. The seat belt pulls out, but it will not retract without being forced in. This means I cannot have a passenger in this seat, because they would not be properly restrained if an accident were to occur. There have been no accidents with my vehicle to have caused this malfunction, but it is a serious issue. I had it examined by the dealership that sold it to me (Ray Skillman in Avon), and I was told that while it is a common issue it is not covered under warranty or on recall. I was also told that it could be months until the part would get in, because it still has to be ordered from Ford and it is so common that the part is on back order. I was not aware of this until I had a passenger in the backseat (still a new car to me since I bought it used with no accidents reported on it and the dealership does not check the seatbelts prior to sale of vehicles, only the engine), and they pointed it out to me. It is available for inspection upon request.
NHTSA ID
11505228
Incident
Dec 19, 2022
Interior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Aug 19, 2022
When folding down the rear seats to expand storage seatbelt buckles can become crushed, even when doing so per the manual's direct instructions, rendering the rear restraint system useless.
NHTSA ID
11480293
Incident
Aug 10, 2022
Seat belts
Filed Jul 9, 2022
The front passenger seat belts do not lock during hard braking. Seats belts fail to lock and engage. This is a very serious safety issues. If we were to get into an accident I fear the possible damage during impact
NHTSA ID
11473153
Incident
Jul 9, 2022
Seat belts
Filed Apr 20, 2021
THE FRONT DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELTS ARE NOT RETRACTING PROPERLY. I DID A SEARCH ONLINE FOR OTHER MODELS OF THIS YEAR AND MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH THIS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS AS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA ID
11413102
Incident
Apr 4, 2021
Mileage
61,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Mar 3, 2021
VEHICLE IS ONLY FOUR YEARS OLD AND DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTS SLOWLY. I ALSO OWN A 2010 FORD ESCAPE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE SEAT BELT ENDS UP GETTING SLAMMED IN THE DOOR WHICH I AM SURE IS EVENTUALLY GOING TO COMPROMISE THE INTEGRITY OF THE BELT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A FEW MONTHS
NHTSA ID
11399002
Incident
Mar 3, 2021
Mileage
49,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Sep 23, 2020
FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT DOES NOT HOLD PERSON BACK WHEN BREAKS ARE FIRMLY PRESSED. PASSENGER CONTINUES TO GO FORWARD AND SEATBELT DOES NOTHING TO HOLD PASSENGER BACK, IF I WERE IN A CRASH MY PASSENGER WOULD GO RIGHT THROUGH THE WINDOW. THE LAP BELT DOES STAY IN PLACE, HOWEVER THE BELT THAT GOES FROM ACROSS THE CHEST TO SHOULDER DOES NOT TIGHTEN TO HOLD MY PASSENGER SECURE.
NHTSA ID
11360598
Incident
Sep 8, 2020
Mileage
60,000 mi
EngineSeat belts
Filed Jun 14, 2020
ENGINE LIGHT CONSISTENTLY COMES ON AND STAYS ON. TOOK TO LOCAL FORD DEALER. THEY CHARGE US OVER $200 TO FIX IT. LIGHT STILL COMES ON ALL THE TIME. AT THE SAME TIME WE ENQUIRER ABOUT WHY THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT SNAP BACK INTO PLACE PROPERLY. THEY TOLD US IT WOULD COST US OVER $400. TO FIX THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT. ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE COVERED AND A SAFETY CONCERN. IF WE ARE EVER IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE SEAT BELT DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY, IT WILL DEFINITELY BE THE FAULT OF FORD. WE WILL NEVER BUY FORD AGAIN.
NHTSA ID
11328741
Incident
Jun 30, 2019
Seat belts
Filed Oct 24, 2018
Crash reported2 injuries reported
WE WERE INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON A HIGHWAY WHEN I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AND A CAR CAME UP AND HIT THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WELL AND ENDING UP TEARING OFF THE FRONT OF THE CAR. AS OUR CAR CAME TO A STOP THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT KEPT TIGHTENING AND MY ABDOMEN STARTED TO BE PUSHED UP INTO MY DIAPHRAGM AND WAS CAUSING ME TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY BREATHING AND SO AT FIRST THE BELT DID NOT WANT TO RELEASE SO PUSHED THE RELEASE A COUPLE OF TIMES AND FINALLY IT RELEASED. TWO OTHER PASSENGERS, THEIR SEAT BELTS DID NOT RESPOND THE SAME WAY. IF I HAD BEEN UNCONSCIOUS WOULD THE BELT HAVE CONTINUED TO CLOSE OFF MY BREATHING UNTIL I EXPIRED? I DO HAVE PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE AND ROADWAY IF YOU NEED ANY INFORMATION FROM THEM.
NHTSA ID
11142418
Incident
Sep 17, 2018
Mileage
6,113 mi
BrakesSeat belts
Filed Sep 14, 2018
WITHIN 17,000 MILES ON THE 2017 FORD ESCAPE THE BRAKES AND THE ROTORS WENT OUT AND WITHIN 8 MONTHS OF HAVING BOUGHT THE ESCAPE ONE OF THE REAR SEATBELTS IS NOT WORKING
NHTSA ID
11129512
Incident
Aug 1, 2018
Mileage
17,000 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Mar 31, 2017
Crash reported3 injuries reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE WAS DRIVING 70 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF WHAT WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE SEAT BELTS ENGAGED; HOWEVER, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM AND CONTUSION, THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED BRUISED RIBS AND A SCRAPED ELBOW, AND THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM AND COLLAR BONE, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE SEAT BELT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,296.
NHTSA ID
10969821
Incident
Mar 5, 2017
Mileage
16,296 mi
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own