Owner-reported complaints naming the seat belt system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1993 Ford Escort submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 109 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.
The 25 most recent of 109, in the owner's own words
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. *TR
IN 1992 I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 1993 ESCORT GT SPARTANBURG, SC. THE 1ST PART OF THE YEAR EVERYTHING WAS FINE. AFTER, THE CAR WAS IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP TO DATE FOR HESITATION, FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEMS, ODD NOISES AND OTHER THINGS. I FILED FOR LEMON LAW IN 1993-94 IN TEXAS. WAS TOLD THEY WOULD REPLACE THE MOTOR, COULD TAKE UP TO A MONTH BEFORE I GOT THE CAR BACK. WHEN ASKED IF THEY WOULD SUPPLY A LOANER CAR I WAS TOLD NO. WITHOUT FINANCES TO RENT A CAR TO GET TO & FROM WORK (50 MLS DAILY) I COULD NOT ACCEPT THE OFFER AT THAT TIME WITHOUT THEM PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION. OVER THE YEARS, IT'S BEEN 1 PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER. SINCE 1994, I REPLACED 3 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS, NUMEROUS DIAGNOSTIC MACHINES TO FIND WHY IT WOULD STALL IN IDLE AND NO ACCELERATION AFTER CAR WARMED UP& OTHER THINGS. IN 1995, THE FUEL TANK DEVELOPED A CRACK AT SOLDER JOINT BETWEEN THE FUEL RETURN & THE FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT LOCATED AT TOP OF TANK RESULTING IN FUMES & GAS LEAKING WHEN FILLED. THREE FORD DEALERSHIPS SAID ONLY 1992 FORD ESCORTS WERE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO EVEN THOUGH IT WAS MANUFACTURED IN 1992. THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT, DRIVER SIDE QUIT WORKING. WE REPLACED IT WITH A NEW ONE BUT STILL WON'T WORK. SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE WIRING. TWO FORD DEALERSHIPS CAN'T FIX NOR TWO AUTO ELECTRICIANS. I CONTACTED FORD AGAIN UNDER LEMON LAW, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A ONE TIME OFFER. SINCE I REFUSED THE FIRST OFFER, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. RECOMMENDED I SELL THE CAR AND BUY ANOTHER ONE. I CAN NOT POSSIBLY PUT THESE PROBLEMS ON SOMEONE ELSE? THIS WAS TOTALLY UNETHICAL. I"VE BEEN LOYAL TO FORD SINCE IN MY TEENS. THIS IS MY 2ND FORD ESCORT & MY FIRST/ONLY NEW VEHICLE I EVER OWNED. I STILL HAVE THE CAR & WOULD REALLY LIKE FORD TO DO RIGHT BY ME IN THIS SITUATION. *JB
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
FEMALE END OF ELR LAP BELT SPONTAINIOUSLY STOPPED LATCHING. *AK
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HAS MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS. THE BELT WILL TIGHTEN INADVERTENTLY, FEELING AS IF CONSUMER WAS BEING CHOKED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIRS WILL COST $400.00. *AK....ALSO, FRONT FENDER AND MIDDLE OF THE VEHICLE ABOVE THE FENDER IS PEELING PAINT, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING AND GOES OFF WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKES AT STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT OR WHENEVER CONSUMER APPLIES THE BRAKES. *AK
AUTOMATIC DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED. *JB
MY SON WAS KILLED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT. HE WAS THE DRIVER. THE SHOULDER HARNESS BROKE LOOSE FROM THE DOOR FRAME. HIS CAR WAS A 1993 FORD ESCORT WITH AUTOMATIC SHOULDER HARNESS. THE SHOULDER HARNESS ASSEMBLY STAYED IN THE DOOR FRAME, BUT THE PART THAT HOLDS THE SHOULDER HARNESS IN THE UNIT BROKE. TS
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRONT SEAT BELTS ARE INOPERABLE. DEALER NOTIFIED SAID TRACK AND MOTOR IS DEFECTIVE. TS
FUEL TANK LEAKING AT HOSE FITTING. CRACK IN PLASTIC TANK. NO REPLACEMENT AVAILABLE DUE TO MANY FAILURES. BOUGHT CAR NEW AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN A WRECK. SEAT BELTS FAIL TO RETRACT IN REAR SEAT COMPARTMENT. DEALER FIXED TWICE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. *MR *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*768008
FUEL TANK LEAKING AT HOSE FITTING. CRACK IN PLASTIC TANK. NO REPLACEMENT AVAILABLE DUE TO MANY FAILURES. BOUGHT CAR NEW AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN A WRECK. SEAT BELTS FAIL TO RETRACT IN REAR SEAT COMPARTMENT. DEALER FIXED TWICE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. MR
CONSUMER STATES THE MOTORIZED SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER SIDE STOPS MIDWAY ON THE TRACK LEAVING THE DRIVER UNRESTRAINED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT HE DEALER SHOULD REPLACE THE COMPONENT FREE OF CHARGE SINCE IT IS SAFETY RELATED .*JB *NLM
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
I HAVE ALWAYS USED THE SEAT BELTS ON MY PREVIOUS VEHICLES. I HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE "AUTOMATIC" SHOULDER HARNESSES BUT WAS ALWAYS WARY OF THEIR RELIABILITY. NOW THAT A FAILURE HAS OCURRED ON MY FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH THEM, MY SUSPICIONS SEEM TO BE CONFIRMED. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF SYSTEM IS THAT IT IS PROBABLY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR AND MOST CONSUMERS WILL NOT SPEND THE MONEY ON A REPAIR AND JUST STOP USING IT. IF A SYSTEM DESIGNED TO PROTECT ME FAILS AT ALL HOW CAN I HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT IT WILL PROTECT ME IF , GOD FORBID, IT HAS TO BE CALLED UPON TO DO SO.*AK
SEAT BELTS ON DRIVER SIDE, PASSENGER SIDE AND REAR PASSENGER HAVE TOTALLY FAILED. FORD SAYS THE THE CAR IS OUTSIDE THE 50,000 MILE WARRANTY AND THEREFORE NOT OBLIGATED FOR THE FAILURE. ESTIMATES RANGE AT $1100.00 TO REPLACE ALL THE SEAT BELTS. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. A VITAL COMPONENT HAS FAILED THEREFORE FORD SHOULD PAY THE REPLACEMENT COST BEFORE INJURIES OCCUR AND QUESTIONS OF LIABILITY ARISE IN A COURT OF LAW. *AK
MY REAR SEAT BELTS CAME OFF THE BUCKLES WERE RIGHT IN MY GRANDCHILD'S HAND.ONE I DID'NT THINK WAS TOO BAD BUT TWO DID THE SAME THINK I CONTACTED JAKK ADKINS AND FORD MTR BOYH TOLD ME THAT THE CAR WASN'T UNDER WARRANTEE SO THEY WOULD'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT I HAD THEM REPLACED AND THE GARAGE TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE NEVER SEWN UNDER THE SEAT I HAVE THE STRAPS AND THERE ARE NO STITCH MARKS .WHERE THE BUCKLES CAME OFF IT LOOKS LIKE THE THREAD JUST GAVE AWAY ANYINFORMATIO WILL BE APPRECIATEDET. *AK
ELECTRIC SEATBELTS DO NOT RETRACT TO LOCKED POSITION WHEN DOOR IS CLOSED. THEY STAY "JAMMED" IN THE OPEN POSITION, FORWARD BY THE DASHBOARD. THEREFORE, FRONT 3-POINT SAFETY BELTS NON-FUNCTIONAL. AMERICAN HONDA REPLACED MY FATHER'S WHEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED. CHRYSLER REPLACED MY NEIGHBOR'S WHEN HERS QUIT WORKING. DOES FORD HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY, HERE?. *AK
PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT SEATBELT STOPPED WORKING IN JUNE 1999, DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT STOPPED WORKING ON 1JUNE2001, CAUSING LOSS OF PROTECTION. BOTH TIMES BELTS MOVED A FEW INCHES, THEN STOPPED.*AK
AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT OPERATES CORRECTLY WHEN DOOR IS CLOSED,CLOSING WHEN DOOR SEAT BELT HARNESS DOESN'T SECURE ACROSS CHEST. CONSUMERS STATES THAT FORD, PROBE HAS SAME PROBLEM, AND MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE A SOLUTION FOR ESCORT BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE.*AK THIS VEHICLE HAD THE SAME DEFECTS AS THAT OF 1990 PROBE PRODUCED BY THE SAME MANUFACTURER. *YH
DRIVER'S SHOULDER HARNESS DOES NOT RETRACT ALONG TRACK. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW TRACK AND MOTOR. *AK
DRIVER SHOULDER BELT STUCK HALF-WAY AND NOT LOCKED. WHILE AT DEALER ANOTHER OWNER CAME IN WITH IDENTICAL PROBLEM WITH 1993 ESCORT. DEALER SAID HE SAW THE SAME PROBLEM THE PREVIOUS DAY WITH 1995 ESCORT. DEALER WILL FIX AT OWNER'S COST. ESTIMATE WAS $350.00.*AK
MOTORIZED SEAT BELT DOES NOT LOCK, AND IT CLICKS CONTINUOUSLY. SEAT LIGHT FLASHES. PROBLEM IS OCCURRING ALL THE TIME. HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER YET.*AK
OPERABLE SHOULDER HARNESS FAILED. DEALER CHARGED FOR REPLACEMENT. *AK
EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT IN RELATION TO THIS PROBLEM, DOESN'T NOT COMFORT ME.THERE IS A GOOD POSSIBILITY THAT I COULD HAVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE DONE TO MYSELF IF I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT.IN FACT, WHEN I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN APRIL, I PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE RECEIVED BACK INJURIES. I DID HAD I BEEN ABLE TO HAVE IT ON WITH MY LAP BELT. MOSTLY, I'M JUST WONDERING IF ANYONE ELSE IS EXPERIENCING MY PROBLEM.*AK
AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS WOULD GO HALF WAY ON TO TRACK. WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO GET IN OR OUT OF VEHICLE. EMERGENCY BYPASS WOULD LOCK UP. CANNOT TURN THE HANDLE. HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. BEEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR THE 1ST REPLACEMENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED AGAIN.*AK
THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE RESTRAINT BELT IS STICKING, THE LAP BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WON'T COME UP FOR THE CONSUMER TO FASTEN, SOMETIMES THE SHOULDER RESTRAINTS COME FORWARD WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T. *SLC
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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