RoadVitals

1999 Ford Escort Seat belts Problems

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.
17
Latest Nov 7, 2007
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.
5%
of 325 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.
11
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
11

What this page shows

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Ford Escort submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 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 Nov 7, 2007

DURING THE USE OF THE BACK PASSENGER SEAT BELT, IT BECAME JAMMED AND WILL NOT COME OUT ENOUGH TO USE OR ROLL BACK UP TO TRY AND REUSE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10208200
Incident
Oct 16, 2007
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Aug 28, 2007
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD ESCORT. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE FRONTAL SEAT BELT WEBBINGS DID NOT LOCK (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04E048000) AND THE FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED SEVERE STRAIN, SPRAIN, AND BRUISES TO HER CHEST AND NECK. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 104,308. UPDATED 09/12/07 *TR

NHTSA ID
10201045
Incident
Aug 24, 2007
Mileage
104,308 mi
AirbagsFuel systemSeat belts
Filed May 31, 2006
Crash reported1 injury reported

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED, THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS GOING 45-55 MPH. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE FUEL SYSTEM DID NOT SHUT OFF, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT RETRACT. THE ENTIRE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE WAS CRUSHED; THE CONTENTS OF THE TRUNK STRUCK THE CONTACT CAUSING MINOR INJURIES. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE REAR END WAS REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
10158690
Incident
Aug 4, 2000
Mileage
8,000 mi
EngineInterior & seatsSeat belts+1 more
Filed Jul 5, 2005
Crash reported2 injuries reported

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 ID
10127536
Incident
Mar 4, 2003
Mileage
8,300 mi
Seat belts
Filed Mar 7, 2005

THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ON THE PASSENGER SEAT POPED OUT AFTER IT WAS FASTENED. THE PASSENGER CAN NOT BE SECURED IN THE VEHICLE. NOT INCLUDED IN THE SEAT BELT RECALL NHTSA O4E048000 *JB

NHTSA ID
10113590
Incident
Mar 1, 2005
Mileage
76,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Jul 19, 2002

REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATBELT WOULD NOT RETRACT. DEALER REPAIRED IT TWICE, THEN REPLACED IT. AT THIS TIME, DRIVER'S SIDE REAR SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT.*AKTHE PROBLEM WITH THE BELTS ARE STILL OCCURING. *JG

NHTSA ID
8014364
Incident
Jul 1, 2002
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Jun 26, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

WEATHER WAS 74 DEGREES, I T-BONED VEHICLE IN THE WRONG @ 25MPH. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED ON IMPACT, SEATBELT UNFASTENED CAUSING ME TO HIT WINDSHIELD AND GET LEG CAUGHT UNDER STEERING COLUMN. POSSIBLE PERMANENT INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ID
747403
Incident
Dec 27, 1999
Seat belts
Filed Dec 13, 2000

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON ROAD AND CHILD WAS INSIDE CAR BUCKLED UP. SEATBELT HAD WRAPPED AROUND HER STOMACK,WAIST AND CHEST. EVERY MOVE SHE MADE SEATBELT WOULD GET TIGHTER AND RETRACT UP INTO VEHICLE AND CHOKE HER. *AK

NHTSA ID
876486
Incident
Dec 13, 2000
Seat belts
Filed Oct 7, 2000
Crash reported3 injuries reported

MY CAR WAS BROADSIDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOORS. MY 13 YR. OLD SON WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, WITH HIS SEAT BELT ON. WHEN WE HIT THE CAR SPUN, HIS DOOR SWUNG OPEN EJECTING HIM. HE LANDED ABOUT 6 FT. FROM THE CAR ON THE GROUND. THERE WERE MARKS LEFT ON HIS NECK FROM THE SEAT BELT. FORTUNATELY HIS INJURIES WERE NOT SERVERE. HE HAD A HUGE LUMP ON THE LEFT SIDE OF HIS HEAD FROM WHEN HE HIT THE GROUND. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER WHERE I PURCASED THE CAR, AND HAVE HEARD FROM A LADY IN CHICAGO. MY MAIN CONCERN RIGHT NOW IS THAT THEY INVESTIGATE FOR MALFUNCTION/DEFECTS ON THE SEAT BELT. I WAS ASKED WHAT HIS INJURIES WERE (THE DEALER SHIP NEVER ASKED, JUST TOLD ME THAT IF THE SEAT BELT WAS DEFECTIVE THEY WOULE REPLACE IT) WHAT TYPE OF COMPENSATION I WAS LOOKING FOR AND I TOLD HER "NONE, AT THIS TIME BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF MY SON WILL HAVE SOMETHING COME UP 6 MONTHS FROM NOW. SHE STATED THAT I WILL RECEIVE INFORMATION IN THE MAIL, REQUESTING A COPY OF THE ACCIDENT REPORT, MEDICAL RECORDS AND PICTURE OF MY SONS NECK SHOWING THE SEAT BELT MARKS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS INVESTIGATED, DOCUMENTED AND TOLD OF THE RESULTS. THE CAR IS NOW IN LUFKIN TX. SENT BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY.

NHTSA ID
733659
Incident
Sep 19, 2000
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Apr 18, 2000
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONT END COLLISION AND THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN PROPERLY. ALSO, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
860487
Incident
Apr 14, 2000
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Feb 4, 2000
Crash reported

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT BY HITTING A SNOW DRAFT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SPIN AROUND INTO A DITCH AND STRIKE A CONCRETE BARRIER UPON IMPACT, SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID
856329
Incident
Jan 31, 2000
Seat belts
Filed Feb 3, 2000
Crash reported1 injury reported1 death reported

VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHILE TRAVELING AT 20MPH BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING OVER 60MPH. BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEAT BELTS FAILE D TO OPERATE PROPERLY, AND THEY WERE THROWN TO THE BACKSEAT OF VEHICLE .VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THERE WAS ONE FATALITY, AND ONE INJURY. *AK

NHTSA ID
856160
Seat belts
Filed Jan 18, 2000

PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT IS TOO TIGHT AND KEEPS MOVING UPWARD TO THE NECK. YH

NHTSA ID
550425
Seat belts
Filed Nov 15, 1999
Crash reported

VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED, AND NONE OF THE VEHICLES SEAT BELTS, FRONT OR REAR, HELD THE PASSENGERS. ALL 3 PASSENGERS WERE THROWN FORWARD. DEALER SAID THE OWNER WAS AT FAULT FOR SEATBELTS NOT WORKING. *AK

NHTSA ID
852865
Seat belts
Filed Oct 29, 1999

PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT GOT VERY LOOSE AFTER IMPACT. YH

NHTSA ID
549443
Incident
Oct 16, 1999
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Oct 15, 1999
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH CONSUMER REAR ENDED A PARKED VEHICLE. SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD HER BACK, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID
850914
Incident
Oct 15, 1999
Seat belts
Filed Feb 16, 1999
Crash reported

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
703367

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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .