Owner-reported complaints naming the seat belt system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Ford Focus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 44 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 44, in the owner's own words
Driver seatbelt is stuck and doesn't budge. I think I saw an old recall regarding this possibly... Since I've owned the car it hasn't came u jammed not at all a single time.not even moved an inch. I sprayed WD-40 down to it and nothing...
the buckle for the front passenger and back driver do not work properly. The buckles will not latch. It has not been confirm by a dealer because when i called to ask about repairing it and cost for parts I was told the part is discontinued and there is not another option for a replacement. 2 of the 5 have stopped working in the last 3 months. It puts my life and other passengers life's in danger every time it is driven due to not being able to put on a seatbelt. There was no warning just one day they would not buckle, we have tried different remedies and suggestions to fix the issue but nothing works and they need replaced.
MY TWO SONS WERE TURNING LEFT WHEN THEY WERE T-BONED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. MY SONS VEHICLE WAS STRUCK IN THE RIGHT REAR. THE SIDE AIR BAGS WENT OFF BUT NOT THE TWO FRONTS. ALSO THEIR SEAT BELTS DID NOT TIGHTEN. BC OF THIS BOTH SONS SUFFERED TBI'S, ONE VERY SEVERE AND IS STILL RECOVERING. THE OTHER REQUIRED BRAIN SURGERY. I AM SO UPSET THAT THEIR SEAT BELT DID NOT TIGHTEN. I BOUGHT A NEWER FORD THINKING IT WAS GOING TO BE SAFE. PLEASE SOMEONE FIX THIS DEFECT. I HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS COULD EVER HAPPEN. THEY WERE HIT FROM THE OTHER PERSON GOING 45 MPH SO IT SHOULD HAVE TIGHTENED. SAD MOMMA. LIVES CHANGED FOREVER. :( [XXX]*DT PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH FAILED TO UNLATCH. THE RELEASE BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SEAT BELT TO UNLATCH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE SEAT BELT WAS FINALLY UNLATCHED IT HAS FAILED TO RELATCH.THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 132,000.
REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. THE SEAT BELT HAS BARELY BEEN USED OVER THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE, SO THIS IS NOT A WEAR ISSUE. TOOK VEHICLE TO FORD DEALER IN WASHINGTON, MO, AND THEY STATED THE SEAT BELT MECHANISM WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED--COST WAS ABOUT $500. TOO MUCH FOR A SEAT BELT THAT BARELY GETS USED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT OR SECURE INSIDE THE BUCKLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUND FORD (101 SW GRADY WAY, RENTON, WA 98057) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEATBELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,200.
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, WITH NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. OUR FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH QUIT WORKING PROPERLY. MY HUSBAND WHICH IS AN AVERAGE SIZE GUY ALMOST GOT STUCK. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH IS NOT WORKING EITHER. IT STOPPED WORKING ABOUT A YEAR AFTER OWNING THE CAR. WE HAVE TO SHOVE A CARD IN IT TO PUT THE RED BUTTON BACK OUT.
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NO LONGER LATCH. AT FIRST IT BECAME HARD TO CLICK IN OR OUT THEN STOPPED WORKING ENTIRELY. IT HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENT ANY TIME NEAR THIS MALFUNCTION.
DRIVER SEAT BELT RELEASE BUTTON STARTED TO STICK. ON 10/28/17 BUCKLE WOULD NOT RELEASE. I HAD HAVE MY SEAT BELT CUT IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. EVENT HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT WHILE PARKED.
WHEN I START THE CAR INITIALLY I CAN'T TURN THE WHEEL OF THE CAR. I HAVE TO TUG ON IT TO GET IT TO TURN EVENTUALLY. I'M AFRAID THAT I'LL BE DRIVING IN THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT. ALSO HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLES WITH THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. THEY SAY MY CAR HAS TOO MANY MILES TO QUALIFY FOR THE CLUTCH RECALL THAT FORD HAS PUT OUT. I DON'T SEE WHAT THIS HAS TO DO WITH A MALFUNCTION SAYING I'VE HAD TROUBLES WITH IT SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR. BOTH OF THESE ISSUES ARE SAFETY ISSUES. I HAVE NO MONEY TO REPLACE THIS STUFF. SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY FORD WON'T WORK WITH PEOPLE ON THIS THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THE STEERING AS I SEEN MANY OTHERS COMPLAINING ABOUT IT. AND THEY NEED TO SUCK IT UP AND TAKE THE EXPENDITURE OF REPLACING ALL OF THESE CRUTCHES THAT THEY HAVE A RECALL ON REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. SOMETIMES MY SEATBELT COMES LOOSE AFTER I CLICKED IT. I HAVE TO LATCH IT WHILE TRYING TO DRIVE. I'M TIRED OF THIS CAR. I'LL NEVER BUY FROM FORD AGAIN. I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT. AND HAVE INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP THAT WE BOUGHT IT FROM AND THEY CLEAN THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT PERIOD AFTER TAKING IT TOO BUT IT'S GOING TO COST ME $3,000.
MY SON WAS STOPPED BEHIND ANOTHER STOPPED CAR ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY, AS A CAR 2 IN FRONT OF HIM WAS PREPARING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE PERSON TRAVELING BEHIND MY SON, WAS LOOKING INTO HIS REARVIEW MIRROR AT HIS CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT AND FAILED TO STOP. INSTEAD, AT FULL SPEED (45-55MPH) HE REARENDED MY SON IN THE FORD FOCUS THEREBY PUSHING HIM INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM. NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED, AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK CAUSING MY SON TO PLANT HIS FACE IN THE STEERING WHEEL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. UPON ATTEMPTING TO LATCH THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT, IT FAILED TO LATCH. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 106,000.
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT ON MANY OCCASSIONS WOULD NOT LATCH, WAS DIFFICULT TO LATCH, AND/OR BECAME STUCK AND WOULD TAKE A GREAT AMOUNT OF FORCE TO UNLATCH. THIS HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY ON CITY STREETS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP IN MARCH OF 2017 FOR A RECALL ON THE DOOR LATCHES AND THE SEAT BELT PROBLEM WAS REPORTED THEN. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED, BUT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY TYPE OF WARRANTY.
TAKATA RECALL WHILE DRIVING MY SEAT BELTS LOCK SO TIGHT I HAVE TO UNBUCKLE THEM BECAUSE THEY WON'T COME LOSE.
DRIVERS SEAT BELT MALFUNCTION, BELT DOES NOT LATCH. CAR WAS PARKED WHEN THIS OCCURED.
SEVERAL MORNINGS IN A ROW MY WIFE SAID SHE EXPERIENCED HAVING TROUBLE PLACING THE SEAT BELT INTO THE CONNECTOR. IT HAD GOT TO THE POINT WHERE SHE WOULD TRY TO FORCE IT IN THERE SOMETIMES IT WOULD CONNECT SOMETIMES IT WOULDN'T. NOW IT DOESN'T CONNECT AT ALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE SEAT BELT LOCKED AND DID NOT UNLATCH. THE CONTACT CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE TO FORCE THE SEAT BELT TO UNLATCH. THE CONTACT REPORTED THE FAILURE TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER IN FORT MYERS, FLORIDA, BUT THE DEALER DID NOT RETURN THE CALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000. ...UPDATED 10/23/17 *BF *JS
SEAT BELT GETS AND REMAINS WET AFTER RAIN AND DOES NOT RETRACT PROPERLY OR PROVIDE TENSION FOR PROPER RESTRAINT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTED PROPERLY, BUT FAILED TO LOCK TO SECURE THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT PROVIDED NO SOLUTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT LATCHES WERE UNABLE TO LATCH OR UNLATCH IN COLD WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
I COULD HANDLE THE STUDDER AND HANDLE THE BEING HELD HOSTAGE BY MY SEAT BELT, BUT NOW I HAVE TO PAY $1,800 TO GET MY STEERING FIX AFTER ALMOST HITTING A TREE WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR. I WAS JUST ABOUT TO UPGRADE TO A ESCAPE, I WILL NEVER BUY FORD AGAIN AFTER THIS BECAUSE I HAVE 89000 ON MY CAR THEY WILL HELP WITH NOTHING. NOR DO THEY CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF ME AND MY FAMILY OR THE OTHER PEOPLE AROUND ME ! I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO DISAPPOINTED. I TRULY LOVED THIS LITTLE CAR UNTIL IT TRIED TO KILL ME.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS DIFFICULT TO LATCH AND UNBUCKLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY UNLATCH. LATER, THE BUCKLE WOULD NOT LATCH AT ALL. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
DOOR LATCH BROKE ON DRIVER SIDE DOOR 7/28/16, NOW PASSENGER DOOR LOCK BROKE ON 8/14/16. I PAID $542 FOR DRIVERS DOOR TO BE FIXED. NOW I NEED TO GET OTHER DOOR FIXED. DOOR WILL NOT STAY CLOSED WHILE DRIVING. I WAS GETTING IN MY CAR TO LEAVE AN ESTABLISHMENT AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT STAY CLOSED. I HAD TO STRAP MY SEATBELT THROUGH THE DOOR HANDLE TO HELP KEEP IT SHUT.
MY DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED BUT SPLIT OPEN AND SHE SAID IT LOOKED LIKE SMOKE CAME OUT OF IT. ALSO THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK ON IMPACT. SHE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO HER RIGHT ARM AND ABDOMEN HIPS AND BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION GOING 45 MPH THE OTHER CAR WAS GOING 70 MPH AND IT WAS ON A CITY STREET.
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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