1995 FORD ESCORT Seat Beltsfrontretractor Problems

SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR STOPPED WORKING AND JAMMED IN ITS GUIDE TRACK. *TR

BOTH FRONT SEAT RETRACTOR MOTORS/TRACKS HAVE FAILED, RESULTING IN FRONT SEAT BELTS INOPERABLE. BELTS STUCK IN PARTIAL RETRACTED MODE RESULTING IN SHOULDER BELTS NOT CORRECTLY POSITIONED TO PROPERLY RESTRAIN DRIVER OR FRONT PASSENGER. ONE BELT IS POSITIONED IF USED WOULD COME ACROSS THE SEATED PERSON'S NECK. IF THIS WHERE A MANUAL SEATBELT SYSTEM THERE WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM, BUT THERE IS NO WAY TO MANUALLY LOCK THE SHOULDER BELT IN THE PROPER POSITION DUE TO THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM EMPLOYED IN THIS VEHICLE AND IT'S FAILURE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED IT HAD 90158 ACTUAL MILES. THE USED CAR DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE RESOLVED WITH THE INSTALLATION OF "SALVAGE" PARTS SINCE THE EXPENSE OF REPAIRING THE SEAT BELTS BY "FORD" WOULD EXCEED THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONFIRM THIS BY TALKING WITH THE REPAIR DEPARTMENTS AT SEVERAL FORD DEALERS IN...

FAILURE IN THE DRIVERS SIDE SHOULDER HARNESS MECHANISM ALLOWING ONLY THE LAP BELT TO BE USED. DEALERSHIP STATES IT'S AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR. CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD HAVE TO BE CORRECTED AT MY EXPENSE. I FEEL THIS IS WRONG AS THE HARNESS IS A REQUIRED SAFETY FEATURE.

THE DRIVER'S SIDE RETRACTABLE SHOULDER HARNESS HAS FAILED AND NO LONGER FUNCTIONS. IT LOCKED IN THE MID-TRACK POSITION CAUSING A SIGNIFICANT DRIVING AND SAFETY HAZARD. THE BELT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT 49,000 MILES BY GRASS VALLEY FORD, CA, UNDER WARRANTY AND HAS AGAIN FAILED IN THE SAME MANNER AT 98,000 MILES. FORD WILL NOT REPLACE THE RESTRAINT AFTER 50,000 MILES UNLESS THE CUSTOMER PAYS FOR IT. I GUESS THEY DON'T MIND THE LIABILITY INVOLVED WITH LAWSUITS AND INJURIES CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE BELTS. FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPLACE EVERY BROKEN SEATBELT TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM A KNOWN FAULTY DESIGN THAT HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. THIS SHOULD BE A MANDATORY RECALL BY NHTSA!!!*AK

AUTOMATIC SHOULDER SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT BACK INTO LOCKING POSITION, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR CONSUMER TO WEAR PROPERLY A SEAT BELT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT MOTORIZED SEAT BELT PROBLEM. THE SEAT BELT FROZE ON THE TRACK IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD. HOWEVER, FORD STATED THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING, AND WOULD CHARGE CONSUMER AN ASTRONOMICAL FEE TO REPAIR THE MOTORIZED SEAT BELT. *AK

THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR DID NOT LOCK, WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER NOT TO BE RESTRAINED. *JB

THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IS INOPERATIVE. THE CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO WEAR THE SEAT BELT BECAUSE IT'S TOO TIGHT. *MR *NLM

DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT HAS FAILED, WILL NOT RETRACT, CAUSING LOSS OF PROTECTION.*AK

WHEN I REMOVED MY FOUR YEAR OLDS SAFETY SEAT TO CONVERT IT TO A BOOSTER SEAT, I DISCOVERED THAT THE SEAT BELT IN THE REAR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE NO LONGER RETRACTED. THE ONE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE STOPPED RETRACTING APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AGO. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST $430.00 TO REPLACE BOTH SEAT BELTS. WHAT BOTHERS ME IS THAT THESE WERE NOT OVERLY USED SEAT BELTS. ONE SEAT BELT HAD A CAR SEAT STRAPPED INTO IT FOR 4 YEARS. HAD I NOT BEEN CONVERTING THE CAR SEAT, I WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOWN OF THE PROBLEM. BECAUSE OF SEAT BELTS THAT WERE FAILING, AND NOT FROM EXCESSIVE USE I MIGHT ADD, MY CHILD COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR EVEN KILLED. *AKY

WHEN I REMOVED MY FOUR YEAR OLDS SAFETY SEAT TO CONVERT IT TO A BOOSTER SEAT, I DISCOVERED THAT THE SEAT BELT IN THE REAR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE NO LONGER RETRACTED. THE ONE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE STOPPED RETRACTING APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AGO. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST $430.00 TO REPLACE BOTH SEAT BELTS. WHAT BOTHERS ME IS THAT THESE WERE NOT OVERLY USED SEAT BELTS. ONE SEAT BELT HAD A CAR SEAT STRAPPED INTO IT FOR 4 YEARS. HAD I NOT BEEN CONVERTING THE CAR SEAT, I WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOWN OF THE PROBLEM. BECAUSE OF SEAT BELTS THAT WERE FAILING, AND NOT FROM EXCESSIVE USE I MIGHT ADD, MY CHILD COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR EVEN KILLED. *AKY

AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE IN JAN OF 96' I HAD TO HAVE THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE SAFETLY SEAT BELT REPLACED (UNDER WARRANTY). SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT REPLACED (WHICH WAS PUT IN WRONG). I WILL BE RETURNING TO HAVE THAT ONE FIXED AT THEIR EXPENSE. BUT NOW THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE PASSENGER SEAT BELT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THESE SEAT BELTS CONTINUALLY MALFUNCTION. WHY IS IS NECESSARY TO REPLACE A SEAT BELT EVERY THREE YEARS? BEFORE THIS IS ALL OVER WITH I WILL HAVE HAD TO PUT IN FOUR NEW SEAT BELTS IN A CAR THAT I HAVE BEEN DRIVING ONLY 4 1/2 YEARS. *AK

CONSUMER HAS REPLACED REAR SEAT BELTS IN 2 YEARS. WHERE IT RETRACTS SEAT BELT KEEPS ON BREAKING. CONSUMER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR EXPENSES BECAUSE OF NO WARRANTY. DEALER HAD NO REMEDY OF HOW TO KEEP IT FROM BREAKING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SEAT BELTS IN REAR, RESTRAINING CHILDREN, WOULD MAKE RETCHING NOISES BEFORE JAMMING. TOP OF SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT AFTER CHILD HAS LEANED FORWARD QUICKLY BECAUSE THE BELT IS LOOSE. BEEN REPAIRED TWICE ON BOTH SIDES. PARTS WERE BACK AN ORDER, AND DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO REPAIR IT. *AK CONSUMER IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM BECAUSE IT FAILED 3 TIMES IN 5 YEARS. *YH

IN COLD CLIMATE DRIVER'S SEATBELT MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE SEATBELT NOT TO RETRACT, WHICH WON'T PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF A CRASH. DEALER HAD ADDED ANLUBRICANT ON DRIVER'S SEAT BELT, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THIS IS THE 3RD TIME IN 4 YEARS THIS PART HAS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SEAT BELT PULLS OUT ALL THE WAY AND FAILS TO RETRACT. IT COSTS $114. *AK

THE SEATBELT RETRACTOR MOTOR STOPS HALF WAY ALONG THE TRACK. ALSO IT HAS LOCKED THE DRIVER IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. DEALELR DISCONNECTED THE RETRACTOR. MJS

DRIVER'S SHOULDER BELT DOES NOT RETRACT OR BECOMES JAMMED WITHIN THE RETRACTING MECHANISM, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

REAR SEATBELTS WILL NOT RETRACT BACK INTO POSITION ,AND WILL STAY PULLED OUT, CAUSING A LOSS OF PROTECTION. *AK

BOTH REAR SEAT BELTS FAIL TO RETRACT. THEREFORE, THEY REMAIN IN THE FULLY EXTENDED POSITIONS AT ALL TIMES. THIS FAILURE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE A GRADUAL ONE. AT ONE MOMENT THE SEAT BELTS WORKED AND THEN THEY DID NOT. I BELEIVE THERE IS A DESIGN AND OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT WITH THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY AND THAT THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE INJURY.

SEAT BELT RECTACTOR FAILED AND CAN NOT BE REPAIRED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.

THE PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE SHOULDER BELT TO BE IN A "L" SHAPED POSITION, RESULTING IN THE SEATBELT BEING INOPERATIVE. THE REAR RIGHT SIDE SEATBELT WILL NOT BUCKLE IN, CAUSING SEATBELT TO BE INOPERATIVE. THE LEFT REAR SEATBELT IS TOO LOOSE AND THE SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT PROPERLY, IT WILL NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. *AK

SOME TIME IN MID SEPTEMBER 1998 THE TRACKING ON THE DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC SEATBELT BROKE. ABOUT 4 WEEKS LATER THE MOTOR FOR THE SEATBELT WENT. THEN ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO THE PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT STARTED JAMMING IN IT'S TRACKS. I HAVE CONTACTED MY SERVICE REP, AND HE SAID HE WOULD TALK TO THE DISTRICT MANAGER. WHEN I CONTACTED HIM AGAIN, I WAS TOLD THEY WOULDN'T HELP ME. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CORP ON TO SEPERATE OCCATIONS. I'M TOLD THE COST TO REPLACE MY SEATBELTS (BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES) WILL BE $760.00, AND THAT IT IS MY RESPONSBILITY. I STATED THAT THIS WAS A BASIC SAFTEY FEATURE AND THAT I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY TO GET IT FIXED. I WAS TOLD BY ALL THOSE THAT I CONTACTED, THAT SINCE MY WARRANTY WAS UP THEY WOULDN'T PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT.

BOTHE REAR RESTRAINTS BROKE AND DO NOT RETRACT.

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR DOES NOT RETRACT WHEN OPENING AND CLOSING THE DOOR. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

THE LEFT REAR SEAT BELT IS HANGING OUT OF THE RETRACTOR, AND WILL NOT RETRACT BACK INTO THE MECHANISM. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. IN SEPTEMBER OF 96, THE SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE SEAT BELT HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED AT THIS TIME. *AK

THE SHOULDER PART OF THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S IS IN THE OPEN POSITION ON THE RETRACTOR. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER ON JAN 19, 1998. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE SITUATION AND STATED TO CUSTOMER THAT PART IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CORRECT UNTIL MARCH OF 98.

WHILE UNDER NORMAL USE VEHICLE'S SEAT BELT RETRACTORS LOCK UP TO0 TIGHTLY, CAUSING DISCOMFORT. *AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 25-30 MPH REAR END COLLISION IN WHICH THE ABS BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT AND THE DRIVER'S/ PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AND TRYING TO AVOID SOME FRYING PLYWOOD , CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF AUTO AND FLIPPED OVER 6 TIMES , AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SEAT BELTS DID NOT HOLD HER. *AK

DRIVER WAS HIT BY PLYWOOD ON HIGHWAY AND THE SEAT BELT DIDN'T RESTRAIN DRIVER; HE WAS EJECTED FROM THE CAR. *AK

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, CAR WAS AIRBORNE AND NEITHER SEAT BELT LOCKED IN PLACE, DRIVER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL; ALSO, THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG CAUSED BURNS TO THE DRIVER'S LEFT ARM AND HURT BCK. *AK

LAP/SHOULDER SEATBELT ON PASSENGER'S SIDE WILL NOT RETRACT, WHEN OPENING THE DOOR WILL NOT PROPERLY STAY SHUT. *AK POSSIBLE WIRING PROBLEM WITH LIGHTS, WHILE DRIVING, HEADLIGHTS AND DOMELIGHTS DIM, RADIO AND SPEAKERS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY, DEALER REPLACED A GROUND WIRE TO ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE DOME LIGHT, ALSO VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT START, NO PROBLEM WAS EVER FOUND FOR THIS PROBLEM. FOR SEATBELTS, DEALER REPLACED BELT TRACK ASSEMBLY AND THE DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY. *SLC