Seat Belt complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 | 3% | 118,000 miles |
| 2023 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2022 | 5 | 2% | 34,000 miles |
| 2021 | 8 | 2% | 62,000 miles |
| 2020 | 13 | 1% | 70,000 miles |
| 2019 | 6 | 1% | 9,000 miles |
| 2018 | 9 | 0% | 15,000 miles |
| 2017 | 14 | 1% | 49,000 miles |
| 2016 | 5 | 0% | 35,000 miles |
| 2015 | 14 | 1% | 40,000 miles |
| 2014 | 26 | 1% | 52,000 miles |
| 2013 | 43 | 2% | 87,000 miles |
| 2012 | 19 | 3% | 60,000 miles |
| 2011 | 6 | 0% | 69,000 miles |
| 2010 | 5 | 0% | 182,000 miles |
| 2009 | 7 | 0% | 46,000 miles |
| 2008 | 5 | 0% | 60,000 miles |
| 2007 | 7 | 3% | 67,000 miles |
| 2006 | 4 | 1% | 63,000 miles |
| 2005 | 8 | 1% | 60,000 miles |
| 2004 | 10 | 2% | 74,000 miles |
| 2003 | 4 | 1% | 136,000 miles |
| 2002 | 14 | 1% | 48,000 miles |
| 2001 | 29 | 3% | 59,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (buckles, retractors, anchors and pretensioners).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owned a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while slowing down to stop a second vehicle traveling approximately 50 MPH, crashed into the rear of the vehicle. During the crash, the contact's vehicle was pushed into the rear of a third vehicle causing severe damage to the vehicle's frontend. The contact indicated that the front driver and passenger side air bags did not deploy and both the front driver and passenger side seatbelts failed to secure the occupants. The driver sustained a head contusion, neck and back, and right calf injuries, and the front passenger sustained a head contusion, thumb, back, neck, and shoulder injuries. Both occupants were transported to the local hospital and received medical treatment. The vehicle was destroyed and towed away. A police report was taken at the scene. …
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Airbags and Seatbelts failed in a T-bone accident on the Highway and am unsure if it available for review on the car do to insurance taking possession of car. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? It did not restrain or protect me during accident. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? It was confirmed by my insurance. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes Insurance and Police Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No nothing was on the dash prior to crash
The contact called on behalf of his wife who owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated that when the temperature was cold the seat belt buckled and remained in place as needed; however, during hot temperatures the seat belt was difficult to unbuckle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed and the contact was informed that the seat belt was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 62,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The second row middle seat seatbelt was extended one time and did not retract back. It is in operable and a seat we barely used, there's no reason it should've stopped working. No rough play, heavy use, or use outside of occasional passenger. There's already a past recall for a different seatbelt so there must be an issue with this one too. Car was only 4 years old, around 60 k miles or less. It has not been repaired because the ford dealer cannot get parts. It has been months of asking for updates and help on the issue.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the message "restraint indicator lamp" was displayed. The contact's daughter retracted the seat belt and reinserted the seat belt, but the message remained illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. On another occasion while the vehicle was started, the rear passenger's side window button was depressed, and the window fell inside the door. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was determined that several clips and the window regulator needed to be replaced. The front driver's side window was previously repaired under a Customer Satisfaction Program. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 22,260.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated while parked when he buckled the seat belt, the seat belt warning light remained illuminated. The failure occurred on the front driver's side seat belt. The vehicle was driven to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the seat belt buckle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate mileage was 70,000.
Drivers side buckle would not allow me to put the connection plate in it so I put wd40 in it now I can put it in but it won't stay clicked I have to click my driver side seatbelt in the passenger side buckle for my safety driving and I feel as if that isn't very safe and it's not comfortable
Rear right passenger seatbelt came apart at the webbing. When my granddaughter tried to buckle her seatbelt it came apart in her hands. This has been confirmed by the dealer, it appears to have been severed but there has been no accidents.
Related recalls (3)
Seat belts › Rear/other › Retractor
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Corsair and Escape vehicles. The seat belt retractors for the left and right rear passenger seats may not be securely fastened.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and secure, or replace the seat belt retractor bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 26, 2025.
Seat belts
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford C-Max vehicles manufactured January 19, 2012, to November 21, 2013; Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured February 3, 2012, to August 24, 2013; Ford Escape vehicles manufactured October 5, 2011, to November 1, 2013; and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured April…
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RCM, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. The recall began on May 26,2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
On certain sport utility vehicles, a post within the safety belt buckle covers could fracture, which could affect latch function, resulting in either a "no latch" or "partial latch" condition.
Remedy: Dealers will have the driver and front passenger safety belt buckle cover removed and replaced with a newly designed service buckle cover. Owner notification began on February 2, 2004.
NHTSA investigations
Safety belt buckle failure
This investigation was opened on July 14, 2003 based on 4 reports alleging the driver's safety belt buckle failed to latch or remain latched.Mazda notified odi that it transferred engineering responsibility to Ford when the vehicle design was brought to the united states for production in Ford's assembly plants.Ford determined that the safety belt buckle is subject to lateral flexing during use that could allow a…
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Escape years have seat belt problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2013 (43), 2001 (29), 2014 (26), 2012 (19) and 2002 (14) model years. Seat Belt complaints make up 2% of all complaints for the 2013.
Is there a recall for Ford Escape seat belt problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 25V-862 (retractor, Dec 12, 2025); 14V-597 (seat belts, Sep 26, 2014); 03V-507 (buckle assembly, Dec 5, 2003). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Ford Escape seat belt problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 65,000 miles; 39% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the front (11 mentions), followed by the front › buckle assembly (10).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.