Problems with 2001 Ford Escape SEAT BELTS

I was involved in a highway speed motor vehicle accident. i rear ended another vehicle at highway speeds. in the accident the seat belt pre-tensioner (or retractor) did not lock the belt in position. when i unbuckled after the accident the belt retracted back into the side panel.

After starting the car, the dash light for airbag/seatbelts flashes continuously or flashes and then stays lit. was told this was a known issue and was a wiring/sensor issue with the seatbelts. assured there was nothing wrong with the seatbelt or airbag. this was intermittent in late 2016 and became continuous by june 2017. as this now happens continuously, it is impossible to know when or if you actually have an issue with your airbag or seatbelt.

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford escape. the contact stated that while traveling 30 mph the vehicle was crashed into on the rear passenger side by another vehicle. as a result, the vehicle rolled over and the air bags failed to deploy. the contact sustained cuts and bruises. the vehicle was destroyed. also, the contact stated that the rear driver side seat belt webbing would seize, making it difficult to extend the seat belt. the manufacturer was not contacted. the failure and current mileage was not available. updated 11/14/12*lj updated 11/15/12

In nov. of 2006, i took my 2001 ford escape to the dealership because my right rear passenger seatbelt was twisting and was not retracting. my child's booster seat was held with this belt and was not working. the dealership told me that due to a flaw, condensation was able to get inside and that it had caused an internal spring to rust and break. they told me that in 2002 + models, it was redesigned and that coil or spring is now protected with a protective covering. i called ford motor corp and they covered the repair and i had to pay a $75.00 deductible. now 13 months later, the same problem had re- occurred. this time ford motor corp. says they will not cover it because my vehicle is out of warranty. i again reminded them that this faulty seatbelt is being used to secure my seven year old daughter's booster seat and it terrifies me to think of what could have happened to her if i was in a serious collision. ford did have a safety seatbelt recall on a front seatbelt latch and i complied and i think that was in 2004. i believe that this problem has the propensity to lead to a serious injury if it is not resolved. *tr

Seat belt pretensioner fired while vehicle was in park and engine was being started. right side fired one weekend left side fired next weekend same circumstances. *jb

Tl* - the contact called regarding the 2001 ford escape. the contact was traveling at 35 mph. the road conditions were clear. the sun blinded the contact, and she rear ended the other vehicle, causing minor damage. the contact's vehicle was badly damaged. the frame was bent. the airbags did not deploy on impact. the airbag deployed after the contact's head hit the windshield. the driver was belted. the seat belt pretensioner did not deploy. the driver's head hit the windshield and the windshield cracked. the contact sustained injuries. the failure mileage was 84000. a police report was taken. *ak

Dt*: the contact stated the airbag light illuminated and the vehicle was taken to the dealership. the dealership determined the pretensioner in the driver side seat belt needed to be replaced. the consumer had to pay for the repairs. updated 07/03/06.*jb

I was writing this for my sister who is no longer here. she drove a 2001 ford escape going 60 mph down the highway. the people in front of her stopped and she rear ended them. her car flipped several times and she was ejected. although the state troopers said she wasn't wearing her seat belt she clearly had a 2" by 4" abrasion on her left shoulder exactly the size and location that her seat belt would have been. the suv was completely destroyed, not a panel on it wasn't smashed - and yet the airbags didn't go off. it was so bad that i went by the accident and didn't even recognize the car until a police officer called our house and told us about the accident and location. my sister was 22 years old with a husband and a daughter and now she is no longer here. i realize there has been a recall on the seat belt, we got a letter 2 months after the accident even though the recall was 2 years before. something needs to be done about the airbags though. r.i.p. amanda whitmore.*ak

1. the airbag light would stay on or flash 2. there was no consequence or failure since i responded immediately by taking the car to the dealership 3. diagnostics were run showing diagnostic code b1881, high resistance, r&r both seats, r&r pretensions r kits. reinstall and clear codes. i was told this meant in a crash, the front seat belts (both driver and passenger) would fail to retract, in essence, rendering the seat belts useless. repair kits were installed on each seatbelt. parts included with installation are: part number patskey $35.00, 1l8z 78610e22 aaa kit repair $103.33, 1l8z 78610e23 aaa kit repair $103.33, plus labor $227.95 for a total of $523.61. i don't think consumers should have to pay for such repairs. i would also like to know if this is a common failure in this car and should be a recall item before someone gets hurt. *jb

Air bag light has illuminated occasionally since vehicle was new(nov 1, 2001). seat belt buckle latch was replaced under warranty in jan 03. problem fixed. next occurrence nov 03. connections cleaned and treated, problem fixed. in may 05 problem appeared again, with the addition of intermittent seat belt light illumination. vehicle was returned to dealer. a tsb had been issued by ford to replace the safety belt buckle pre-tensioner on both seats. the tsb was not covered by an extended warranty, and the repair would cost approximately $695. repair was declined. however, owner was charged $75 to read the codes. owner cleaned and treated electrical connections under both seats. lights are no longer illuminated. *jb

The front seat belts will not restrain the consumer when the brakes are depressed. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak

The passenger seat belt on drivers side rear does not latch properly. *ak *nm

The replacement part to perform seat belt buckle recall 03v507000 repairs had not been available for over a month. *ak

While driving at 60 mph consumer was involved in an accident and neither of the air bags deployed. also seat belts did not hold the passengers in the seats. *ak

Consumer states that the vehicle was in a collision and the drivers side seat belt did not lock. dealer notified. *ph

Maintenance. *jb

The vehicle was involved in an accident, and the passenger seat belt did not restrain the passenger in the seat, which caused the passenger to suffer injuries to the face.*jb

The rear seat belt buckle assembly did not lock into place due to the buckle not engaging. *ak *jb

Driver's belt buckle (female portion) fails to lock properly, preventing use of seat belt. dealership has been trying to fix. ordered wrong part once and has promised overnight delivery of replacement. which he has also failed to do. dt

In a frontal collision seat belt did'nt retract on impact.*ak

Power seat belt assembly exploded twice. *nm

Driver's restraint belt buckle assembly, female part, fails to lock properly, preventing use of seat belt. dealership is repairing problem. please provide any additional information/attachments.*ak

Consumer is experiencing trouble with rear passenger side shoulder belt belt is in a locked position. dealer has been contatced to remedy problem, but has not been able to correct at this problem. please provide further details.*ak

Nar 05/28/2003 *mr the consumer made several attempts to fix inoperable air bag assembly. seat belt restraint system replaced. dealer notified. *cb

Left rear passenger restraint was jammed after the first use. this part was replaced and it was jammed after the first use. it was replaced a second time and is currently fuctional but this is the first time in 4 months since purchase date that it has been functional. rear differential had a broken seal and was leaking. this part was replaced and is now functional. the master cylinder was cracked and replaced. this part is now functional. the power steering was effected when part of the power steering system fell out of the car when the vehicle was put in park. the parts (including alternator, belts and spring) literally fell off the car. this could have resulted in many fatalities as the vehicle was on the highway only minutes prior with a car full of passangers. the results of this incident would have been drastically different if this had happened when the vehicle was in motion. ford has not been responsive to my needs as a consumer and has minimized the safety hazard posed by this defective vehicle.

Safety restraint systems,; passenger's side air bag cover will pop off, and over a period of time, air bag will start seeping out. this has been replaced by dealership three times. also driver's side seat belt buckle will not remain (female piece) latched. this has been replaced by dealership twice. *ak *yh