Consumer was informed that the restraint safety belts would lock on an impact of 5 mph and that a hard pull on the belts should acuate locking mechanism, however this does not occur, both belts fail to lock during a hard pull.

- Seminole, FL, USA

Consumer was informed that the restraint safety belts would lock on an impact of 5 mph and that a hard pull on the belts should acuate locking mechanism, however this does not occur, both belts fail to lock during a hard pull.

- Seminole, FL, USA

Both left and right side rear seat belts have not worked properly since shortly after purchaceing the car. The rear seat belts will not retract and pull up the tension of the belts. These belts will not protect the rear passengers from injury. Ford states that no recall has been issued for the belts and it will cost almost $500 to fix them for us. The Ford dealer in el paso, tx (on Montana street) let my wife drive away with rear seatblets that will not hold our children in thier seats in event of an accident. Furthermore, they said that if we had come to them before 48,000 miles they would have fixed them at no charge. I expected them to repair the seat belts at no charge (and still do).

- El Paso, TX, USA

While driving and upon making a sudden stop shoulder belt failed to restrain driver's side occupant which forced driver into the steering wheel, causing injuries to occupant. Consumer has contacted dealer. Dealer replaced seatbelt.

- Westport, NY, USA

This was my mother's car-pearl lee. She subsequently died-2months later. In the accident she was rear ended yet her seat belt broke and her seat was slammed backwards into the back seat. Her head slammed into the dash and she was knocked out. I believe the fault was probably in the seat belt and seat track. She was not driving fast or reckless. The car was totaled by state farm in Decatur Illinois. Please contact me for further details.

- Nashville, TN, USA

The springs actually broke into pieces, which is very hard to believe because of the thickness of the springs - transmission only went out at 82,000 mile, which is also hard to believe. But after speaking with several people who repair them, they informed me that the Ford Escort transmissions usually go out at 60,000 miles. This is a common problem with this vehicle and Ford is aware of this situation. The person who is replacing my transmission at this time is going to being on his 5th Ford Escort within in a week estimating the mileage infromation of being replaced between 54,000 and 85,000 miles. Why can this not be a recall"??" please advise.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Consumer was driving on the highway and she bent down for a second to pick up something from the floorboard. When she straightened up, vehicle had veered over into the side of the road, and turned away from hitting a mailbox. Then, hit an enbankment and flipped over, twice, landing on the top side. Consumer had to force the door open. Upon impact, dual airbags didn't deploy, and the seat belt broke. Consumer sustained head injuries.

- Thompson, GA, USA

Seat belt is not working.

- Frazier Pa, CA, USA

Seatbelt on the drivers side, shoulder(automatic) stuck and would not work, had T worked on, suuck and replaced it with a used one. This one stuck and we replaced it with a new one from the dealer. Now the new one has stuck and will not function, we have put several hundred dollars into the belt and it still does not work. We are very upset.

- Commerce City, CO, USA

The repair bill on the motorized shoulder belt system will be between $300 and $400. The Ford dealer I contacted stated that this is not an uncommon problem with these cars. How many people are not able to afford this repair, and are driving with no restraint system? I contacted Ford to see if perhaps a normal shoulder belt could be fitted into this car. They couldn't help me.

- Lincoln, NE, USA

Seat belt guide broke off from the side of the drivers seat. Nlm

- Rockville, MD, USA

My automatic seatbelt does not work. I took it in to have it fixed and they said the whole thing needs to be replaced at a cost of over $700. They could not even fix the seatbelt because Ford has the part on backorder and couldn't even tell them when the part would come in. I took this to mean many Ford Escort wagons have this problem. Also, the part you attach the seatbelt to is positioned at the front so I can't even manually put my seatbelt on. I pray each day I drive the car that I don't get into an accident.

- Scottsdale, AZ, USA

Continued and iignored safety issue by Ford...please fix and now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- Lyndonville, VT, USA

Failed in 50 previous reports from 1995-fix this [xxx] thing. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Lyndonville, VT, USA

Driver's side seat belt is broken. The dealer has been notified.

- Sedalia, MO, USA

/passenger's shoulder belt and rear side seat belt don't work. When using the middle seat belt, the seat belt will get tight while seat belt is on, and then gets loose. Also, the slide to used to tighten/adjust the middle seat belt won't stay tight.

- Mesquice, TX, USA

Automatic driver-side seatbelt malfunctioned and is not covered byt warranty according to Ford dealership. I feel this is a valid safety issue and should be repaired a no charge to myself. Estimate for repair is approximately $350. For a new motor. I am worried about driving the car without the shoulder harness.

- South Paris, ME, USA

Seat belt failure and no deployment of air bag during collision resulting in injuries to chest and back.

- De Funiak, FL, USA

Seat belt will not retract automatically.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

Consumer has taken vehicle to gateway Ford on hwy 192 in kassimmee fl. 4 times, 1st time Nov. 96 through Feb. 97 they told him that they would do anything until the intermittent horn goes out completely. He has written and called customer's serv.1-800-392-3673 N.

- Kissimmee, FL, USA