2012 Ford Escape Seat belts Problems
- Complaints
- 19about this part
- Share
- 3%of 604 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 58,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 19 complaints about the seat belts of the 2012 Ford Escape, 3% of the 604 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 58,000 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“This document is in response to a frontal vehicle collision occurring may 16, 2014 on a major highway. At my request I requested the auto body repair shop to check the occupant restraint system. It was determined that the restraint system control module was initiative and probably has been since the car was built. Perhaps an investigation of the same, make, model, and year Ford SUV be considered. All supporting documentation is immediately available.”
NHTSA complaint #10610514, filed 2014-07, 42,983 miles“Escape has several issues, Ford dealer would review and report no issues found. I bought my Escape new in july 2012. 1.front seat belts - within the first year (jan-feb 2013 - mileage 5,000ish) the front seat belts wouldn't retract 90% of the time, causing them to be caught in the door and/or keep the door from closing. 2.transmission issues (nov 2015 - mileage 50,000ish ) it shifts badly, sometimes acts as if its in-between gears when your breaking or accelerating. When you release the peddle and reapply, it'll reengage but at times will lurch again. 3. …”
NHTSA complaint #10861645, filed 2016-04, 50,000 miles“The front seat belts fail to retract. The buckles get caught in the door or the strap keeps the door from closing. The straps start to fray. The car only has 55,000 miles and the belts need to be retracted manually.”
NHTSA complaint #10822418, filed 2016-01, 45,000 miles“I have trouble with the seat belts, they do not retrack by themselves and sometimes they lock up even though I did not stop suddenly., another problem is with my dashboard the lighting goes dim and them bright while I am driving for no reason I can tell, this is all during city street driving. I also have a strong fuel smell which lasts for about 5 minutes when I start the car in the morning.”
NHTSA complaint #11039919, filed 2017-10“The contact rented a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated that a rear passenger attempted to utilize the seat belt but the entire seat belt assembly fractured from the socket. The vehicle was taken back to the rental company where they were informed of the failure. The contact could not verify if anything had been done to correct the failure. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 18,017.”
NHTSA complaint #10490774, filed 2013-01, 18,017 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10109079Sep 30, 2016Some vehicles may have a concern where the safety belt retractor webbing does not extract from the stowed position or exhibits excessive pressure on the occupant during use. This…
Seat belts: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 | 3% |
| 2023 | 1 | 1% |
| 2022 | 5 | 2% |
| 2021 | 8 | 2% |
| 2020 | 13 | 1% |
| 2019 | 6 | 1% |
| 2018 | 9 | 0% |
| 2017 | 14 | 1% |
| 2016 | 5 | 0% |
| 2015 | 14 | 1% |
| 2014 | 26 | 1% |
| 2013 | 43 | 2% |
| 2012 | 19 | 3% |
| 2011 | 6 | 0% |
| 2010 | 5 | 0% |
| 2009 | 7 | 0% |
| 2008 | 5 | 0% |
| 2007 | 7 | 3% |
| 2006 | 4 | 1% |
| 2005 | 8 | 1% |
| 2004 | 10 | 2% |
| 2003 | 4 | 1% |
| 2002 | 14 | 1% |
| 2001 | 29 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2012 Ford Escape
160 complaintsSteering
140 complaintsEngine
73 complaintsVehicle speed control
70 complaintsBody and structure
68 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
66 complaintsOther or unknown
46 complaintsElectrical system
42 complaintsAir bags
25 complaintsBrakes
21 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
20 complaintsSuspension
12 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 Ford Escape
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology