1996 Ford Escort Seat Belts:front:retractor Problems
NHTSA component category: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR · data through 07/14/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How seat belts:front:retractor ranks on this vehicle
Share of the 205 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 1996 Ford Escort overview page.
What owners report
“DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DOES NOT FULLY EXTEND FROM RETRACTING MECHANISM, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.”NHTSA complaint 893481 — filed 08/06/2001
“SPEEDOMETER JUMPS ERRATICALLY AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH. NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY ALTHOUGH BROCHURE LEADS YOU TO BELIEVE SO. DEALERSHIP KNEW IT WAS THE…”NHTSA complaint 747121 — filed 06/20/2001
“BOTH REAR SHOULDER BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT; LEAVING OCCUPANTS WITHOUT ANY RESTRAINT. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY, AND ANY…”NHTSA complaint 872510 — filed 10/08/2000
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Seat Belts:front:retractor complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 1996 Ford Escort have seat belts:front:retractor problems?
Seat Belts:front:retractor is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 1996 Ford Escort: 27 of 205 complaints on file (13.2%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 1996 Ford Escort have in total?
205 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 23 involved a crash, 7 involved a fire, 25 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's seat belts:front:retractor category include?
NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.
