1995 Ford Escort

BOTH FRONT SEAT RETRACTOR MOTORS/TRACKS HAVE FAILED, RESULTING IN FRONT SEAT BELTS INOPERABLE. BELTS STUCK IN PARTIAL RETRACTED MODE RESULTING IN SHOULDER BELTS NOT CORRECTLY POSITIONED TO PROPERLY RESTRAIN DRIVER OR FRONT PASSENGER. ONE BELT IS POSITIONED IF USED WOULD COME ACROSS THE SEATED PERSON'S NECK. IF THIS WHERE A MANUAL SEATBELT SYSTEM THERE WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM, BUT THERE IS NO WAY TO MANUALLY LOCK THE SHOULDER BELT IN THE PROPER POSITION DUE TO THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM EMPLOYED IN THIS VEHICLE AND IT'S FAILURE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED IT HAD 90158 ACTUAL MILES. THE USED CAR DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE RESOLVED WITH THE INSTALLATION OF "SALVAGE" PARTS SINCE THE EXPENSE OF REPAIRING THE SEAT BELTS BY "FORD" WOULD EXCEED THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONFIRM THIS BY TALKING WITH THE REPAIR DEPARTMENTS AT SEVERAL FORD DEALERS IN THE AREA. TALKING WITH A NUMBER INDEPENDANT AUTO REPAIR SHOPS IN THE AREA THIS IS A "COMMON PROBLEM" WITH THESE VEHICLES, HOWEVER FORD WILL NOT HONOR REPAIR OF THIS "SAFETY" ISSUE. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND THIS IS ALSO A COMMON PROBLEM. I HAVE OBSERVED THAT YOUR SITE HAS AN NUMBER OF THE SAME OR SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF NHTSA CONSIDERS THIS A "PASSENGER SAFETY ISSUE" REQUIRING A RECALL, OR DOES DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY HAVE TO OCCUR BEFORE AN ACTION IS TAKEN? SEVERAL COMMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE ON LINE THAT BECAUSE HIS IS A "PASSENGER SAFETY ISSUE" INVOLVING A "REQUIRED SAFETY COMPONENT" THAT FORD IS OBLIGATED TO REPAIR THE SEAT BELT WHTHER OR NOT UNDER WARRENTY WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE VEHICLE OWNER AS LONG AS THE ITEM WAS NOT DAMAGED IN AN ACCIDENT OR SUBJECTED TO IMPROPER USE OR REPAIR. THIS VEHICLE ACCORDING TO CARFAX HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE WAS UNDER 100000 MILES, THE LIMIT OF FORD'S GENERAL WARRANTY.*AK

FUEL STARTED LEAKING. CAR TAKEN TO GARAGE. GARAGE DETERIMINED THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK CRACKED NEAR A RETAINER FITTING AT THE FRONT OF THE TANK DIRECTLY UNDER THE CENTER OF THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP TO DETERMINE SAFETY RECALL STATUS. THIS PROBLEM IS NOTED BY FORD AS A SFETY RECALL BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE MY VEHICLE BY VIRTUE OF ITS VIN. I LIVE IN SOUTH TEXAS WITH ALL OF THE ASSOCIATED HIGH TEMPERATURES IDENTIFIED IN FORD'S RESEARCH AND SAFETY INVESTIGATIONS INTO THESE TANK FAILURES. DEALER REFUSES TO REPLACE TANK AS A SAFETY RECALL. PLASE ADVISE WHAT I DO NEXT. CAR IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE.*AK

SMELL OF GASOLINE INITIALLY NOTED. APPEARANCE OF GASOLINE UNDER VEHICLE FOLLOWING FILLING OF TANK PROMPTED INVESTIGATION OF SOURCE OF GASOLINE SMELL AND LEAK. *NM NO CONSEQUENCES RESULTED FROM LEAKAGE OF GASOLINE. SOURCE OF GASOLINE SMELL/LEAK WAS TRACED TO DETERIORATED HOSE BETWEEN FILLER PIPE AND GASOLINE TANK. HOSE HAD BECOME BRITTLE AND CRACKED NEAR CONNECTION TO GASOLINE TANK. HOSE WAS REPLACED WITH STANDARD FUEL HOSE PURCHASED FROM RETAIL PARTS STORE. HOSE THAT WAS REMOVED IS AVAILABLE.

HAD TO REPLACE GAS TANK DUE TO LEAK ON 8-02, NOW IT IS LEAKING AGAIN ON 5-04 WITH SAME PROBLEM. FORD MOTOR CO. WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT EXCEPT INSTALL ANOTHER AT MY EXPENSE. APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY THE COMPANY. A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE OF THE EXHAUST SO CLOSE TO THE TANK. I HAVE HAD NO FIRES, BECAUSE THE MINUTE I SMELLED GAS I PARKED THE CARE UNTIL IT COULD BE FIXED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE DRIVER SMELLED GAS COMING FROM THE REAR. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. THE DRIVER NOTICED THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING GAS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC TANK AT THE SUPPORT FOR THE HEAT SHIELD. THE GAS LEAKED DOWN THE TANK AND WAS VERY CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST PIPE. RECALL#97V144000. *SC *JB