2014 Ford Escape Seat Belts Problems
NHTSA lists 26 seat belt complaints for the 2014 Ford Escape, about 1% of its 2,084 total complaints, including 3 crashes, 1 fire, and 4 injuries at a median 52,000 miles. A related recall, campaign 14V597000, covers seat belts and air bags on some 2013-2014 Ford models.
- Seat Belts complaints
- 26
- 1% of 2,084
- Crashes reported
- 3
- Fires reported
- 1
- Injuries reported
- 4
- Median mileage
- 52,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical seat belt symptoms owners report
- Seat belts fail to restrain occupants during a collision, letting them strike the dashboard or interior.
- Rear seat belt buckles get trapped underneath the seat cushion when the rear seat is folded down, making them impossible to use.
- Seat belt assemblies rattle, pop, lock in place, or stop adjusting, sometimes requiring dealer replacement that owners say recurred.
- Seat belt latches or buckle tongues fail to click or lock into place, including a spring failure inside the latch mechanism reported around 59,500 miles.
- Seat belts fail to retract once pulled out, leaving the belt hanging loose.
When 2014 Ford Escape seat belt complaints were filed
First complaint Aug 2, 2014, latest Sep 8, 2025.
Seat Belts recalls for the 2014 Ford Escape
- NHTSA 14V597000Sep 26, 2014Seat Belts746,842 vehicles
Seat belts
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford C-Max vehicles manufactured January 19, 2012, to November 21, 2013; Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured February 3, 2012, to August 24, 2013; Ford Escape vehicles manufactured October 5, 2011, to November 1, 2013; and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured April 25, 2012, to September 30, 2013. The coating on portions of the Restraint Control Module (RCM) may crack, and when exposed to humidity, circuits on the printed circuit board may short.
Risk: The short circuits could cause the frontal air bags, side curtain air bags and the seat belt pretensioners to not function as intended when needed, increasing the risk of occupant injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RCM, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. The recall began on May 26,2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S21.
Seat Belts complaints by Escape model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many seat belt complaints does NHTSA have for the 2014 Ford Escape?
- NHTSA lists 26 seat belt complaints for the 2014 Ford Escape, about 1% of the 2,084 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a seat belt recall for the 2014 Ford Escape?
- Yes. Campaign 14V597000, reported in September 2014, covers seat belts and air bags on certain 2013-2014 Ford models including the Escape. Ford's remedy involves dealers replacing the RCM, though parts availability has been an issue.
- At what mileage do seat belt problems typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure for seat belt complaints on the 2014 Ford Escape is 52,000 miles.
- Have seat belt failures caused crashes or injuries?
- NHTSA records show 3 crashes, 1 fire, and 4 injuries linked to seat belt complaints on the 2014 Ford Escape.
- Is the 2014 Escape worse than other years for seat belt complaints?
- The 2013 Ford Escape has more seat belt complaints at 43, a 2% share, compared to 26 complaints and a 1% share for 2014, so 2014 is not the worst year for this issue.