The middle rear seat belt latch dropped below the fold down seat when it was folded down. This made fastening the seat belt impossible. The latch is inaccessible. Cannot bring it back up without completely removing the seat.
2014 Ford Escape seatbelts problems
severe 18 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $500 · see seatbelts across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$500
1crash
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 18 seatbelts complaints filed for the 2014 Ford Escape, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 15 model years of Ford Escape in our records for seatbelts problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA seatbelts complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had seatbelts trouble with your 2014 Ford Escape?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the seatbelts problem on the 2014 Ford Escape?
It's a meaningful issue. 18 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $500.
At what mileage does the seatbelts typically fail?
Across the 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most seatbelts failures cluster between 25,000 and 59,500 miles, with the median around 44,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 25,000; a quarter make it past 59,500. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $500 for seatbelts repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to seatbelts?
No active recalls currently cover seatbelts issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2014/Ford/Escape.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.