Seatbelt Damage

[michy]

Hi. I have a 2021 Mach-e. When getting in the back of car I noticed the driver side rear seatbelt was cut in half. After checking the passenger side I found this was also partially cut. The rear seats have only been used for passengers about a dozen times except for an isofix child seat which does not use the seatbelts. It looks like something is cutting into the seat belts inside the roller. I was wondering if anyone else has had any issues.

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[jsteach]

Defective retractor.
Ford's Safety Restraint System Warranty covers seat belt assemblies for five years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. This warranty also covers airbags.

 

[MuckyMach-e]

That appears to be a huge safety issue. The only other example of this I’ve seen is from 2022 here. That one was reported to NHTSA in the US. It looks like you’re from the UK. If you’re not happy with the response from Ford to your issue you can report the issue to the U.K. DVSA here. Let us know what you find out about the cause. In the meantime I’ll be checking my seatbelts out of an abundance of caution.

 

[michy]

Hi. Thank you. I have reported it to DVSA in UK, they replied saying it’s not a safety issue as you can see belts are damaged and therefore wouldn’t use them. My point is what has damaged them in the first place. Ford have said they will replace them but that still doesn’t answer the question. As the rear is to be used mainly for my grandchildren I’m not prepared to put them at risk. Will let you know 5he outcome.

 

[MrDaddyPig]

I have exactly the same issue, on both rear seats. The rear passenger side (UK vehicle left side) belt was completely sliced in two, and the rear driver side was 50% sliced. Its the MME GT, and has just entered its 4th year, with 17K miles, so not used much. The rear seats have been used say 20 times ever in the vehicles life. They were changed in Dec 2025, but Ford said this was NOT covered under warranty, so I had to pay !. 6 Weeks later (yes, that is 6 weeks, not Months), and no one has been in the back of the vehicle at all since the belts were changed, and this is what I find....

Ford have taken the car in again today, to see "if" there is a problem. Of course there is a problem. I'm really please to have seen your post @michy, this proves beyond doubt that there is a serious safety issue with the Mach e.

Is it really safe to put children in this vehicle?

Just remember when you look at these pictures. These were the repaired belt, that had never even been used yet, and this damage occurred in just 6 weeks, and about 250 Miles of travelling !

 

[Maui]

For me the thing I notice, if I don’t watch carefully. When you lay down the seat, and then when you go to close it the belt lays right over the clasp for locking the seat into an upright position. Many times I am slamming the seat against the belt until I realize it’s in the way. I have to hold it out of the way to get it to latch properly.

 

[MrDaddyPig]

For me the thing I notice, if I don’t watch carefully. When you lay down the seat, and then when you go to close it the belt lays right over the clasp for locking the seat into an upright position.

I would agree with that observation. This was not the cause of my broken belts, but it is certainly something you have to watch out for.

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