2001 Ford Escape Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER NOR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,230.

GOING DOWN ROUTE. 226 WHEN A BIG BUCK RAN OUT IN FRONT OF THE FORD ESCAPE. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THE NYS TROOPERS CAME TO THE ACCIDENT. HAD TO TAKE MY SON TO THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE OF HITTING HIS UPPER BODY AND FACE ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO OPEN. MY BACK AND NECK IS SORE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR. THE WARNING LIGHT HAD BEEN FLASHING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,700. *TR

ON NOVEMBER 11, 2013, WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING A 2001 FORD ESCAPE AT NIGHT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE 5 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, THE FRONT SIDE AIRBAG ON THE DRIVERS SIDE (BUILT INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACKREST) SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED, FRIGHTENING AND NEARLY CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CAR HAD NOT HIT A POT HOLE OR ANY OTHER OBJECT THAT MIGHT EXPLAIN THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG. THE AIRBAG HIT THE DRIVERS ARM, CAUSING RED MARKS THAT LASTED A DAY, BUT FORTUNATELY NO LASTING INJURY. AFTER PULLING THE CAR OVER AND FINDING NO OTHER DAMAGE (BESIDES THE RIPPED-OUT SIDE OF THE BACKREST WITH THE DEFLATED AIRBAG) THAT WOULD AFFECT OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DRIVEN HOME APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES. THE INCIDENT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND, ON 11/14, WAS DRIVEN TO JIM WILSON FORD IN YREKA, CA TO TRY TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE AND COST OF REPAIR. THE DEALER SAID THAT TWO OR THREE MALFUNCTIONS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY, BUT THEY COULDN'T PIN DOWN THE CAUSE. COST OF REPAIR IS ESTIMATED TO BE $2,043. AS OF TODAY (11/21/13), THE AIRBAG HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED, THINKING THAT MORE INVESTIGATION MIGHT BE PROPOSED FOR THE POTENTIALLY SERIOUS AND EVEN DEADLY DEFECT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO ADVISED HIM THAT THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS LATER . THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 120,000. *TR UPDATED 04/30/13*LJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AROUND A CURVE, SHE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE DRIVER WAS HOSPITALIZED DUE TO HEAD INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 06/05/12*LJ UPDATED 06/06/12 *JS

THE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL COME ON AND FLASH 3 TIMES AND THEN A FRLEW MORE TIMES. IT WILL STAY ON, FLASH AND GO OFF AND REPETE. *TR

CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT-END COLLISION AT ABOUT 30-35 MPH IN DEC 2002. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. FORD DEALER REPAIRED DAMAGE. AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD FLASH AND STAY ON AT INTERMITTENT TIMES. DEALER CHECKED AND COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. RECENTLY THE AIR BAG LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH, THEN STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY, EVERY TIME VEHICLE WAS STARTED. NOW THE AIR BAG LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON, HOWEVER WE RECEIVE A SERIES OF 5 BEEPS, 5 TIMES, EVERY TIME CAR IS STARTED, AND EVERY 30 MINUTES IF VEHICLE IS RUNNING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND WERE TOLD THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE AIRBAG WIRING HARNESS. TOTAL COST = OVER $1100. DEALER WOULD NOT GUARANTEE THIS WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. INTERNET RESEARCH REVEALS WE ARE NOT THE ONLY CONSUMERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO REPAIR ALL ESCAPES SINCE THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. *TR

THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN 3 TIMES. THE FIRST DATE WAS 11-12-2003. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUED TO STAY ON. THE CONSEQUENCE OF THIS IS THAT WE ARE NOT SURE WHEN THE BAG WILL DEPLOY OR NOT. DEALER TRACED AND FOUND OPEN CIRCUIT, CONNECTOR NOT SEATED. RESECURED AND SYSTEM PASSED. THIS WAS THE FIRST OCCURRENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THIS DEALERSHIP UP TO FOUR TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A WHIPLASH. AS OF SEPTEMBER 17, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE DESIGNED TO DEPLOY IN CERTAIN CONDITIONS AND BECAUSE THEY DID NOT, DOES NOT NECESSARILY INDICATE A FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

MY DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR CRASH WHICH RESULTED IN HER 2001 FORD ESCAPE BEING TOTALED AND AT NO TIME DID THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY. SHE WENT ACROSS THREE LANES OF HIGHWAY HIT THE GUARD RAIL WENT BACK ACROSS THE THREE LANES AND HIT THE OTHER GUARD RAIL. SHE LIVES TO TELL HER STORY. SHE NOW HAS PAIN IN HER CERVICAL SPINE RESULTING IN HER SEEING A DOCTOR ON A REGULAR BASIS. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION AND NEITHER FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10-20 MPH. THE SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE AT THE TIME. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED.

IN JUNE 2005, I WAS TRAVELING TO WORK WHEN MY CAR HYDROPLANED AND I HIT A BRIDGE. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I SUFFERED A FEW BUMPS AND BRUISES BUT NEVER WENT TO THE DOCTOR. IF THE ACCIDENT WERE WORSE THAN WHAT IT WAS AND THE AIR BAGS MALFUNCTIONED, I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I WENT TO FORD AND NOTHING WAS EVER DONE ABOUT IT. IT WAS NEVER LOOKED INTO TO SEE IF THEY DID INFACT MALFUNCTION. I LOOKED UP THE RECALLS AND THERE WAS ONE TO THE WHEEL AND SOMETHING ELSE AND I WANT TO SEE IF THAT RECALL WERE FIXED. *JB

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. PROBLEM BEGAN AFTER COMPLETION OF FORD RECALL 04S13.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS TURNING IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, CAUSING IT TO SWERVED AROUND THE VEHICLE TRYING TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. IN THE PROCESS, IT HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 30 MPH,WHEN SUDDENLY A VEHICLE TURNED IN FRONT OF HIS/HER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BECAME INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND THE AIR BAG'S DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE LIGHT WOULD STAY ILLUMINATED THE REMAINDER OF THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED. THE DEALERSHIP TRIED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE 3 TIMES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *JB *SC

AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED. FORD STATED THAT THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP. *AK

ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALER REPLACED VARIOUS PARTS ON ALL OCCASIONS AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION.. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AS A RESULT DRIVER SUSTAINED CERVICAL SPINE STRAIN. *AK

ON APRIL 1, 2004, A 1995 FORD TAURUS TURNED IN FRONT OF MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE. I WAS TRAVELING AT A SPEED AROUND 40MPH AND SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE HIT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT OF HER VEHICLE. MY AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND MY CAR WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. I SUFFERED A STRAINED NECK, STRAINED BACK MUSCLES, MULTIPLE CONTUSIONS FROM THE SEATBELT ,AS WELL AS A PULMONARY CONTUSION. I FEEL THAT MY INJURIES WERE ENHANCED DUE TO AIRBAG FAILURE.*AK

WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER NOTIFIED DEALER. *AK

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*JB

WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION.UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM REAR WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *PH