2013 Ford Escape Airbags Problems

I bought a 2013 escape 3-4 months ago. It had a clear car fax as well as clean on Ford.com. recently the air bag light has been flashing on and as time has gone on, it is staying on longer. I just had it diagnosed at a Ford Dealership and was told it was an air bag sensor, with a cost of over $2000. After digging deeper, I discovered that the Air Bag and sensors were replaced in 2016 under the recalls at the time. I understand that this was done and I am only asking for some financial assistance as I can no longer drive my escape. I know i bought an older car, but Ford will not help with any assistance and it seems they have an obligation since this problem has been happening over and over. i worked in Ford dealerships for over 40 years. Please help.

NHTSA ID

11712338

Incident

Dec 1, 2025

Ford recall 14s21 was performed on this vehicle in 2015. I currently have a DTC b10a2. The code indicates that the restraint control module has failed. I contacted the local ford dealer, Cavalier Ford, and was told that the item was out of warranty. The issue is safety. The representative that I spoke with did not understand that the item that was the focus of the original recall has failed. Based on the original recall, the air bags and belt pretensioner could fail in the event of an accident. The replacement of the original item does not provide long term protection since it has failed again.

NHTSA ID

11668180

Incident

Jun 20, 2025

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon shifting the vehicle into drive, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact became aware that the vehicle responded as needed while shifted into reverse. The contact also stated that a message was displayed, alerting the contact of an air bag deployment. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V597000 (Air Bags, Seat Belts) and 22V413000 (Power Train); but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 141,000.

NHTSA ID

11619302

Incident

Oct 8, 2024

Mileage

141,000 mi

The contact owned a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH, the rear passenger side door erroneously opened causing a distraction to the driver and the vehicle crashed into the rear of a second vehicle. During the crash, the front end of the vehicle was severely damaged but the air bag did not deploy. During the crash, the contact sustained neck, shoulder, and back injuries. No medical treatment was received. The vehicle was destroyed. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The cause of the failures was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 212,000.

NHTSA ID

11602972

Incident

May 11, 2024

Mileage

212,000 mi

I purchased my vehicle may 6,2020 Accident accord in Winnie,Tx June 22,2020 on the highway me and my kids father were on the highway at the time the highway was getting construction work done as we were driving down the highway street someone hit us broke one of my ribs and my left elbow as well I didn’t have any knowledge of knowing my vehicle had a recall until I just realize searching on my vehicle I purchased and the reason why it wasn’t taken cared before I had family matters sorry so late Briana Roy The consumer stated that she suffered a lot of traumas during this incident. No assistance has been offered yet due to the incident occurring during the pandemic.

NHTSA ID

11536839

Incident

Jun 22, 2020

I was in an accident on 5/13/2023 and I got hit head on in the front. None of my airbags came out.

NHTSA ID

11521868

Incident

May 13, 2023

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while on the highway during rush hour driving at 30 MPH, the vehicle behind failed to slow down causing her to crash into the vehicle in front when her vehicle was rear-ended. The contact stated the seat belt's pretensions failed to function, and the air bags failed to deploy. During the impact, the contact hit her head on the steering wheel. In addition, the contact sustained a fractured nose, facial bruises, and neck injuries. An ambulance arrived at the scene and treated the contact then transported her to the emergency room where a MRI and CT scan was performed. The police arrived on the scene and filed a police report. There was damage to the front bumpers and grill and rear of the vehicle, but it was drivable. The vehicle failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V597000 (Air Bags, Seat Belts). The approximate failure mileage was 99,000.

NHTSA ID

11474507

Incident

Jun 14, 2022

Mileage

99,000 mi

Bought my 2013 Ford Escape SEL 2 years ago. The airbag light has been on the whole time. I went and had it checked after I was hit in the passenger front side and airbags did not depoly. My husband got hurt. I was told it needs a part replaced. I know there was a recall on the airbags on this vehicle and the owner stated never had it replaced thru recall. I always have my 2 youngest grandbabies with me and I want to keep them safe. This is very important. Please help. 2nd issue is the front suspension, I can go over a rough road and it sounds awful making noise the whole time.

NHTSA ID

11436684

Incident

Nov 3, 2020

The contact owned a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at 75 mph, a deer unexpectedly ran across the freeway. As a result, the vehicle ran into the deer. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. There were no injuries sustained but the contact suffered a sore back. The vehicle was not drivable and was towed to their home address. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic as a total loss. The vehicle was not repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 106,200.

NHTSA ID

11421857

Incident

Jun 10, 2021

Mileage

106,200 mi

THIS CAR WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THE CAR STRUCK SEVERAL TREES HITTING THE FRONT END OF THE CAR AND THEN LANDED ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE FRONT AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED NOT DID THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG. MY TEENAGER WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN IT TURNED OVER HE HAS BEEN CONCERNED WITH WHY THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THE SIDE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE WITH THE WAY THE CAR LANDED ON ITS SIDE. IF THE AIRBAG HAD OF DEPLOYED THEN HIS HEAD WOULD HAVE NEVER HIT THE WINDOW. THERE IS NO WAY THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURES I FEEL THAT SOMEONE CAN HONESTLY TELL ME THAT IT JUST DIDN'T HIT WHERE THE SENSOR WAS AND THAT'S THE REASON. HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS THAT WE AREN'T AWARE OF OR COULD THERE BE AN ISSUE. THIS HAS US CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE THAN IT WAS AND MAYBE IF THE AIRBAGS HAD OF DEPLOYED THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN MORE INJURIES BUT SOMETHING JUST DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT. THE ACCIDENT HAPPEN ON A SIDE STREET THE SPEED WAS ABOUT 40 MPH GOING AROUND A CURVE MOVED OVER TO THE EDGE OF THE ROAD DUE TO CAR BEING IN HIS LANE. WHEN MOVING OVER THE CAR STARTED SLIDING INTO THE WET GRASS TRIED BRINGING BACK BUT OVER CORRECTED THEN THE CAR STRUCK A TREE HEAD AN EMBANKMENT THEN TURNED OVER IN DRIVER SIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID

11323452

Incident

May 2, 2020

Mileage

1,350,009 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE AIR BAG ABOVE THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NEWINS BAY SHORE FORD LOCATED AT (219 W MAIN ST, BAY SHORE, NY 11706 631-665-1300) BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

NHTSA ID

11308979

Incident

Jan 13, 2020

Mileage

92,000 mi

MY VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. I WAS REAR ENDED BY A MID SIZE CAR GOING AT LEAST 55MPH. THE VEHICLE DID NOT BREAK BEFORE COLLIDING WITH MY VEHICLE. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH MY DRIVERS SEAT AND MY PASSENGERS SEAS BROKE. THE PLASTIC SURROUNDING THE BASE OF MY SEAT WAS DISLODGED AND CRACKED. THE METAL STRUCTURE OF THE SEATS ALSO BROKE. BOTH MY DRIVERS SEAT AND FRONT PASSENGERS SEAT WERE COMPLETELY LAID BACK AND DID NOT RAISE AFTER THE COLLISION. THE SEATS BEFORE THE COLLISION WERE IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. DUE TO THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING MY HEAD CONTACTED THE STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA ID

11306608

Incident

Feb 2, 2020

Mileage

69,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED AFTER BUCKLING THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT. ADDITIONALLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT ALARM WAS INOPERABLE AND DID NOT CHIME WHEN THE SEAT BELT WAS NOT FASTENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT SENSOR WAS FAULTY. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. *BF *JS

NHTSA ID

11265558

Incident

Sep 20, 2019

Mileage

60,000 mi

MY FIANC AND I WERE PULLING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND STOPPED COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THE SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY AND MY FIANC IS VERY LUCKY TO BE ALIVE! IT WASN'T UNTIL WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE THAT WE REALIZED THAT THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE HAS HAD SO MANY RECALLS. THERE ALSO HAS BEEN SO MANY OFFICIAL STALLING COMPLAINTS THAT AN INVESTIGATION HAD BEEEN NECESSARY! SINCE THE ACCIDENT, THE STALLING ISSUE HAS NOT IMPROVED BUT WORSENS AND IS NOW STALLING EVERYTIME WE PUT GAS INTO THE VEHICLE. IT STALLS AND WON'T START AGAIN. HE WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY; UPON EXITING THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUT COMPLETELY OFF AT THE HIGHWAY EXIT RAMP LUCKILY HE WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OFF ON THE SHOULDER OR HE WOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN YET ANOTHER ACCIDENT AND POTENTIALLY KILLED! FORD REALLY NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM! THESE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND FROM WHAT I HAVE READ MOST ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE FROM THE BEGINNING OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. WHEN MY FIANC WAS INJURED IN THE FIRST STALLING ACCIDENT WE WEREN'T THE OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE, MY AUNT WAS ALLOWING US TO BORROW HER VEHICLE AND SHE RECENTLY SOLD IT TO US; NOW THAT WE OWN THE VEHICLE WE REALIZE THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED AND SHOULD HAVE! ALSO I UNDERSTAND THE SIDE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING IS ANOTHER RECALL ISSUE THAT HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED WITH OUR SUV!

NHTSA ID

11164326

Incident

Nov 23, 2016

CAR RANDOMLY SHUTS OFF HAS SHUT OFF 3 TIMES SINCE GETTING IT BACK FROM DEALER... CAR WAS PARKED FOR 4 HOURS AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND WAITING FOR THE RPM TO DROP WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE AND ACCELERATED THE ENGINE SHUT OFF POWER WAS STILL ON . THE SECOND TIME THE ENGINE SHUT OFF CAR WAS IDLING FOR 10 MINS AFTER A 25 MIN SRIVE FROM WORK WHWN I DROVE OFF MADE A TURN A BLOCK AWAY ENGINE SHUT OFF HAD HIT HAZARDS THROW GEAR INTO NEUTRAL ROLING TO A SAFE DISTANCE FROM CORNER YO STOP. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPEN CAR WAS NOT IDLE AFTER DRIVING SEVERAL BLOCKS AFTER A ROLLING STOP SIGN MY CSR SHUT OFFF IN THE MIDDLE DFLE OFF INTERSECTION. CAR HAS SAID TO BE FIXED BY DEALERSHIP BUT ITS NOT AUR BAG LIGHT STAYS WENT OFF AFTER TAKING IT IN BUT IS NOW LIT AFAIN

NHTSA ID

11114004

Incident

Jul 11, 2018

Mileage

66,000 mi

JUST BECAUSE THE VIN ON THIS SPECIFIC 2013 ESCAPE DOESN'T MATCH ALL THE RECALLS DOESN'T MEAN IT DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME ISSUES. I'VE ALREADY HAD TO HAVE THE WATER PUMP REPLACED AND THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. THERE'S ELECTRICAL ISSUES, HVAC ISSUES, DOOR ISSUES, DELAYED ACCELERATION ISSUES, THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND ON WITH THIS VEHICLE. I REACHED OUT TO FORD AND THEY OFFERED NO HELP. YOUR SYSTEM ONLY ALLOWS ME TO CHECK THREE PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID

11091890

Incident

Nov 1, 2017

Mileage

65,000 mi

VEHICLE SOLD TO ME AS PART OF MILITARY CAR SALES PROGRAM OVERSEAS. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO FULFILL RECALLS AT OVERSEAS LOCATION, FORD DEALERSHIP SAID THEY ARE UNABLE TO ACQUIRE THE PARTS NECESSARY FOR COMPLETING THE RECALLS IN THE UK.

NHTSA ID

11073755

Incident

Mar 17, 2016

Mileage

40,000 mi

I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON JULY 26, 2015 AND THE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AFTER I HAD RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE MANY MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT> EVERY TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR MAINTENANCE, THEY SAID THERE WAS NO "FIX" YET AT THE TIME. MY 2013 FORD ESCAPE WAS TOTALED IN THE ACCIDENT. I WAS DRIVING AT A RATE OF ABOUT 20/25 MPH WESTBOUND ON THE 2600 BLOCK ON ELM STREET ON SUNDAY 07/26/15 AT ABOUT 1:30 PM CST. I WAS ON THE LEFT LANE WHEN A CAR IN THE LEFT LANE MADE AN ILLEGAL LEFT TURN FROM HIS LANE IN AN ATTEMPT TO PARK AND T-BONED MY CAR INSTEAD. ALL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED EXCEPT FOR THE SIDE IMPACT BAG ON THE DRIVERS SEE THAT WAS ON THE RECALL. MY HEAD STRUCK THE DOOR FRAME AND I SUFFERED A CONCUSSION, MULTIPLE SOFT TISSUE INJURIES AND A TEMPORAL MANDIBULAR DISORDER

NHTSA ID

11046059

Incident

Jul 26, 2015

Mileage

30,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WAITED A FEW MINUTES, AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR FAILED TO REMAIN LOCKED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V237000 (AIR BAGS), 14V239000 (STRUCTURE), 14V597000 (AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS), AND 16V643000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIRS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT AND VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10967634

Incident

Aug 10, 2016

Mileage

138,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V597000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V643000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL ISSUES. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE AND PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10965816

Incident

Mar 14, 2017

2013 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DRIVER SIDE DOOR LATCH PROBLEMS IS IDENTICAL TO PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LATCH RECALL NOTICE. CONSUMER REQUESTS RECALL FOR DRIVER SIDE DOOR LATCH. *SMD

NHTSA ID

10947150

Incident

Jan 2, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V597000 (AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS) AND 16V643000 (LATCHES/ LOCKS/LINKAGES). THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 01/06/2017*CT UPDATED 01/17/17.*JB

NHTSA ID

10924110

Incident

Nov 3, 2016

ON JANUARY 28, 2015 , WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN THE CITY OF TRUJILLO PERU . THE ENGINE STOPPED, THE WITNESSES OF THE ENGINE , OIL AND ALSO THE BATTERY SIGN LIT UP. SO I DECIDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE AUTHORIZED FORD ,, WHERE FORD MECHANICS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE HAD NO OIL, INTERCOOLER AND DUCTS , SPARK BURNT WITH OIL RESIDUE WORKSHOP. THEN THE WORKSHOP ASKS ME TO AUTHORIZE DISASSEMBLE THE ENGINE TO REPAIR , THE VEHICLE HAD 12.583 KM LONG, AND IS WITHIN THE FACTORY WARRANTY THEN , ASK THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING OF THE CITY OF TRUJILLO TO CONDUCT AN OCULAR INSPECTION. TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAULT AND THE DETERMINATION OF THE SEVERITY OCCURRED IN THE VEHICLE , OF COURSE WITH THE CONSENT OF FORD PERU , FORD WHICH HE REFUSED TO PERFORM AN EXPERT .

NHTSA ID

10864171

Incident

Jan 28, 2015

Mileage

12,583 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V597000 (AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10853469

Incident

Sep 12, 2015

ONGOING LIST OF RECALLS SOME OF WHICH DO NOT EVEN WORK ITS A DANGEROUS DISTRACTING VEHICLE TO DRIVE ENDLESS TRIPS TO THE DEALERS.THIS IS NOT A SAFE AND RELIABLE CAR

NHTSA ID

10820003

Incident

Feb 5, 2014

Mileage

8,000 mi