Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2014 Ford Escape submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 32 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 32, in the owner's own words
I have been needing to add coolant to my car almost bi-weekly and just recently it lost power while getting on the freeway. The airbags have been problematic since I purchased the vehicle even after having the wire harness replaced twice at a Ford dealership. The light will not go off.
Unknown- I purchased my Car in 2021 and I’ve had ongoing transmission issues since I purchased it. As of now the issues have gotten worse. I had the transmission recall repair done, but it did not fix the jerking way my car was driving. The repairs keep getting more costly and I don’t believe there’s an actual fix, but rather that this vehicle was sold with a faulty transmission. As of now I can’t drive my vehicle because last month there was a fire under my hood and it’s totally unsafe for me and my family to be in. Ford won’t take any responsibility but they’ve already had to buy back vehicles for settling them with bad transmissions. This is not new for them.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after driving into a parking space and switching the transmission to the park position, the vehicle suddenly jolted forward and crashed into a brick wall. During the crash, the vehicle experienced significant damage to the front end but no air bag was deployed. The driver sustained neck and back injuries but no medical treatment was required. The vehicle was not towed. No police report was taken. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 110,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while stopped in traffic, he was rear-ended by another vehicle that was driving at 70 MPH. The contact applied the emergency brake to prevent his vehicle from hitting the vehicle in front of him. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact sought treatment at a urgent care where he was treated for the pain in his neck and back. A police report was not filed. The contact drove the vehicle home and contacted a dealer who referred him to an independent collision center. The vehicle was towed to the collision center where the vehicle was repaired. Upon return of the vehicle, the contact stated that the instrument cluster screen was white and would flicker. The vehicle was taken back to the collision center where they towed the vehicle to the Ford dealer. The dealer informed that contact that the instrument cluster was an internal failure and would not cover the cost of repair. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V406000( Electrical System) which he linked to his failure. The manufacturer was notified and informed him that his vehicle was not included in the recall; he was referred to the NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was unknown due to the failure.
THE DASH WARNING LIGHT SHOWS A PERSON IN A SEAT BELT WITH AN AIRBAG ALL THE TIME
"TAKATA RECALL" I HAD A WRECK. I WAS IN MOTION, MAKING A U TURN THROUGH A MEDIAN WITH TREES BLOCKING MY FULL VIEW OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I WAS HIT PRETTY HARD ON THE PASSENGER'S FRONT BUMPER & NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED AT ALL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 20-25 MPH, A VEHICLE CUT IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE FRONT QUARTER PANEL OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE SHOULDER AND HAND, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE PASSENGER WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT LOT AND DEEMED DESTROYED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000. *BF CONSUMER ALSO STATED DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG AND SEAT BELT FAILED. CONSUMER 'S RIGHT SIDE HIT AGAINST SEAT BELT BUCKLE, CAUSING HER TO SEVERLY BRUISE WITH INJURY. 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT A NORMAL RATE OF SPEED (65), AS BY VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL OUT. THE CAR STOPPED DRIVING RIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY, AND I WAS BARELY ABLE TO PULL IT TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT GETTING HIT BY OTHER CARS. ONCE I PULLED TO THE SHOULDER, THE CAR BEGAN SMOKING. SMOKE QUICKLY FILLED THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. BEFORE I COULD ROLL ALL THE WINDOWS DOWN, THE ENGINE HAD BURST INTO FLAMES.
I WAS IN A AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT WHEN ANOTHER CAR FAILED TO YIELD RIGHT OF WAY. MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. MY SEAT BELT ALSO DID NOT HOLD ME TIGHT IN THE SEAT. I HAD SHOULDER AND NECK INJURIES. I CALLED FORD MOTOR CO. THEY HAVE REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING. MY CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS.
I HIT A DEER HEAD ON WITH EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE AND THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED BECAUSE THE DEER DID NOT HIT THE BUMPER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STATIONARY, IN THE PARK POSITION, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS AND CRASHED INTO THE NEIGHBOR'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE ROLLAWAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S DOOR CLIPPED ONTO THE CAR PORT HOUSING, IN WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED UNDER, AND THE DRIVER'S DOOR HINGE FRACTURED. UPON IMPACT WITH THE REAR SPARE TIRE MOUNT OF THE NEIGHBOR'S VEHICLE, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED, AS THE CONTACT WAS NOT IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH AND NEITHER WAS THE NEIGHBOR. THE CONTACT CALLED THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND REMAINED IN POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE THEREAFTER. IN ADDITION, AN AUTOBODY REPAIR SHOP WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ROLLAWAY. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION, PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A HISTORY OF TRANSMISSION FAILURES AND/OR REPAIRS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000. *TR
I GOT A CARD IN THE MAIL FOR ME TOO CHECK TOO SEE IF MY VEHICLE IS IN THE RECALL ON TAKATA AIRBAGS.
I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. ALL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AIR BAG DID NOT. I SUSTAINED SHOULDER AND NECK INJURIES. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. THEY FAILED TO HELP ME IN ANY WAY. I HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT FAILED TO YIELD RIGHT OF WAY TO ME. IT HAPPENED ON A TOWN STREET. FORD SAID THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HELP PAY FOR THE COST OF MY CAR.
OUR 2014 FORD ESCAPE WAS INVOLVED WITH A FRONT SIDE CRASH. DRIVER ACCIDENTLY PULLED OUT ON A CITY STREET IN FRONT OF ANOTHER CAR AND WAS HIT. THE WHOLE FRONT END WAS DESTROYED. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS ENGAGED. OUR VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT AIR BAGS WERE IN OUR VEHICLE, BUT THEY DIDN'T WORK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SEAT FELL BACKWARDS DUE TO THE IMPACT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND CRASHED INTO THE GUARDRAIL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. IN ADDITION, THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN, WHICH PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK AND CHEST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V643000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
TAKATA RECALL. PURCHASED SEPT 2013. REAR ENDED TWICE WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH OF OWNERSHIP. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EITHER TIME. BLEAKLEY FORD REPAIRED BOTH TIMES. 2015 GOT RECALL NOTICE FOR 'AIRBAGS'. ASKED SERVICE PERSON WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE AIRBAGS. SHE SAID 'THEY HAD TO BE TURNED ON". THIS MEANS, THEY WERE TURNED OFF WHEN THE CAR LEFT THE FACTORY, AND WHEN I WAS REAR ENDED BOTH TIMES. THIS INDICATED THAT FORD KNEW THE AIRBAGS WERE DANGEROUS, AND WAS TURNING THEM OFF IN THE FACTORY. I FOUND MY VEHICLE ON ONE TAKATA LIST, SO I KNOW IT HAS THEM. I HAVE REQUESTED SEVERAL TIME TO HAVE MY AIRBAGS REPLACED, BUT THEY JUST BRUSH ME OFF. I'M VERY NERVOUS NOT KNOWING IF THEY ARE GOING TO EXPLODE WHILE I'M DRIVING. I LIVE IN THE SOUTH WHERE IT IS HOT AND HUMID. I UNDERSTAND THESE ARE EXACTLY THE CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE THE PRESSURIZED GAS CONTAINER TO EXPLODE, SENDING SHRAPNEL INTO THE PASSENGERS AND DRIVER. I FEEL FORD SHOULD BE PROSECUTED FOR PREMEDITATED ENDANGERMENT OF MILLIONS OF CUSTOMERS. 1ST MVA: BRAKING WHEN REAR ENDED. 2ND MVA: SITTING STILL @ RED LIGHT WHEN STRUCK FROM BEHIND. BOTH SPEEDS CALCULATED @ 45 MPH.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V643000 (AIR BAGS); 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 MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE DRIVING IN FRONT ABRUPTLY STOPPED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL ODOR IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS RIGHT SHOULDER AND CHEST ALONG WITH UPPER BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH INTERNAL CONTROL MODULE SOFTWARE INCOMPATIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD A PREVIOUS ACCIDENT IN 2014 WHERE THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED THEN. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE FOR THE ACCIDENT IN 2014. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,000. UPDATED 04/25/17*LJ *CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE MERGED RAPIDLY AHEAD CAUSING A CRASH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A LOWER BACK INJURY AND THE PASSENGER LOCATED ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT IN A BOOSTER SEAT SUSTAINED A RIGHT KNEE INJURY. THERE WAS NO INJURY TO THE PERSON IN THE OTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED BUT NO ONE WAS TRANSPORTED FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP WHERE IT WAS PENDING BODY REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000. UPDATED 12/23/16*LJ UPDATED 01/05/17.*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS ARE DIM AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A LARGE LANDSCAPING STONE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000. UPDATED 06/21/16*LJ *TR
A DRIVER TURNED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME WHILE I WENT THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AT 40 MPH. I CAR WAS HIT HEAD ON, THE ENTIRE FRONT END AND FRAME WAS DESTROYED. NOT ONE OF MY AIRBAGS WAS DEPLOYED. I HAD JUST HAD LEFT SHOULDER SURGERY AND THE ONLY RESTRAINT WAS MY LAP AND CHEST SEAT BELT. I HAVE HAD TO GO THROUGH SURGERY, MULTIPLE DENTAL REPAIRS, REHAB. FORD TOLD ME THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO RECALL ON THE ESCAPE BUT THE CAR WAS DETERMINED TO BE TOTALED AND WAS GONE QUICKLY. I ONLY HOPE THAT THEY RECALL THESE FAULTY AIRBAGS QUICKLY BEFORE THERE ARE MORE DEATHS ATTRIBUTED TO THEM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED, WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED TWO BLACK EYES AND VARIOUS BRUISES ALL OVER THE BODY. THE CONTACT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V597000 (AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO PROVIDE THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V597000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN NOVEMBER OF 2014. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE GIVEN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 09/25/15*LJ UPDATED 01/26/15.*JB
I BOUGHT THIS CAR A YEAR AGO, AND PUT A ROAD SAFETY KIT UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. LAST WEEK MY PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND THE AIRBAG WAS DISCONNECTED. THE DEALER SAID A WIRE BROKE BECAUSE THAT KIT WAS UNDER THE SEAT. THEY ARE CHARGING ME OVER $200.00 TO REPLACE THIS BROKEN WIRE AND PIGTAIL! THIS IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN THAT SUCH A SMALL ITEM CAN DISARM A BIG SAFETY FEATURE. WHY IS THIS AREA SO ACCESSIBLE TO SUCH A PROBLEM? THIS IS A BIG ENGINEERING DEFECT ON FORD'S PART. THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED AND HAVE A GUARD OF SOME SORT INSTALLED TO KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING. EVEN A CHILD COULD KICK SOMETHING SMALL, EVEN A BABY BOTTLE, UNDER THE SEAT. THEN, THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT WORK AS AN ADULT GOT INTO THE CAR. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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