FaultScore

2009 Ford Escape airbag problems

14 of the 2,349 complaints about the 2009 Ford Escape are about the airbag system — 1% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 23,435 miles.

F

14

Complaints

5

Crashes

0

Fires

3

Injuries

Exactly what failed

AIR Bags 11 78.6%
Side/Window 2 14.3%
Frontal 1 7.1%

Airbags across every Ford Escape year

2001 67 11.2%
2002 80 13.4%
2003 62 10.4%
2004 45 7.5%
2005 35 5.9%
2006 18 3.0%
2007 12 2.0%
2008 31 5.2%
2009 14 2.3%
2010 14 2.3%
2011 26 4.3%
2012 24 4.0%
2013 54 9.0%
2014 32 5.4%
2015 16 2.7%
2016 24 4.0%
2017 21 3.5%
2019 11 1.8%
2020 12 2.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Bonifay, FL

AIR BAGS

My power steering just went out a sensor, a recall i have read.My ABS just went to the floor for no reason, a part that was not made, also a recall I have read. My ignition is faulty, put another in but it isn't fixed. I have a button to start it. Mechanic fixed this contraception up. Air bags faulty passenger side.The car tells me to check it. All of these are recalls on the 2009 Ford Escape xlt, but they say no recalls. I wanted to get this all fixed. But it looks like this may be my death car. I am not of very much income fixed income so I can't afford to take to dealership to fix. But I have had certified mechanic look at it. I think it's terrible Ford doesn't acknowledge this and send me to a dealership it 80 miles from me. But they would tag this a "Lemon" and it is dangerous for my safety and others on the roads if everything goes out completely. I will be dead. I have 74,000 original miles on this Ford Escape. Not many miles for the troubles I have and am experiencing. Thanks for letting me share my opinion and maybe something can be done about this.

NHTSA complaint #11583422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Prineville, OR Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

Unknown. Steering and brakes locked so i lost all control of the vehicle doing about 60 mph down the highway. Which resulted in being drove off the side of the highway through a fence hitting 2 trees before rolling twice. The airbags never deployed and both my passenger and i were taken to the hospital by ambulance. They sustained deep bruising and i suffered a closed wedge compression fracture of the L2 Vertebrae and some lacerations

NHTSA complaint #11579592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Whitefield, OK

AIR BAGS

STEERING HAS TENSION WITHOUT WARNING HAVE TO STOP KILL THE CAR WAIT. RESTART. TO RESET...ANY SUDDEN TURNS ARE A SAFETY HAZARD.!!!!!!!! THERE SHOULD. NOT BE AN EXPIRATION ON SUCH AN IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL

NHTSA complaint #11398683 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Phoenix, AZ Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

'TAKATA RECALL' I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT JUNE 8TH 2018 WHERE MY SUV WAS TOTALED OUT. MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY SO I'M TRYING TO SEE WHAT HELP CAN I GET. I WAS MAKING PAYMENTS ON THE SUV. I HIT MY HEAD BAD NOW I SUFFER HEAD ISSUES THAT I'M GETTING TREATED FOR ALSO I HAD A PASSENGER WHO WAS HURT.

NHTSA complaint #11102896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 150,000 miles Decatur, GA Crash

AIR BAGS

WE WERE IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. BRIDGE WAS ICY, AND TRAFFIC WAS STOPPED. WE SLID ON THE ICE AND REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. WE WERE THEN REAR-ENDED AND DRIVEN MUCH HARDER IN TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. NO AIRBAG DEPLOYED IN OUR CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10944201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 57,810 miles Washington, DC

AIR BAGS

JUNTA COVER VLVULA

NHTSA complaint #10838211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 99,000 miles Dillwyn, VA

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE TRACTION CONTROL, ABS, AIR BAG, AND EAS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V373000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CLOCK SPRING WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

NHTSA complaint #10761476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Griffin, GA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY BELT FAILED TO RETRACT CAUSING THE CONTACT TO HIT HER CHEST AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE CRASH, THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFT INTO THE PARK POSITION AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO PUT WOODEN BLOCKS AROUND THE TIRES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND CONTUSIONS TO THE SPINE, NECK, SHOULDER AND KNEES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10630622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 63,000 miles Massillon, OH

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SITTING AT A STOP SIGN BOTH SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT HE NEEDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

NHTSA complaint #10458771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 10,000 miles Lawrenceville, IL

AIR BAGS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY WHETHER A PASSENGER WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT SEAT OR NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BUT NO CODES INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED REPEATEDLY BUT THEY NEVER RETURNED THE CALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,000.

NHTSA complaint #10349155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 23,435 miles Dallesport`, WA Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

ON 7/14/2010 OUR 2009 FORD ESCAPE WAS INVOLVED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENT IN WHICH IT WAS HIT IN THE FRONT END BY A FUGITIVE BEING CHASED BY LOCAL POLICE. THE CAR WAS HIT IN THE FRONT END. THE ESCAPE WAS AT A STOPLIGHT AND NOT MOVING, THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS EST. TO BE GOING 70MPH? THE CAR HAS IN EXCESS OF $16,000 IN DAMAGE, THE FRAME RAILS BENT, AXLES BROKE AND THE FRONT END SHIFTED TO ONE SIDE. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. NO FRONT OR SIDE BAGS. THE CAR IS BEING REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIR BAGS AND IF THEY WILL EVER WORK? THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 23KMILES ON IT. SERVICED REGULARLY.

NHTSA complaint #10344439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 13,000 miles Wake Forest, NC

AIR BAGS

WARNING LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD APPEAR INTERMITTENTLY. THE LIGHTS THAT COME ON ARE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT AND THE ADVANCE TRACTION CONTROL. ALSO THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE MIDDLE OF THE DASHBOARD FLASHES OFF AND ON. ONLY HAPPENS MAYBE 20% OF THE TIME. HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER TWICE, THE CODES THAT COME UP THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE SO CAN'T DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. WHEN I DO TAKE IT IN MOST OF THE TIMES THE LIGHTS DON'T COME ON SO THEY ASK WHETS THE PROBLEM? I DON'T KNOW IF THE CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE OR NOT.

NHTSA complaint #10284014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 9,987 miles Churchville, PA

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

STARTED FROM A STOPPED POSITION, LESS THAN 10 MPH. SIDE AIRBAGS WENT OFF. NOTING HIT THE CAR AND WE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING AND NOTHING FELL ON THE CAR. WE WERE ON AN EVEN SMOOTH PAVEMENT.

NHTSA complaint #10281025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3,300 miles Santee, CA

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

ON JUNE 2ND 2009 I WAS DRIVING MY NEW FORD ESCAPE ON HIGHWAY 101 HEADING WEST WHEN BOTH SIDE AIRBAGS INSTANTLY DEPLOYED. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING OR GET IN AN ACCIDENT. THE SEATBELT LOCKED ME INTO THE SEAT, I PULLED OFF THE NEXT EXIT WHICH WAS TOPANGA CANYON. I DROVE AROUND THE CORNER TO VISTA FORD AND THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT OTHER THAN THE AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED. FORD HAS BEEN SHIPPED THE RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE AND SAYS IT WILL TAKE 3 MONTHS TO ANALYZE. FORD WILL NOT WARRANTY THIS UNTIL THEY DETERMINE IT WAS A DEFECT. IN THE MEAN TIME MY INSURANCE IS HAVING VISTA FORD REPLACE THE MODULE AND AIRBAGS. I WILL GET THE VEHICLE BACK AND HAVE TO DRIVE IT. I CONSIDER THIS VEHICLE UNSAFE AND DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE IT. UNFORTUNATELY MY JOB REQUIRES ME TO DRIVE 2500 MILE A MONTH ALL AROUND SOUTHERN CA. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR FOR 3 MONTHS, I'VE ALREADY INCURRED $650.00 OF RENTAL CAR EXPENSES SINCE JUNE 2ND SO THAT I CAN CONTINUE WORKING. I AM BEING FORCED TO DRIVE AN UNSAFE CAR BY FORD.

NHTSA complaint #10276281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2009 Ford Escape problems

← Full 2009 Ford Escape report