2003 Ford Escape Air Bags

MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAD BEEN COMING ON, AND AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS IT STAYED ON CONSTANTLY. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED TO HAVE IT CHECKED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CONNECTOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT FOR THE SIDE MOUNT AIR BAG NEEDED REPLACING. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT IF THIS WAS NOT REPAIRED, THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IF NEEDED! I ASKED IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS MADE TO FORD ON THIS ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY. I FEARED FOR THE SAFETY OF ANYONE THAT MIGHT BE A PASSENGER IN MY VEHICLE IF IT SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, SO I WENT AHEAD WITH THE REPAIR. I VOICED MY DISSATISFACTION WITH THE COST OF THE REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THAT ALL I COULD DO ABOUT IT WAS CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THIS PART COST $36.49 AND $210 FOR THE LABOR. *TR

THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON IN OUR 2003 FORD ESCAPE. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP WHO INFORMED US THAT THE SENSOR HAS FAILED FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND THAT IF WE ARE IN AN ACCIDENT, THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. THE COST FOR THIS REPAIR IS QUOTED AT APPROXIMATELY $500.00. AT THIS POINT WE ARE NOT IN A FINANCIAL POSITION TO MAKE THIS REPAIR AND WE ARE FORCED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND HOPE THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. THERE HAS BEEN NO PRIOR WARNING NOR ANY ACCIDENT THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS FAILURE. *TR

BEGINNING IN APRIL 2007, MY 2003 FORD ESCAPE XLT (CURRENT MILEAGE 118754) EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. IF THE POWER DRIVER'S SEAT HAD BEEN MOVED, THEN THE LIGHT WOULD APPEAR AND FLASH ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, THEN DISAPPEAR WITHOUT ANY ACTION TAKEN. THIS SERIES OF EVENT HAPPENED 2-3 TIMES BETWEEN APRIL - JUNE, 2007. THE LAST TIME THE PROBLEM SURFACED WAS JUNE 25, 2007. THE LIGHT WAS FLASHING WHEN I STARTED MY VEHICLE ON JUNE 26, 2007. APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES AFTER STARTING MY VEHICLE ON THAT DATE, I WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN A TRUCK APPROACHING FROM MY LEFT LOST ITS TRAILER. THE TRAILER CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES PER HOUR. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS WITHIN MY VEHICLE DEPLOYED. MY VEHICLE SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. ALTHOUGH NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED AS A RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT, I BELIEVE THAT AN IMPACT OF THIS FORCE INTO MY FRONT BUMPER SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED MY FRONT AIR BAGS, AND THAT THE FAILURE TO DEPLOY CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE FAULTY SENSOR ON MY INSTRUMENT PANEL.

CUSTOMER WANTS TO KNOW IF AIR BAGS FOR 2003 FORD ESCAPE HAVE BEEN RECALLED. **CC THE AIR BAG LIGHT BLINKS ON THEN OFF. CONSUMER NOT SURE WHAT THIS INDICATES. *NM

I OWN A 2003 FORD ESCAPE UP TO NOW I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS I GUESS KNOCK ON WOOD I HAVE BEEN LUCKY. LATELY THE AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND THEN IT STAYS ON. FROM READING SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS THERE MIGHT BE SEVERAL REASONS AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENS. I HAVE READ THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM, MAYBE FORD SHOULD TAKE THE FIRST STEP AND RECALL THE VEHICLES TO GET THIS FIXED. *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH IN 2003 FORD ESCAPE NOTICED ON 09/20/06 THAT AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD TURNED ON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE DID HAVE A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT AT THAT TIME. AS PER OWNERS MANUAL DIRECTIONS, THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP WHO PERFORMED SOME TYPE OF REPAIR AND CHARGED THE CONSUMER $100. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON 10/28/06 FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE CONTACT WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD HER THAT THEY DID SEE THAT THE LIGHT WAS TURNING ON AND OFF, AND THEY TOLD HER THAT THEY WERE GOING TO GREASE THE CABLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE WHICH CABLE THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR 3 MORE WEEKS WHEN THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED. SHE TOOK VEHICLE IN TO DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG , BUT THE LIGHT DIDN'T COME BACK ON FOR ANOTHER 3 WEEKS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE DEALERSHIP GREASED THE SAME CABLE AND TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THE CABLE IS UNDER VEHICLE CODE #1877. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON 11/27/06 THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH STAYED ON WHILE DRIVING. *AK UPDATED 1/22/2007 - THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THE LIGHT AND THAT AND THAT THE AIR BAS WAS WORKING PROPERLY. HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT HE BELIEVES THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE LIGHT ITSELF. *NM

WE RECENTLY HIT A DEER GOING IN BETWEEN 45 50 MILES PER HOUR. AND THE AIR BAGS NEVER WENT OFF. I WAS WONDERING WHY THEY DIDN'T THERE IS SEVERAL THOUSANDS DOLLARS IN DAMAGE. *NM

THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON 98% OF THE TIME. I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THIS IS A FORD PROBLEM, THAT FORD IS WORKING ON IT AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEY STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. ON A RARE OCCASION THE LIGHT WILL GO OUT. *JB

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE WITH 38,000 MILES ON IT. WITHIN THE FIRST 2 MONTHS THE AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND SOMETIMES STAYING ON SOMETIMES GOING OFF. AFTER ABOUT 2 TO 3 MONTHS IT WENT OFF AND STAYED OFF FOR ANOTHER COUPLE OF MONTHS. EVENTUALLY IT STARTED COMING ON AGAIN AND IS NOW STAYING ON THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME. I AM A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF MY AIRBAG IS WORKING WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON. *JB

AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD SPORADICALLY COME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND IN THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES, THE SENSORS AND WIRES THAT HELP DEPLOY THE AIR BAGS WERE DEFECTIVE. N CASE OF AN ACCIDENT THE AIR BAGS WOULD HAVE NOT DEPLOYED. THE DEALER REPAIRED ALL THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES. *NM

VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES BECAUSE THE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE AND STAY ON. WHEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN A FAULTY CONNECTOR TO THE FRONT AIR BAGS (3 TIMES), THE SIDE AIRBAGS (1 TIME) AND THE SEAT BELT SENSOR (1 TIME). THE LAST INCIDENT WAS AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND IT WAS A STRUGGLE GETTING FORD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. LESSON LEARNED: DOCUMENT EVERYTHING AND CONTACT A LAWYER BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. *NM

DT:THE CONTACT STATES THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE LIGHT CAN CAME ON AT ANY TIME WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. ONCE THE LIGHT WAS ON IT STAYED ON UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER IN USE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ,AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THEREFORE , THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

2003 FORD ESCAPE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, THE FRONT END RECEIVED MASSIVE DAMAGE. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING , HIT HER HEAD. THE POLICE OFFICER ON THE SCENE MADE THE STATEMENT THAT THE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THE CAR IS AT THE AUTO SHOP FOR ESTIMATE, AS OF 10-10-05 THE ESTIMATE HAS HIT 9300.00, WITH MORE EXPECTED. *NM

POTENTIAL SAFETY DEFECT IN THE 2003 FORD ESCAPE.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER DID NOT STATE IF HE WAS INJURED. *JB

DT: THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHICH INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE DISENGAGED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER IN ONE WEEK.. FIFTH TIME TOTAL. THE DEALER SAID THEY WILL FIX IT BY FIXING A BROKEN WIRE OR RESETTING THE COMPUTER. MANUFACTURER SAID THEY WILL TRY TO FIX IT. *AK *NM

LTR TO FORD CONCERNING A SAFETY DEFECT RE DEFECTIVE WIRING OF THE SIDE AIRBAGS IN 2003 FORD ESCAPE. *BF THE CONSUMER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE FOR THE FAULTY AIR BAG WIRING. AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE AT THE DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. WHEN THE REPAIRS WERE MADE THE DEALER REFUSED TO COVER THE COST OF REPLACING THE FAULTY WIRING BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS 200 MILES OVER THE 50000 MILE WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER EXPLAINED THAT THE VEHICLE WENT OVER THE MILEAGE WHILE WAITING FOR THE RECALLED PART TO ARRIVE. *NM

THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION IN HIS 2003 FORD ESCAPE. UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *NM PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 6 SIX OCCASIONS BECAUSE THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *JB

THE AIR BAG CHECK LIGHT REMAINED ON, AND HAD BEEN REPAIRED 6 TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IF HER VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK

MY WIFE, DONNA P. WRIGHT, WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 12/10/2004 AT APPROX. 7:15 AM ON MARRIOTTSVILLE ROAD # 2 IN ELDERSBURG, MD. THE ACCIDENT INVOLVED OUR 2003 FORD ESCAPE AND FORD F350 TRUCK PULLING A TRAILER WITH A BOBCAT HEAVY EQUIPMENT. IT WAS RAINING HEAVILY AT THE TIME. THE FORD TRUCK WAS APPROACHING A CURVE WHEN ITS TRAILER JACKNIFED AND HIT MY WIFE'S FORD ESCAPE HEAD ON. ACCORDING TO THE BODY SHOP OWNER WHO TOWED OUR CAR, THE FRAME WAS BENT IN TWO FEET. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE, BUMPER, HOOD, RADIATOR AND BUMPER. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. HOWEVER, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEEPLY. FORTUNATELY, MY WIFE ESCAPED WITH MINOR INJURIES (CUTS AND BRUISES). I IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED FORD MOTOR COMPANY CONSUMER RELATIONS. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT IF I WANTED TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE AIRBAGS NOT TO DEPLOY, THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND PAY FOR THE TEST OF THE SENSOR. I FIND THAT RATHER RIDICULOUS.*JB

THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT YET THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED A SPRAINED NECK AND HEMATOMA CAUSED BY THE SEAT BELT. *NM THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE DUE TO THE AIRBAG LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMING ON AND EVENTUALLY STAYING ON. CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE NECK AS A RESULT OF THE AIR BAG NOT DEPLOYING. POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. CONSUMER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. *TC

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35 TO 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER WORE A SEAT BELT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE JUMP IN FRONT OF THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD ONTO THE SHOULDER, HIT AN EMBANKMENT AND FLIPPED THREE TIMES. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *NLM