2004 Ford Escape Air Bags

I have a 2004 Ford Escape which I absolutely love knocking on the door of almost 300,000 miles. Go Ford. But lately my airbag light blinks and my escape beeps 5 times every 8 seconds or so and then it repeats itself with a total of 20 beeps. After the beeping is finished my airbag light stays illuminated. When I checked online what it means it says a defective airbag. It is intermittent or when I am on long trips.

MY 2004 FORD ESCAPE JUST REACHED 120,000 MILES AND MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON NIGHT. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK IT TO DEALER TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG, THEY SAID IT WAS SEAT BELT PROBLEM AND IT WOULD COST $400-$500 TO FIX IT. SO I DECIDED TO GET A SECOND OPINION & I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC THAT DOES ALL MY REPAIRS TO SEE WHAT HE WOULD SAY. HE PUT IT ON COMPUTER TO SEE WHAT SHOWED UP AND IT SAYS SIDE AIRBAG OPEN CIRCUIT. I CALLED DEALER TO SEE WHY THEY SAID IT WAS SEAT BELT ISSUE AND DEALER SAID THEY GET A LOT OF OLDER ESCAPES IN WITH AIRBAG LIGHTS AND ITS USUALLY JUST SEAT BELT ISSUE. I PERSONALLY DON'T TRUST THE DEALER NEAR ME BUT DON'T WANT TO DRIVE 1 HR AWAY TO ANOTHER DEALER. MY MECHANIC IS DOING RESEARCH FOR ME. I TRUST HIM BEFORE THE DEALER. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS ISSUES THE AIRBAGS IN THE 2004 FORD ESCAPE AND THERE NEEDS TO BE AN INVESTIGATION SO A RECALL CAN TAKE AFFECT. HOPEFULLY NO ONE GETS IN AN ACCIDENT AND GETS HURT OR KILLED BC OF THIS ISSUE.

IN APRIL 2016, I PURCHASED A USED 2004 FORD ESCAPE WITH APPROXIMATELY 130,000 MILES ON IT. THE VEHICLE HAD A RECENT STATE INSPECTION STICKER VERIFYING THAT IT PASSED ALL STATE SAFETY STANDARDS, TO INCLUDE HAVING WORKING AIRBAGS. HOWEVER, AFTER DRIVING THE ESCAPE FOR ONLY A FEW DAYS, THE AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND LATER STAYED ON. NOW THE AIRBAG STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. DURING THIS SAME TIME, THE VEHICLE ALSO STARTED EXPERIENCE AN INTERMITTENT STALLING PROBLEM. NOT SURE IF THESE PROBLEMS ARE CONNECTED TO A LARGER ISSUE...ESPECIALLY SINCE BOTH PROBLEMS STARTED OCCURRING AT THE SAME TIME. AFTER READING VARIOUS ARTICLES ONLINE, I REALIZED THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT ISSUE IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG FORD ESCAPES AND EXPENSIVE TO FIX AND SOMETIMES A REOCCURRING PROBLEM. I HAVE DRIVEN MANY OTHER VEHICLES (NON-FORD) WITH OVER 200,000 MILES ON THEM, AND NONE OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE EVER HAD ANY NON-OPERABLE AIRBAG ISSUES. DUE TO THIS BEING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, WITH AIRBAG(S) IN THE FORD ESCAPES BECOMING PREMATURELY INOPERABLE, FORD SHOULD MAKE A SAFETY RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM...BEFORE SOMEONE ACCIDENTALLY GETS HURT OR KILLED, FROM HAVING AN INOPERABLE AIRBAG OR AIRBAGS IN THEIR VEHICLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,400.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED TWO FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES AND TERMINALS. ALSO, THE AIR BAG WARNING FAULT CODE WAS CLEARED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,508.

I HAVE A 2004 FORD ESCAPE, IN 2012 I PAID 336.90 TO HAVE THE AIR BAG FIXED. IN 2014 THE AIR BAG LIGHT RETURNED, I PAID 356.83 FOR IT TO BE FIXED AGAIN. NOW I RECENTLY PAID 99.95 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC FEE TO BE TOLD I NEED TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL 600 PLUS TO HAVE IT FIXED. I CALLED FORD WHO SAID THEY CAN DO NOTHING. I CALLED THE DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS ALLEGEDLY REPAIRED AND THEY WERE OF NO HELP. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM AND I DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO FIX IT AGAIN AND TRULY BELIEVE FORD SHOULD FIX IT AND OR REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COSTS I HAVE INCURRED SO FAR. CAN YOU HELP?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEATBELT ALARM PRE-TENSIONER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD FLASHES AS IT'S SUPPOSED TO AND THEN REMAINS ILLUMINATED. THIS DEFECT WAS PRESENT AND KNOWN ABOUT LONG BEFORE THE 2013 MODEL RECALL. INCLUDE EARLIER YEAR ESCAPES IN THE AIRBAG RECALL--WE ARE STILL DRIVING THEM. *TR

I WAS IN A HEAD ON CRASH GOING APPROXIMATED 35 MPH AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

THE AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES CODE 46 AND STAYS ON, WILL NOT GO OFF. TAKEN IT TO FORD DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES DOES NOT FIX PROBLEM. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND IT IS VERY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE A RECALL. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE! PLEASE DO A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM!!! *TR

AIRBAG SENSOR DISPLAYED ON DASH. WILL NOT GO OFF. SCHEDULING DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON FRIDAY 2/21/2014. RESEARCHED PROBLEM ON INTERNET, APPARENTLY THIS IS HAPPENING MUCH TO OFTEN FOR IT TO BE A INDIVIDUAL PROBLEM. MY MECHANIC STATED IT HAS BECOME A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD ESCAPES. THE COST TO REPAIR IS NOT CHEAP. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT INTERVENED AND ALERTED THE PUBLIC OR AT THE VERY LEAST FORD ESCAPE OWNERS. I AM DISABLED AND HAVE NO INCOME AT THIS TIME. I TRULY HOPE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL HOLD FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUS HURT OR WORSE KILLED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT COMMUNICATE TO THE AIR BAG TO ACTIVATE WHILE ENGAGED. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WIRING SYSTEM TO THE SEAT BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER DID NOT REPLACE THE WIRING SYSTEM. THE DEALER STATED THAT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE AIR BAGS POSSIBLY WOULD NOT DEPLOY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIR. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WIRING IN THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEATS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHING RED, CODE 47, CONNECTORS REPLACED LIGHT STILL ILLUMINATED. DEALER COST ESTIMATE $400+ DOLLARS AND NO WARRANTY. UNABLE TO FIX DUE TO COST WITH NO WARRANTY. REAL SAFETY CONCERN AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN CRASH. *TR

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON. TOOK IT IN TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THEY SAID WE NEED TO REPLACE THE PRETENSIONER AND CONNECTERS. VERY EXPENSIVE ESTIMATE. I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH AND SOMEONE SUGGESTED CHECKING UNDER THE SEAT (DRIVER SIDE) FOR A LOOSE CONNECTION. WE HAVE BEEN ADJUSTING THE SEAT BACK AND FORTH BECAUSE WE HAVE A TEENAGER LEARNING TO DRIVE. WE DID CHECK UNDER THE SEAT TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS NOT A LOOSE CONNECTION. NOW THE AIR BAG LIGHT DOES NOT STAY LIT. NOT SURE IF BY JIGGLING SOME WIRES TO MAKE SURE THERE WASN'T A LOOSE CONNECTION THAT WE MAY HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM. NOT SURE THIS VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

2004 FORD ESCAPE XLT WITH 72,000 MILES. AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AFTER VEHICLE WAS STARTED. TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND AIR BAG LIGHT WENT AWAY. 4 DAYS LATER AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND NOW IT STAYS ON. THE LIGHT FLASHES A CODE OF 4-6 THREE TIMES AND THEN STAYS LIT. I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN CONCERNING THIS ISSUE AND THE FIX IS TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS GOING TO THE SEATBELTS FOR A COST OF AROUND $400.00, WHICH IS NOT COVERED BY THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY. SINCE THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED ITEM IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY A RECALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE FRONT AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND BLINKED THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A SHORTAGE IN THE SEAT BELT SENSOR. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. AS OF AUGUST 12, 2008, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND REMAINS AT THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 66,000.

STARTING APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK AGO, THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON CONSTANTLY IN MY 2004 FORD ESCAPE, INDICATING THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT WHEN IT IS NEEDED. I CALLED RAMSEY FORD, WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR, DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THEM. THEY COULD NOT FIT IT INTO THEIR SCHEDULE UNTIL YESTERDAY. THEY PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT INDICATED THAT BOTH SEAT BELT CONNECTORS SHOULD BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $332.27. THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS IN STOCK, BUT TOLD ME THAT THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT WORK DURING A CRASH. I PAID $42.50 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC. BEING FORCED TO WAIT UNTIL PARTS ARRIVED, BUT WORRIED THAT THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT WORK IF NEEDED, I RESEARCHED AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD ESCAPE AND MANY PEOPLE ARE DRIVING ON THE ROADS WITH NO AIRBAG PROTECTION. IF THIS SAFETY HAZARD IS SO PREVALENT IN THESE VEHICLES, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BY FORD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT LIT. FORD DEALER HAD A SERVICE BULLETIN TO CHANGE WIRING HARNESS FOR $415 WIRING FOR SAFETY EQUIPMENT SHOULD NOT FAIL IN 4 YEARS. *TR

AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE 2004 FORD ESCAPE FLASHES OR STAYS ON. MY SUV HAS 71,000 MILES. *AK

SERVICE BULLETIN 042612 NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 10014302 AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY CHARGED US $50.00 TO FIX..WAS IT A SAFETY PROBLEM IN THAT WE DID NOT KNOW IF AIRBAG WOULD FUNCTION PROPERLY? SHOULD THEY HAVE CHARGED US A FEE? *TR

ON 5/21/2007 WHILE ON MY WAY TO WORK THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE INTRUMENT CLUSTER BEGAN TO FLASH. AFTER A FEW SEQUENCES OF FLASHING THE LIGHT CAME ON STEADY. WHEN I ARRIVED AT WORK I CALLED AND ARRANGED A TIME TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED. ON 5/23/2007 I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALERSHI,P AND THEY INFORMED ME IT WAS A BAD AIRBAG WIRING HARNESS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND THE COST OF PARTS AND LABOR WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $390.00. ALSO, THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST TIME APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR AGO, I CAN GET DETAILS WHEN I GET THE VEHICLE BACK. I GOT THE SAME INDICATIONS , AND A DEALER MADE THE REPAIR AND THE EXPLANATION WAS A SHORTED OUT TWIRE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR. THAT REPAIR COST WAS APPROXIMATELY $300.00. I AS WONDERING IF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, AND IF THIS WAS A SAFETY RELATED FAILURE AM I RESPONSIBE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT HE MAY HAVE PASSED OUT WHILE DRIVING. HE DID NOT REMEMBER CROSSING THE INTERSECTION AND CRASHING INTO A FOUR FOOT PIPE FILLED WITH CONCRETE, AND THEN FLIPPING THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A RUPTURED LEFT LUNG. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 87,000. *AK

FOR THE 5TH TIME WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHED AND REMAINED ON CONSTANTLY. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO SAME DEALER THAT HAS WORKED ON VEHICLE REPEATEDLY FOR SAME AIRBAG PROBLEM. PER DEALER, PERFORM SELF TEST ON RCM MODULE KOEO B1994. PINPOINT TEST FOUND AND REPLACED BOTH SIDE AIR BAG CONNECTOR ON HARNESS SIDE. CLEARED CODE AND RETEST OK AFTER REPAIR. *JB

(1) NORMAL DRIVING TO WORK & SCHOOL. (2) WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY TO WORK APPROX 70 MPH, AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOR 3RD TIME. (3) RETURNED VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER WITH FOLLOWING RESULTS: PERFORM SELF TEST ON RCM MODULE KOEO B1881. PINPOINT TEST FOUND HIGH RESISTANCE ON PASSENGER SIDE PRETENSIONER. REMOVE BOTH FROM SEAT & REPLACED PRETENSIONER CONNECTORS PER TSB 05-17-11. CLEARED CODE & RETEST OK AFTER REPAIR. *JB