Problems · by component

2002 Ford Escape air bags problems

83 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Ford Escape cite air bags, 8% of all 1,070 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
83
8% of all complaints
Crashes
25
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
17
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“GEARS IS HARD TO SHIFT TO THE RIGHT GEAR AND LIGHTS WENT OUT EARLY LIKE A DRAIN IN ELECTRICAL AND MY STEARING IS BECOMING HARD TO TURN ON STREETS AND OUT MY DRIVE WAY”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 19, 2020Steering, Air bags, WheelsCrash reportedODI 11365092
“ON 12/20/2013 I HAD THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS REPLACED, AND HAD TO PAY 1,279.79. IN APRIL 2014 YOU ANNOUNCED A RECALL FOR THIS SAME ITEM. FOR SOME TREASON YOU EXCLUDED MY CAR. CONSIDERING MY CAR REQUIRED THE EXACT ITEM REPLACED ONLY 4 MONTHS PRIOR, I AM REQUESTING TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THAT REPAIR. ALSO A COMPLAINT I HAVE IS THE WARNING LIGHT FOR THE AIRBAG WILL NOT GO OUT. A DEFECT THAT DOES NOT SEEM REPAIRABLE. IN LIGHT OF THE AIRBAG RECALL I AM CONCERNED I AM SITTING IN FRONT OF A LOADED GUN. I WILL KEEP THIS COMPLAINT WHERE MY FAMILY CAN FIND IT AND RESPOND ACCORDINGLY IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME AFTER YOU HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS COMPLAINT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 21, 2019Suspension, Air bagsODI 11245533
“AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND ALSO I HAVE A ISSUE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUSPENSION THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES WITH THE CAR AND NEVER WAS FIXED BY PREVIOUS OWNER NOW IM STUCK WITH A CAR THAT HAS PAST RECALLED ISSUES. IF YOU OWN A CAR AND JUST PURCHASED IT BY PREVIOUS OWNER MAKE SURE THAT RECALLS HAVE BEEN FIXED ON VEHICLE. NOW I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MY VEHICLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 14, 2017Steering, Suspension, Air bagsODI 11023506
“THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON ON THE DASHBOARD. IT CONTINUES TO STAY ON AND BEEPS FIVE TIMES REPEATING FIVE TIMES. THIS OCCURS DURING START UP OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT ALSO OCCURS ABOUT 30 MINUTES AFTER CONTINUOUS DRIVING.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 2, 2017Air bagsODI 11021164
“AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUALLY ILLUMINATES; CABLE COUPLING UNDER PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT COMPLETE THE CIRCUIT WHICH TRIGGERS THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. THIS CONDITION OCCURS IN ALL WEATHER AND DRIVING CONDITIONS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 24, 2017Air bagsODI 11019333
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 20, 2017Air bagsODI 11000191

Showing 6 of 83 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.