There are 20 owner-reported air bags & restraints complaints for the 2006 Ford Escapein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
I was in a major high speed frontal crash on April 4th. I hydroplaned on 204 and I almost died and none of my airbags deployed. I have several videos from the tow yard showing that they were still intact and didn't deploy, but this firm won'tlet me upload them. This car has never been in a wreck before, and my airbags were never recalled like other Takota ones around that time period. The wreck so serious that none of the first responders knew how I survived or on crawled out of the car to get help. The only savageable things for parts in that entire car were two floorboards and my airbags didn't deploy at all. I have suffered many lacerations and bruising all over my body.
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT FLICKERS ON AND OFF AND THEN IT WILL STAY ON AND A LOUD INDICATION NOISE WILL TURN ON AND OFF.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE OCCUPANT SENSOR SERVICE KIT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000. UPDATED 8/28/15*CN UPDATED 10/14/15*JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE CHEST THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE MIGHT BE RELATED TO THE THROTTLE BODY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
ON FEB 25, 2016, MY CAR WAS HIT BY A CAR AT MY REAR PART, AND THEN I HIT A CAR AT MY FRONT. MY FRONT AIRBAG CAME OUT FROM STEERING WHEEL AND AT THE SAME TIME MY RIGHT HAND WAS BURNED BY THE HOT GAS LEAKING FROM THE AIR BAG. MY INJURY IS IN A 2IN X 2IN SIZE. MY HAND GET RECOVERED AFTER ONE MONTH LEAVING A DARK SCAR. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM A DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS CAR HAD A ACCIDENT IN 2006/2007, THE REAR PART WAS HIT AND REPAIRED, THE DEALER SHOWED ME THE CARFAX, BUT I DIDN'T KEEP A COPY. THE FRONT AIRBAG SHOULD BE THE ORIGINAL INSTALLATION. I DID EMAIL THE DETAILS TO FORD, BUT THE ANSWER FROM FORD WAS THAT THIS IS NOT THE MANUFACTURER'S PROBLEM, AND NO EXPLANATION AT ALL. AFTER GOOGLE SEARCHING THE POSSIBILITY OF AIR BAG LEAKING OF HOT GAS, AN EXACTLY SAME INJURY WAS REPORTED ON CHRYSLER: HTTP://ARTICLES.CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM/1999-02-25/BUSINESS/9902250383_1_AIR-BAG-HAND-BURNS-CHRYSLER-VEHICLES. *TR
I OWN A 2006 FORD ESCAPE XLT WITH 100,000 MILES. 90% HIGHWAY MILES, WELL MAINTAINED WITH DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. HAVE ALL PAPER WORK. "MY BIGGEST WORRY IS THE STALLING FOR NO REASON AND AN ACCIDENT HAPPENING AND THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE". JAN. 2015 I HAD A INTAKE AND VALVE OIL LEAK THAT WAS FIXED 3 TIMES, JAN, FEB AND MARCH. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IN MARCH, I MENTIONED THAT MY VEHICLE HAD STALLED IN MY DRIVEWAY AFTER A 30 MINUTE HIGHWAY DRIVE FROM WORK. THEY PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER AND SAID THERE WAS NO CODE FOR A STALL. DEALER SAID FORD SENT THEM NOTICE DESCRIBING MY SAME ISSUE BUT COULDN'T CONFIRM IT WAS THE TORQUE CONVERTER. APRIL 10TH 2015 I WAS OUT OF EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE STALLING HAPPENED AGAIN LATE APRIL, TOOK TO DEALER AGAIN. DEALER SAID NO CODES AGAIN. TOOK STRAIGHT TO UNCLE AFTER LEAVING DEALER FOR HIM TO LOOK AT AND COULDN'T GET THE VEHICLE TO STALL AFTER A WEEK OF HAVING IT. I'VE READ ONLINE FORUMS OF PEOPLE REPLACING TRANSMISSION MULTIPLE TIMES FOR TORQUE CONVERTER AND OTHER ISSUES WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. ALSO, AFTER 3 DEER RAN OUT IN FRONT OF ME 2 YEARS AGO, REPAIRS DONE TO PHYSICAL DAMAGE AND PASSENGER SEATBELT REPLACED TWICE DURING REPAIRS, PASSENGER SEATBELT AND AIRBAG LIGHTS COME ON AND SEATBELT ALERT BEEPS WHILE DRIVING EVEN KNOW THE PASSENGER HAS THE SEATBELT ON. I HAVE TO PARK, SHUT DOWN, BUCKLE SEATBELT AND THEN START AGAIN AND THIS WORKED EXCEPT FOR ONE TIME I HAD TO REPEAT THIS A SECOND TIME. DEALER SAID THERE WAS NO CODES FOR AIRBAGS OR SEAT BELTS. FORD HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED YET. ALSO, WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW I HAD THE UNDERBODY SPRAYED BUT THE REAR WHEEL WELLS ARE RUSTING FROM UNDERNEATH TO OUTER BODY AND RUSTING UNDER FRONT DOORS TOO. *TR
AS I GOT HOME I TRIED TO UNBUCKLE THE SEATBELT AND IT WOULD NOT RELEASE. MULTIPLE TRIES STILL DIDN'T HELP. I HAD TO PULL REALLY HARD TO GET IT TO RELEASE AND HURT MY HAND. EACH TIME SINCE HAS MADE IT SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE, IT LOCKS IN BUT DOES NOT WANT TO RELEASE. TOOK ME TEN MINS TO GET IT UNHOOKED LAST TIME I USED IT. *TR
DECEMBER 6 2013 MY CAR WAS STRUCK ON CENTER COLUMN. THE TRUCK WENT THROUGH A STOP SIGN STRIKING MY CAR AS I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE SIDE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL THAT CAME WITH MY VEHICLE BUT DID NOT. THERE WERE NECK INJURIES SUSTAINED BY ME WHICH I BELIEVE COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED HAD THE SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. CALLED FORD AND LOCAL DEALER. NEITHER ONE WOULD GIVE AN ANSWER AS TO WHY THEY DID NOT DEPLOY.[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
2006 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO NON-DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS, DURING ACCIDENT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES. HE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED AND HIS WIFE WAS KILLED. *JB UPDATED 07/27/15. *JB UPDATED 03/11/15.*JB UPDATED 08/23/2017*CT
THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY ON THE STEERING WHEEL HAS AN EXTREMELY THIN COVER, IT IS MUCH THINNER THAN THE ONE ON MY 2003 FORD EXCURSION OR THE ONE MY 2009 KIA. THE COVERING IS A LITTLE THICKER THAN A PIECE OF PAPER AND IT IS NOW CRACKING. IT CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT A ONE AND A HALF INCH CRACK ON THE COVERING LOCATED ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN. THIS VEHICLE IS GARAGED AND DOES NOT REMAIN OUTDOORS FOR EXTENDED PERIODS. WHEN IT IS OUTDOORS A SUNSCREEN SHADE IS USED ON THE WINDSHIELD TO REDUCE SOLAR DAMAGE. *TR
IN 2011, I PURCHASED MY USED 2006 FORD ESCAPE. ABOUT 3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, I NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD ACTIVATE WHEN AN ADULT WOULD SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, SIGNIFYING THE AIR BAG WAS "OFF" WHEN IT SHOULD BE ACTIVATED. TODAY I HAD MY LOCAL FORD DEALER CHECK THE AIR BAG TO SEE IF IT WORKED PROPERLY. THEY DISCOVERED THAT NOT ONLY WOULD THE AIR BAG NOT OPERATE PROPERLY IN A CRASH, THE SEAT BELT WOULD ALSO FAIL TO LOCK AS IT SHOULD DURING A SUDDEN STOP OR CRASH. SINCE THERE IS NO RECALL ISSUED AND THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, THE COST TO REPAIR THE SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG IS ALL MY RESPONSIBILITY. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS VEHICLE AND ANY OTHERS KNOWN TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD IT TOOK A CERTAIN NUMBER OF VEHICLES TO BE DIAGNOSED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM BEFORE ANY AGENCY WOULD ISSUE A RECALL. EVEN ONE VEHICLE WITH THIS PROBLEM SHOULD PROMPT A RECALL, BECAUSE TECHNICALLY, THIS MALFUNCTION COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS HE CLOSED THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, THE REAR RIGHT AND LEFT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE REPAIR HAD TO BE APPROVED BY THE GENERAL COUNSEL OF FORD. HE HAD NOT RECEIVED A FOLLOW UP CALL WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THERE ARE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN SHE WAS STRUCK FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE AND THEN CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER. THE VEHICLE WAS SPUN AROUND INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AS SHE THEN CRASHED INTO A SECOND CONCRETE BARRIER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES BUT WAS NOT TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,200.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, HE WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND NONE OF AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. THREE PEOPLE WERE INJURED. NO ONE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO FIND OUT WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. NO ACTION WAS TAKEN AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 92,180.
WE HAD AN ACCIDENT IN MY 2006 XLS ESCAPE, STRUCK A TREE . WE HAD OUR SAFETY BELTS ON AND AFTER THE IMPACT MY BOYFRIEND HAD CPR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE INCIDENT OCCURRED, HE WAS NOT BREATHING. NEITHER FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED YET THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BROKE ND THE WIPER UNIT???THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR WAS EXTENSIVE, ALMOST TOTALING IT, THE DAMAGE WAS ABOUT$9000 DOLLARS. THE ONLY REASON IT WAS NOT TOTALED BECAUSE THE SUV HAD ONLY 28,500 MILES ON IT AND HAD BEEN VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND SERVICED REGULARLY BY ONLY FORD TECHNICIANS. I BOUGHT THE CAR FOR WELL OVER 26,000 DOLLARS. THE PASSENGERS AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD ALWAYS COME ON IF I SAT IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT. I HAD IT CHECKED OUT 2 TIMES BY FORD, BUT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING. I NOTICED WHEN THE LIGHT DID COME ON I HD TO ADJUST MY SEAT BACK AND FORTH THEN THE LIGHT WENT OFF. I NOW HAVE IT BACK , A NEW STEERING WHEEL /AIRBAG SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER DAMAGES. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE SUV WITH THE DAMAGES BEFORE IT WAS FIXED. *TR
I WAS DRIVING WITH MY CRUISE CONTROL ON. I TAPPED MY BRAKES TO DISENGAGE MY CRUISE CONTROL AND THEY LOCKED LONG ENOUGH TO SEND ME INTO A FISHTAIL. I OVER-CORRECTED TO COME OUT OF THE FISHTAIL AND THE ESCAPE STARTED ROLLING. THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED EVEN THOUGH THE ESCAPE ROLLED SIX TIMES AND WAS TOTALED WHILE STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. MY DAUGHTER RECEIVED SOME MINOR SCRATCHES ON HER HANDS. I DISLOCATED MY LEFT THUMB, BROKE MY LEFT SHOULDER IN FOUR PLACES, SNAPPED MY LEFT FEMUR IN HALF, SHATTERED THE BOTTOM THIRD OF MY LEFT TIBIA, AND HAD A HAIRLINE FRACTURE TO MY RIGHT TIBIA JUST BELOW THE KNEE. I WAS ALSO THIRTY-FIVE WEEKS PREGNANT AND THE BABY DIED DO TO TRAUMA FROM THE CRASH. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED OCTOBER 7, 2008 AND I AM STILL IN THE HOSPITAL AS I AM WRITING THIS COMPLAINT ON JANUARY 4, 2009. FORD REFUSES TO COME LOOK AT THE ESCAPE TO FIGURE OUT WHY THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. *TR
I PURCHASED A 2006 FORD ESCAPE IN APRIL OF 2006. SINCE THEN TWO MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES HAVE COME UP. FIRST OCCURRED IN 2007. WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED THROUGH A PARKING LOT, A FAULTY BOLT HOLDING THE REAR TIRE TO THE CHASIS FAILED. THIS RESULTED IN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE FALLING INTO THE WHEEL WELL AND A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. FORD REPLACED THE BOLT. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED APRIL 13, 2008. I ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO BUCKLE THE SEAT BELT. IT WOULD NOT BUCKLE. IN BOTH INSTANCES I WAS LUCKY THAT 1- I WAS NOT MOVING AT ANY GREAT SPEED AND 2- DID NOT NEED USE OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT. *TR
I WAS BROADSIDED AND KNOCKED INTO A UTILITY POLE. THE FRONT END WAS WRAPPED AROUND THE UTILITY POLE. I WAS DRIVING MY MOTHER'S 2001 FORD ESCAPE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ANY TIME. DUE TO THIS MY CHEST AND LEFT SHOULDER WERE INJURED GREATLY. I HAD TO BE CUT OUT OF THE SUV. WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVED I HEARD THEM MENTION THAT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND TOLD THEM TO BE CAREFUL WHEN CUTTING ME OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS TAKEN TO THE ER ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT AND ON THE NEXT DAY I HAD TO GO BACK BECAUSE OF HEAD AND CHEST PAINS. I DO BELIEVE IF THE AIR BAGS HAD DEPLOYED MY INJURED WOULD HAVE BEEN LESSER. I HAVE GREAT BILLS BECAUSE MY MOTHER'S INSURANCE DID NOT PAY THE BILLS, BECAUSE I DID NOT LIVE IN THE HOUSE WITH HER. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE WRECKED VEHICLE. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON DRY ROAD CONDITIONS AT 8:02 PM, THE FRONT LEFT CORNER OF THE VEHICLE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO RUN OFF THE ROAD. THE SEATBELT WAS WORN AND BOTH FOG LIGHTS AND HEAD LAMPS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE BOTTOM PORTION AIR BAG PARTIALLY DEPLOYED, BUT THE TOP PORTION FAILED TO OPEN. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK, RESULTING IN IMPACT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING TWO FRACTURES OF THE STERNUM, A HEMATOMA TO THE LEFT CHEST, AND FRACTURES TO THE LEFT SHOULDER, AS WELL AS, HEAVY BRUISING TO THE FOREHEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. PHOTOGRAPHS WERE TAKEN OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER FOR REPAIRS AND MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. REPAIRS WERE MADE PRIOR TO THE MANUFACTURER'S ENGINEER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE AND THE SERVICE DEALER REFUSED TO PROVIDE THE CONTACT WITH THE DEFECTIVE PARTS.
ON 12/7/05, THE MAIN AIR BAG LIGHT LIT UP ON THE DASH. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OWNER'S MANUAL, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH ONLY 542 MILES DRIVEN ON THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS A REPLACEMENT TO A 2005 FORD ESCAPE THAT HAD THIS SAME CHRONIC PROBLEM, WHICH COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BY FORD AFTER SIX REPAIR ATTEMPTS. THE 2005 VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT BACK BY THE MANUFACTURER AND AT NO TIME WAS A PATTERN OF REPAIRS TO THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE DISCLOSED TO ME PRIOR TO PURCHASE OF A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE. WHEN THE 2006 VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIRS, WE WERE ADVISED THAT THE DEALER CURRENTLY HAS SEVEN VEHICLES WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM AND THAT THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IF WE HAD KNOWN ABOUT PRE-EXISTING SAFETY COMPONENT PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL, WE LIKELY WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED A REPLACEMENT. *JB
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026