2008 Ford Escape Air Bags & Restraints Problems

The contact's son owned a 2008 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her son was driving at approximately 60 - 65 MPH, another vehicle rear-ended his vehicle in a hit-and-run collision. The driver's side front seat fractured and detached, hitting the contact's grandson's face. The airbags were not deployed upon impact. The contact's son sustained head injuries, and her grandson suffered facial fractures and a broken jaw. Medical attention was received. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000. The VIN was unavailable.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, AN ONCOMING VEHICLE CRASHED HEAD ON INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE SIDE AIR BAGS IN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE DEPLOYED, BUT THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS, INCLUDING THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAGS, DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT LATER REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 199,820.

IN THE DASH AND THE STEERING WHEEL, THE COVERS FOR THE AIR BAGS HAVE BECOME SUPER STICKY. I AM WONDERING IF, BECAUSE OF WHERE THE AIR BAGS ARE, THAT SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED BEHIND THE COVERS THAT IS EFFECTING THE CONSISTENCY OF THE COVERS. I HAVE TRIED ALL KINDS OF CLEANERS, GOO BE GONE, ALCOHOL TO REMOVE OR REDUCE THE STICKYNESS BUT NOTHING HAS WORKED. I AM WORRIED THAT IF THE AIR BAGS ARE DEPLOYED THAT THEY WILL EITHER NOT WORK OR THAT SOME CHEMICAL REACTION HAS OCCURRED THAT WOULD BE WORSE THAN THEN NOT DEPLOYING.

FORD ESCAPE APPROACHED A CITY STREET INTERSECTION WITH RIGHT AWAY BY GREEN LIGHT. A TRUCK RAN THE RED LIGHT OF SAME INTERSECTION. THE FORD ESCAPE VEERED TO LEFT TO AVOID BEING DIRECTLY HIT BY TRUCK. AIR BAGS OF FORD ESCAPE DID NOT DEPLOY, WHEREAS THEY DID IN THE TRUCK.

TAKATA INFLATORS> AIRBAG LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY COMES ON

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EDGE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V384000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE DRIVER FELL ASLEEP DUE TO A HEALTH ISSUE AND THE VEHICLE TRAVELED OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A HEAD CONCUSSION AND CRACKED RIBS. THE FRONT PASSENGER INJURED BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT HANDS SEVERELY. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,237.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE AIR BAG AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING) AND AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR, THE FAILURES OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

MY CAR WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, ON THE HWY, IN WHICH THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL AND THE CAR ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES. THE 2 FRONT AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. NONE OF THE 3 ADULT PASSENGERS WERE SERIOUSLY HURT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR $15,000, USED. THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE OPENED. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 FORD ESCAPE AND I CAN PUT THE SEATS DOWN FOR STORAGE AND WHEN I TRIED AND LIFTED THE PASSENGER SEAT UP BEHIND THE DRIVERS, THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WON'T RELEASE AND I CANNOT PUT THE SEAT UP. I HAVE TRIED A CAN OF AIR AND TAPPING ON THE RETRACTOR AND THIS WON'T RELEASE THE SEAT BELT SO I CAN PUT THE SEAT UP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER BECAME STUCK ON EVERY SEAT EXCEPT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

THE SEAT BELT DIDN'T ENGAGE AND THE AIR BAG DIDN'T FULLY INFLATE THEN BROKE OFF AND LANDED IN THE BACK SIT. *TR

VEHICLE WOULD SHOW A WARNING MESSAGE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS STOP SAFELY NOW AND THE FIRST TIME IT HAD DONE THIS WAS APPROX 1 YR FROM THE DATE OF ME BUYING THE VEHICLE. ON THE MORNING OF APRIL 21, 2013 THE SITUATION OCCURRED ONLY THAT THIS TIME I HAD A VEHICLE DIRECTLY BEHIND ME AND ANOTHER IN THE LINE TO MY RIGHT. MY ONLY OPTION ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY WAS TO SWERVE TO MY LEFT TO AVOID ANY OTHER VEHICLES BEING INVOLVED. WITH NO CONTROL OVER BRAKES OR ACCELERATION I HIT THE METAL CENTER DIVIDER AIR BAGS ALL DEPLOYED EXCEPT FOR MY DRIVERS STEERING WHEEL. WITH THIS MY CAR WAS DECLARED TOTALED BUT I HAVE INCURRED MANY ADDITIONAL COSTS DUE TO THIS VEHICLE FAILURE. LOOKING AT THE WEBSITE 100+ COMPLAINTS AND ONLY 1 INVESTIGATION. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. *TR

SINCE THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED A BRAKING FAILURE INCIDENT I HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH&VISITS TO MECHANICS TO RETRIEVE CODES THROWN FROM THE CAR OFF DIAGNOSTIC MACHINES. REPLACING THE HCU CARRIES A PREMIUM PRICE TAG OF $5K-7K. PRIOR TO THE FIRST ACCIDENT,THERE IS NO OBVIOUS WAY THAT I COULD HAVE DAMAGED THE HCU WITH MY VERY NORMAL DRIVING HABITS (I.E.NO HISTORY OF TOWING, NO LONG DOWNHILL BRAKING)&THE HCU IS NOT A COMPONENT SUSCEPTIBLE TO WEAR TO THE POINT OF EARLY FAILURE. I BELIEVE THAT THE ESCAPE HYBRIDS BRAKING SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE BY DESIGN (HENCE THE TSB)&FAULT LIES WITH FORD.I CONSIDER THIS BRAKE FAILURE VERY SERIOUS&A PROBLEM THAT FORD HAD NEVER BOTHERED TO NOTIFY ME ABOUT OR RECALL.MY ATTEMPTS TO GET FORD'S ATTENTION ON THIS MATTER HAVE BEEN FRUITLESS.TO SUMMARIZE NHTSA IS NOT CONCERNED B/C NOBODY HAS GOTTEN KILLED BY THESE DEFECTIVE BRAKES. FORD CLAIMS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS VERY SERIOUS&SIGNIFICANTLY DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW.AFTER SEVERAL EPISODES OF BRAKE FAILURE I FOUND TSB 05-8-5 (8/5/05 NHTSA ID#10017553:ESCAPEHYBRIDVEHICLES EXHIBIT THE YELLOW ABS&RED E- BRAKE WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATING AFTER THE ENGINE IS STARTED,&AN INCREASE INBRAKE PEDALEFFORT)FORD CLAIMS NO RESPONSIBILITY TO DEAL W/THE PROBLEM.ITS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE W/O THE REPAIR,IT HAD NO VALUE BEING BROKEN,&I DID NOT HAVE THE CONSCIENCE TO SELL THE VEHICLE W/A DANGEROUS PROBLEM.FORDS FAILURE TO PROACTIVELY ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE IS RATHER APPALLING.FORD ABANDONED ME W/A$7,000 BILL TO REPAIR A PROBLEM THAT IS SOLELY RELATED TO THEIR POOR DESIGN.FIRST ACCIDENT DESCRIPTION:ABS WARNING LIGHT&SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON CLUSTER."SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM"&"REGENERATIVE BRAKING DISABLED" ILLUMINATED ON MESSAGE BOARD. ON THE HIGHWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC,UPON EXTREME BRAKING, BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN TIME TO AVOID A REAR-END COLLISION WITH THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME. *TR

I WAS OUT WITH MY CHILDREN AND WE GOT INTO THE VEHICAL TO LEAVE OUR DESTINATION AND MY CHILD COULD NOT BUCKLE HER SEAT BELT BECAUE IT LOCKED ON HER. NOW THE SEAT BELT IS SO TIGHT TO THE SEAT THAT IT IS ABOUT TO CUT THROUGH THE INTERIOR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO TWO OTHER VEHICLES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER OF ONE OF THE VEHICLE COMPLAINED OF BACK PAIN BUT DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP FOR REPAIRS TO THE BODY DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT REAR CENTER SEAT BELT FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A SHARP TURN THE SEAT BELT RESPONDED AS IT SHOULD BY LOCKING UP, BUT IT NEVER RELEASED OR BECAME LOOSE. THE DRIVER HAD TO FORCEFULLY PULL THE SEAT BELT IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE PASSENGER OUT OF IT. THE SEAT BELT WAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,500.

08 ESCAPE 4DSW AWD WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH, WAS PULLING OUT OF DRIVE WHEN HIT BY A RAM 350 ACROSS THE FRONT END FROM BEHIND LEFT FRONT TIRE CAUSING TOTAL LOSS AND MINOR INJURY TO PASSENGER OF CHEST AND KNEES. THE CAR HAS 6 LOCATIONS OF AIRBAGS AND NONE OF THEM DEPLOYED. *TR

I WAS HIT HEAD ON BY A VEHICLE THAT WAS TRAVELING APROX 60 MILES PER HOUR. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BUT THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON MY BASH LIT UP AS IF THEY HAD DEPLOYED. I HAVE ASKED SEVERAL CERTIFIED MECHANICS WHY THIS HAPPENED AND HAVE NEVER BEEN GIVEN THE SAME ANSWER TWICE. I ASKED A FORD PLANT WORKER THAT HELPED BUILD MY ESCAPE, HE ALSO HAD NO ANSWER. MY BROTHERS WAS ALSO INVOLVED, THIS LAST SUMMER, IN A HIGH IMPACT TOTALING HIS FOCUS AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AGAIN, NO ANSWER, JUST A LOT OF SHRUGS AND HIM HAWING. ONCE AGAIN MY BEST FRIEND HAD A 2012 EXPLORER IT WAS 4 MONTHS OLD SHE HIT A DEER FULL ON CAUSING OVER 18,000$ IN DAMAGE, AND AGAIN, NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED! WHY? I FIND IT DISTURBING THAT WE ALL PAID NO LESS THAT 15,000$ FOR A FORD VEHICLE AND NONE OF US WERE PROTECTED BY THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT, NOR WERE WE PROVIDED WITH A SUFFICIENT EXPLANATION AS TO WHY IT DID NOT WORK. DO ANY OF YOU HAVE A VIABLE NON DOUBLE SPEAK REASON FOR THIS? * INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) * TT