There are 15 stored owner reports matching the air bags & restraints leading-label group for the 2009 Ford Escape in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 15 of 15 matching reports.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)WE WERE IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. BRIDGE WAS ICY, AND TRAFFIC WAS STOPPED. WE SLID ON THE ICE AND REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. WE WERE THEN REAR-ENDED AND DRIVEN MUCH HARDER IN TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. NO AIRBAG DEPLOYED IN OUR CAR.
JUNTA COVER VLVULA
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY BELT FAILED TO RETRACT CAUSING THE CONTACT TO HIT HER CHEST AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE CRASH, THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFT INTO THE PARK POSITION AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO PUT WOODEN BLOCKS AROUND THE TIRES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND CONTUSIONS TO THE SPINE, NECK, SHOULDER AND KNEES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKED UP TIGHT ON ME WHILE DRIVING. I TRIED TO PULL IT OFF OF MY CHEST TO TRY TO RESET IT BUT IT DID NOT RESET TO THE LOOSE, UNLOCKED POSITION. IN ORDER TO TRY AND RESET THE LOCK, I UNPLUGGED THE SEAT BELT AND LET IT RETRACT TO THE DOOR. WHEN I TRIED TO PUT IT BACK ON, IT WAS LOCKED NOW IN THE RETRACTED POSITION. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER RIGHT AWAY AND HE WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE SEAT BELT. WHILE WAITING FOR A REPLACEMENT PART, I HAD TO DRIVE WITHOUT A DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FOR ONE WEEK, AS THE DEALER ALSO DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH RENTAL CARS TO PROVIDE ME WITH ONE WHILE WAITING FOR THE PART. I LOOKED ONLINE AND THERE ARE MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT FORD'S SEAT BELTS LOCKING UP LIKE THIS. TO HAVE A FAULTY SAFETY RESTRAINT AS SUCH IS INEXCUSABLE AND DANGEROUS. *LN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT UN-LATCH. AFTER FOUR MINUTES THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO UN-LATCH THE SEAT BELT AND EXIT THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT COULD NO LONGER BE LATCHED. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER NOR CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SITTING AT A STOP SIGN BOTH SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT HE NEEDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
DRIVERS SEAT BELT IS STUCK IN THE PARTIALLY EXTENDED POSITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. IN THE PAST IT HAS EVENTUALLY RETRACTED ON ITS OWN AFTER A FEW DAYS. THIS TIME I CAN ONLY USE THE SEAT BELT IF I MOVE THE DRIVERS SEAT BACK FARTHER THEN I'M COMFORTABLE WITH. I BELIEVE IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT'S STUCK BUT ALSO THE BELT PRETTY MUCH PINS ME TO THE SEAT WHEN I USE IT. *TR
2009 FORD ESCAPE - DRIVER'S SEAT BELT MALFUNCTION AND LOCKED IN CLOSED POSITION. CANNOT RE-LATCH. FORD DEALER IN GALVESTON, TEXAS NOT RESPONDING TO REPEATED REQUEST TO SCHEDULE TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. DEALER SAYS THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PART....? *TR
PASSENGER SEAT BELT LOCKED ARBITRARILY. THE ONLY WAY TO RELEASE SEAT BELT WAS TO UNBUCKLE AND ALLOW SEAT BELT TO FULLY RETRACT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP ON (3) OCCASIONS TO HAVE SEAT BELT REPLACED, PROBLEM CONTINUED. TOOK VEHICLE TO 3RD PARTY AND HAD SEAT BELT REPLACED AND PROBLEM IS NOW RESOLVED. ORIGINAL SEAT BELT WAS DEFECTIVE AND IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, PERSONS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. FORD REFUSED TO HONOR FACTORY WARRANTY AND REPAIR PROBLEM. *TR
ON 7/14/2010 OUR 2009 FORD ESCAPE WAS INVOLVED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENT IN WHICH IT WAS HIT IN THE FRONT END BY A FUGITIVE BEING CHASED BY LOCAL POLICE. THE CAR WAS HIT IN THE FRONT END. THE ESCAPE WAS AT A STOPLIGHT AND NOT MOVING, THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS EST. TO BE GOING 70MPH? THE CAR HAS IN EXCESS OF $16,000 IN DAMAGE, THE FRAME RAILS BENT, AXLES BROKE AND THE FRONT END SHIFTED TO ONE SIDE. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. NO FRONT OR SIDE BAGS. THE CAR IS BEING REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIR BAGS AND IF THEY WILL EVER WORK? THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 23KMILES ON IT. SERVICED REGULARLY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A PASSENGER SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT INFORMED HIM THAT THEY COULD NOT MOVE BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WAS LOCKED. IN ORDER TO GET THE SEAT BELT TO OPERATE NORMALLY IT HAD TO BE UNBUCKLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED; IT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 17,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 21,000. UPDATED 01/18/11 *BF UPDATED 01/31/11
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD ESCAPE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY WHETHER A PASSENGER WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT SEAT OR NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BUT NO CODES INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED REPEATEDLY BUT THEY NEVER RETURNED THE CALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,000.
WARNING LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD APPEAR INTERMITTENTLY. THE LIGHTS THAT COME ON ARE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT AND THE ADVANCE TRACTION CONTROL. ALSO THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE MIDDLE OF THE DASHBOARD FLASHES OFF AND ON. ONLY HAPPENS MAYBE 20% OF THE TIME. HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER TWICE, THE CODES THAT COME UP THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE SO CAN'T DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. WHEN I DO TAKE IT IN MOST OF THE TIMES THE LIGHTS DON'T COME ON SO THEY ASK WHETS THE PROBLEM? I DON'T KNOW IF THE CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE OR NOT. *TR
STARTED FROM A STOPPED POSITION, LESS THAN 10 MPH. SIDE AIRBAGS WENT OFF. NOTING HIT THE CAR AND WE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING AND NOTHING FELL ON THE CAR. WE WERE ON AN EVEN SMOOTH PAVEMENT. *TR
ON JUNE 2ND 2009 I WAS DRIVING MY NEW FORD ESCAPE ON HIGHWAY 101 HEADING WEST WHEN BOTH SIDE AIRBAGS INSTANTLY DEPLOYED. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING OR GET IN AN ACCIDENT. THE SEATBELT LOCKED ME INTO THE SEAT, I PULLED OFF THE NEXT EXIT WHICH WAS TOPANGA CANYON. I DROVE AROUND THE CORNER TO VISTA FORD AND THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT OTHER THAN THE AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED. FORD HAS BEEN SHIPPED THE RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE AND SAYS IT WILL TAKE 3 MONTHS TO ANALYZE. FORD WILL NOT WARRANTY THIS UNTIL THEY DETERMINE IT WAS A DEFECT. IN THE MEAN TIME MY INSURANCE IS HAVING VISTA FORD REPLACE THE MODULE AND AIRBAGS. I WILL GET THE VEHICLE BACK AND HAVE TO DRIVE IT. I CONSIDER THIS VEHICLE UNSAFE AND DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE IT. UNFORTUNATELY MY JOB REQUIRES ME TO DRIVE 2500 MILE A MONTH ALL AROUND SOUTHERN CA. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR FOR 3 MONTHS, I'VE ALREADY INCURRED $650.00 OF RENTAL CAR EXPENSES SINCE JUNE 2ND SO THAT I CAN CONTINUE WORKING. I AM BEING FORCED TO DRIVE AN UNSAFE CAR BY FORD. *TR
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.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Apr 29, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.