2011 Ford Escape Air Bags & Restraints Problems

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side seat belt failed to operate properly, and the retractor malfunctioned. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.

Airbag light on/ flashing. Shop says "passenger side seat belt retractor assembly" needs replaced. I switched it with a known working part, didn't fix the issue. Upon further research I found that it is a known issue. Source: [XXX] April 1, 2011 MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATION NUMBER: SIS-21841 Components: AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM NHTSA ID Number: 10038965 Manufacturer Communication Number: SIS-21841 Summary: COMM-TRANS LUND: SOME 2009-2011 MODELS MAY HAVE THE AIR BAG INICATOR FLASHING WITH A STORED TROUBLE CODE. THIS IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM. *RM I have contacted both local dealerships, as well as Ford corporate. The remedy they all 3 offered: Take it in for diagnostics (I'm already fully aware of the issue) which will cost me around $300, then they will tell me if there's even a possibly solution. They were completely unwilling to tell me if they could fix the software issue without first paying for their diagnostic service, even though it's a known and recorded issue, with the NHTSA ID Number: 10038965 as well as the Manufacturer Communication Number: SIS-21841. Upon researching complaints, I have found that I am by far not the only person who has this exact issue. Note: "date of incident" is when I purchased the vehicle, mileage is the mileage at the time of purchase, it has had the light on since before that date and mileage. I tried to resolve this issue then, and recently have been trying again, in hopes that there has been a fix found finally, to no avail. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated upon starting the vehicle and remained illuminated while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they diagnosed that the front passenger’s side air bag sensor was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The approximate failure mileage was 195,500.

POLICE REPORT; BRUNSWICK, OH 2002113 1/16/2020 UNIT 2 WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON MARKS ROAD. UNIT 3 WAS SOUTH BOUND ON MARKS ROAD ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ONTO SLEEPY HOLLOW ROAD. UNIT 1 WAS TRAVELING SOUTH BOUND ON MARKS ROAD. UNIT 1 CROSSED LEFT OF CENTER TO AVOID HITTING UNIT 3. UNIT 1 STRUCK THE REAR LEFT CORNER OF UNIT 3 AND THEN STRUCK UNIT 2 HEAD ON. DRIVER AND PASSENGER OF UNIT1 REPORTED NO INJURIES, THEY WERE CLEARED BY EMS. DRIVER AND PASSENGER OF UNIT 2 REPORTED INJURIES AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO SOUTHWEST GENERAL (ER) BRUNSWICK CAMPUS. DRIVER OF UNIT 3 REPORTED NO INJURIES. THE DRIVER OF UNIT 1 WAS SITED IN VIOLATION OF ORC 4511.21A ASSURED CLEAR DISTANCE (SPEED). CITATION NUMBER; T44852 THE AIRBAGS IN UNIT 2 DID NOT DEPLOY. AIR BAGS IN UNIT 1 DEPLOYED FRONT AND SIDES. INSURANCE CLAIM NUMBER: PROGRESSIVE 205164024 CAR HAS BEEN RELEASED TO INSURANCE COMPANY. TITLE HAS NOT BEEN SIGNED OVER TO THEM YET. TRANS-COUNTY TOWING, 585 STATE STREET, MEDINA, OH (216-407-5282) SAID THE CAR WAS TOTALED. INSURANCE COMPANY HAS NOT REPORTED THEIR RESULTS OF INSPECTION. I HAVE PHOTO OF CARS AND INJURIES BUT DON'T KNOW HOW TO DOWNLOAD THEM. POLICE ALSO TOOK PHOTOS.

TAKATA RECALL

CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT ACCIDENT AND THE SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND THE CONTACT'S WIFE HAD TO HAVE THE CONTACT ASSIST WITH DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT FOUND A RECALL REGARDING THE POWER STEERING, BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED ON WET ROAD CONDITIONS, IT HYDROPLANED AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. UPDATED 10/31/17*LJ UPDATED 10/31/2017*JS

DRIVING A 2011 FORD ESCAPE, AND WHILE WAITING AT A STOP LIGHT HEADING SOUTH AT A MAJOR INTERSECTION, UPON THE LIGHT TURNING GREEN, I PROCEEDED TO ENTER THE INTERSECTION AT APPROX. 10 MPH. NEXT THING I KNOW, I AM T-BONING A CAR THAT RAN THE RED LIGHT ENTERING THE INTERSECTION FROM THE EAST AT 40 MILES AND HOUR. I WAS UNABLE TO SEE HER APPROACH BECAUSE OF A LARGE TRUCK ON MY LEFT THAT WAS TURNING LEFT TO GO EAST. THE IMPACT SPUN THE CAR THAT RAN THE RED LIGHT AROUND 180 DEGRESS THEN HIT A THIRD CAR AND STOPPED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AMONGST ANY OF THE PARTIES INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT. MY CONCERN IS THAT MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE TOTAL FRONT OF MY CAR WAS SMASHED IN AND THE BUMPER JUST ABOUT TORN OFF. DAMAGE INCURRED BY MY CAR MADE IT A TOTAL LOSS. DRIVERWHO RAN THE RED LIGHT WAS TICKETED BY THE POLICE. LOOKING AT THE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF MY CAR, THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE GONE OFF.

MY WIFE WAS IN A ACCIDENT INVOLVING HER 2011 FORD ESCAPE. SHE WAS HIT IN THE FRONT END BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND HER CAR WAS TOTALED. HER AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY!! SHE WAS BEAT UP AND BRUISED QUITE A BIT BUT WAS LUCKY TO NOT HAVE ANY BROKEN BONES. I BELIEVE THAT IF EITHER VEHICLE WERE TRAVELING FASTER THAN THEY WERE SHE MIGHT HAD BEEN SEVERELY INJURED IF NOT KILLED. I SENT FORD THE INFO INCLUDING THE VIN NUMBER 3 DAYS AGO AND HAVE NOT HAD A REPLY. DO YOU THINK THIS WAS AN ANOMALY OR HAVE YOU HEARD OTHER FORD ESCAPES WITH THE SAME ISSUE?? MY WIFE HAD STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND SAID SHE LOOKED BOTH WAYS THEN PROCEEDED TO PULL MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN THE OTHER VEHICLE APPROACHED HER FROM HER LEFT AND STRUCK HER IN THE FRONT END ON AN ANGLE. THE ENTIRE FRONT GRILL AND BUMPER WERE BOTH KNOCKED OFF PUSHING THE RADIATOR INTO THE ENGINE. MY WIFE WAS CITED FOR FAILURE TO YIELD.

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT HAS STARTED TO RELEASE WHILE DRIVING. CAN HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIMES IN A SINGLE TRIP. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE LAST MONTH. *TR

OCCUPANT CONTROL MODULE IN PASSENGER SEAT IS FAULTY. I AM TOLD THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OR ALL AIRBAGS MAY OR MAY NOT INFLATE IN A COLLISION. THERE ARE NO KNOWN RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE. THERE WAS NO KNOWN DAMAGE OR INCIDENT THAT CAUSED THIS SYSTEM TO FAIL. IT OCCURRED SLOWLY OVER SEVERAL MONTHS AND EVENTUALLY QUIT COMPLETELY. THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYED ON PERMANENTLY AFTER SEVERAL SECONDS OF THE CAR'S IGNITION BEING ON OR THE CAR ENGINE RUNNING. THE INVOICE FROM THE DIAGNOSTIC IS ATTACHED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE CONTACT BECAME DISTRACTED AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR QUARTER PANEL OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,400.

DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET ROAD AT NIGHT 55 MPH A DEER JUMPED FROM SIDE OF THE ROAD TO CROSS HIT THE DEER HAD TO PULL OVER CAR STARTED SMOKING RADIATOR FLUID EVERYWHERE THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. I WAS HURT AND I HAD 4 PASSENGER, ALL WERE WEARING SEATBELTS INCLUDING MYSELF. I DIDN'T FILE A POLICE REPORT AS I FIGURED IT WAS A DEER WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO ARREST THE DEER. I COULD NOT AFFORD THE REPAIRS OR PAYMENTS FOR THE VEHICLE ANYMORE SO I VOLUNTARY GAVE BACK MY VEHICLE TO THE COMPANY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 20 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED BUT FAILED TO INFLATE AND THE SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

I JUST GOT OFF THE FREEWAY ON RAMP AND SLOWED FOR TRAFFIC. TRAFFIC JUST STARTED TO GO SO, I JUST TOOK MY FOOT OF THE BRAKE AND SLOWLY PROCEEDED TO MOVE, WHEN OUT OF NOWHERE I WAS THROWN FORWARD AND OUT OF MY SEAT. THE VIOLENT IMPACT PUSHED MY VEHICLE INTO A TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME, THAT IMPACT CAUSED ME TO FLY BACKWARDS AND MY DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T GO OFF AND MY SEAT BROKE CAUSING INJURY. THE SEAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BROKE. *TR

MY FIANCE WAS DRIVING MY ESCAPE AND HAD AN ACCIDENT SHE REARENDED A TRUCK AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS WENT OFF AND THE MOTOR WAS PUSHED ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE FIREWALL. *TR

I INVESTIGATED A TRAFFIC COLLISION INVOLVING A 2011 FORD ESCAPE THAT SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT FRONT END DAMAGE DURING THE EVENT. THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING THE COLLISION AFTER THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE FRONT BUMPER AREA TO INCLUDE THE BUCKLING OF THE HOOD AREA. I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE VEHICLE DAMAGE I CAN E-MAIL SHOWING THE VEHICLE AND DAMAGE SUSTAINED. INJURIES WERE INCURRED FROM PARTIES IN BOTH VEHICLES (2 CAR COLLISION). PLEASE CONTACT ME AT THE MADERA POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THIS INCIDENT AND MY CONCERN FOR THE AIRBAGS FAILING TO DEPLOY...UPDATED 10/15/15 *BF *CN

SEAT BELT BUCKLE RELEASES MULTIPLE TIMES AFTER CLICKING IN WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. *TR

2011 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR BAG AND SEAT FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE WAS REAR ENDED, HER HEAD FLEW FORWARD AND HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH HER MOUTH, THEN FLEW BACKWARD, WHERE THE BACK OF THE SEAT COLLAPSED, WHICH ALLOWED HER TO FLY BACK AND LAND AT A PARTIALLY RECLINED POSITION. FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES, SHE LAID IN THE VEHICLE, SUFFERING FROM MUSCLE SPASMS, TRYING TO DETERMINE IF SHE COULD STAND UP. THE CONSUMER WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A CONCUSSION AND WHIPLASH.