My husband was in a 3 vehicle accident on 10/13/26 at 6:48am. Someone hit him from behind and pushed him into the truck in front of him. The car behind him hit him again, but harder than the first time, and made him hit the truck in front of him again. The second hit caused major damage to the front end of the vehicle and minor damage to the back. It did blow out both back tires and crack the back rims. The driver side door was really hard to open and he had trouble getting out. No airbags deployed upon impact. With how hard he hit the truck in front of him, the airbags not deploying could be why he’s still having severe pain, 5 days after the accident. He’s still having chest pain that goes into his shoulder and down his arm, he’s still short of breath when he lies down and tries to stand up, and his neck and back are also still hurting him. The vehicle has not been inspected yet. We are waiting on the crash report to be done. There were no other symptoms of the problem before the accident.
2016 Ford Escape airbags problems
25 complaints (2% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 49,500. 13 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 25
- of this car's complaints
- 2%
- typical mileage
- 49,500
- crashes
- 13
- recalls
- 1
Which part fails
Owners did not name a specific part.
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Ford Escape airbags problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2016 Ford Escape airbags
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
Air bags: knee bolster
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016 Ford Escape vehicles. The driver's knee airbag modules installed in these vehicles were produced without the inflator gas generant material, and, as a result, the air bags may not inflate properly in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
- Risk
- In the event of a crash, if the driver's knee air bag does not inflate as intended, the driver has an increased risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace driver's knee air bag, free of charge. The recall began on August 8, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C11.
Recall number 17V398000 · Recall details
What 2016 Ford Escape owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Got in a wreck so bad it be t the frame she hit head on a d had seatbelt on and smacked her head on the dash the other cars airbags deployed hers did not
The air bag warning light illuminated when the front passenger seat was taken. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed air bag sensor. The contact was informed that the air bag sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the failure could be repaired, but it might not resolve the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to report the failure to the federal safety agency Hotline
The contact's wife owned a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at approximately 45 MPH on the right lane and merging into the left lane, another vehicle violently crossed several lanes, causing the front of the vehicle to crash into the front driver's side of the other vehicle. The collision was mentioned to be a severe front-end impact, and the air bags did not deploy. The contact's wife sustained head, knee, stomach, chest, and neck injuries that required medical attention. The other vehicle's occupant received medical attention as well via the emergency room, but the injuries sustained were unknown. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a garage and then taken to the residence. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 156,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed air bag sensor. The contact was informed that the air bag sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the failure could be repaired, but it might not resolve the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to report the failure to the federal safety agency Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 85,812.
I was driving at 50mph and a car pulled out infront of me. I had no option but crashing into them. The impact was in the front end of my vehicle causing enough damage to total the vehicle and the airbags did not deploy. The insurance aduster did look at the vehicle.
The contact stated that he was seated in the front passenger seat of a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle owner was driving thru a stop sign at approximately 5 mph, another vehicle crashed into the passenger side of the vehicle. The contact stated that none of the air bags were deployed. The contact stated that no warning lights were illuminated prior to the failure. The contact stated that the driver did not sustain any injuries but was suffering from mental issues from the crash. The passenger sustained injuries to his left toe and ankle as well as lower back which required medical assistance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact’s residence. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnosis. The contact stated that he was awaiting an official inspection from the insurance company. The contact stated that photos were sent to the insurance company and they deemed it a possible total loss. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact to call the federal safety agency Hotline. The failure mileage was 104,577.
The roof rack leaks every time it rains or gets wet car wash etc. Underneath that roof rack mounting hole is the curtain airbag which is soaked every time that happens. The airbag is rusting/staining my headliner and I think based on that tachata recall this would be under the same scrutiny. Concerned about whether or not the airbag will deploy of if it's corroding away each time it rains. I reached out to Ford when the unit was under warranty and no assistance from them. I then tried to take things into my own hands and silicone it but it still leaks. I have no idea how or where anymore. Still assuming the roof rack though
Check codes found B00C0, B00A0, U0455. Passenger seat occupant classification airbag sensor faulty. Affects both airbag passenger and drivers side airbag systems. Dealer service center recommends replacing failed airbag sensor harness system and system reset (approximate repair cost $2700).
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a faulty driver's side air bag. The dealer informed the contact that the driver's side air bag needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the federal safety agency. The failure mileage was 78,972.
Questions about the 2016 Ford Escape airbags
Does the 2016 Ford Escape have airbags problems?
Owners have filed 25 complaints about the airbags of the 2016 Ford Escape, 2% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2016 Ford Escape airbags problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 49,500 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Ford Escape airbags?
Yes, 1 recall: 17V398000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Ford Escape have bad airbags?
The Ford Escape model years with the most airbags complaints are 2002 (79 complaints), 2001 (63 complaints) and 2003 (60 complaints).
Other 2016 Ford Escape problems
Transmission 323Driver assistance 276Engine 249Electrical 95Steering 73Fuel system 72Acceleration 32Wheels 32Body 21Brakes 21Visibility 20Suspension 7Lights 6Seat belts 5Seats 2Tires 2
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