Ford Escort Air Bags Problems
Owners have filed 408 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the Ford Escort across 9 model years. The 1997 model year has the most (152). The words owners use most often: “air bag” (33% of reports).
- 408air bags complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 265mention a crash
- 177mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- 19%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Air bag: mentioned in 134 of 408 complaints (33%)
- Upon impact: mentioned in 54 of 408 complaints (13%)
- Bags deployed: mentioned in 49 of 408 complaints (12%)
- Airbags deploy: mentioned in 33 of 408 complaints (8%)
At what mileage do air bags problems happen?
Based on 58 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 408 complaints, 265 mention a crash, 30 a fire, 177 an injury.
Ford Escort air bags complaints by model year
| Model year | Air Bags complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 Escort | 1 | 10% | 12,000 |
| 2002 Escort | 2 | 6% | 61,946 |
| 2001 Escort | 9 | 13% | 60,000 |
| 2000 Escort | 18 | 18% | 82,192 |
| 1999 Escort | 66 | 20% | 99,000 |
| 1998 Escort | 75 | 20% | 90,000 |
| 1997 Escort | 152 | 28% | 89,543 |
| 1996 Escort | 18 | 9% | 106,359 |
| 1995 Escort | 67 | 12% | 150,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive
Model years: 1997
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the integrated air bag monitor (iabm) can be contaminated with water or other liquids and could experience internal electrical shorting.
Risk: This may, in turn, cause the air bag readiness light to illuminate and in very rare occurrences, air bag deployment, melted wiring, or fire may occur.
Fix: Dealers will install the shield over the iabm and apply nyogel grease to the connector. Owner notification began february 11, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
Air bags:frontal
Model years: 1995
Problem: The driver side air bag module can have an inadequately welded inflator canister.
Risk: In the event of a collision, the weld seam can separate, causing the air bag to fail to deploy properly and hot gases to be expelled from the back of the steering wheel. This can result in an increased risk of personal injury from the hot gases and the air bag failure.
Fix: Dealers will install a new air bag module.
Air bags:frontal
Model years: 1995
Problem: Two bolts that attach the passenger side air bag supplemental restraint system module to the instrument panel are missing. In the event of a frontal impact, the module can come out of the instrument panel.
Risk: This would not restrain the passenger and would result in an increased risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, install and torque to specification the mounting bolts for the passenger side air bag.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Vehicle airbag light came on and is still activated, won't turn off. There has been no collisions or activity that caused light to be activated.
Safety horn sticks and remains in on position creating a driving safety risk. Dealer explains that the horn switch is associated with the air bag. Based on all internet complaints and air bag problems, might be time to further investigate ford's commitment to safety and airbag performance…
Tl* the contact owned a 2000 ford escort. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 mph, the contact attempted to change lanes and crashed into a van. The air bags deployed with such an extreme force that the contact sustained injuries to the face, chest, and right arm that required…
My mother and i were driving to my grandparents house when she hit a baby deer going about 35 mph. I was 12 years old at the time and sitting in the front seat. The airbags deployed hitting me in right side of the face. My teeth went into my lip, and i had burn marks from the airbag on my…
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford escort. The contact stated that while driving 30 mph, the air bag light illuminated and smoke emitted from under the dashboard. The contact maneuvered to the shoulder and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was then towed to the contact's home. While the vehicle was…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Escorts have air bags problems?
No. NHTSA has 408 owner complaints about air bags for the Ford Escort. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford Escort air bags?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list air bags. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about air bags problems on the Ford Escort?
The most frequent phrase is “air bag”, in 134 of 408 complaints, followed by “upon impact” (54).
Other Ford Escort problems
See all Ford Escort problems.