Owners report two main categories of airbag problems. First, the warning light: it comes on, stays on, flashes, or cycles unpredictably starting as early as 5,000 miles. Dealerships often can't reproduce the fault even after overnight stays. The underlying issue is usually a failed Restraint Control Module (RCM), diagnosed with code B10A2. Ford issued recall 14V597000 and others, but replacement parts simply weren't available for months or years—some owners never got them fixed.
Second and more critical: actual airbag non-deployment in crashes. Owners document frontal airbags failing to deploy in head-on collisions, side airbags not activating in T-bones, and seat belt pretensioners remaining inactive during impact. One owner was hit head-on at highway speed with zero airbag deployment. Another was T-boned at 20–25 mph; only the opposing vehicle's airbags fired, not the Escape's side bag. A third vehicle landed on its side after striking trees; neither front nor side airbags deployed, and the teenager's head struck the window. In one rear-end crash at highway speed, the driver suffered a fractured nose and neck injuries because neither airbags nor pretensioners worked. One vehicle spontaneously caught fire in the driveway; fire investigators identified the airbag bracket assembly above the passenger door as the ignition source.
Owners faced critical delays waiting for recall parts that Ford had not distributed to dealers, leaving them uncertain whether their safety systems would function in a real accident.
Failure modes owners describe
Airbag warning light illumination and malfunction
Airbag warning light comes on, stays on, flashes intermittently, or cycles on and off without clear pattern. Light may persist even after dealer inspection unable to reproduce the issue. Owners report difficulty diagnosing root cause; dealerships often cannot find the fault.
When: Various mileages from 5,000 miles to 99,000+ miles; can occur early in vehicle life or after extended use
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light solid amber or yellow, staying on continuously; Airbag warning light flashing intermittently during driving; Light coming on and off at various speeds (highway to idle); Light cycling on and off unpredictably; Passenger airbag light not illuminating when passenger is seated
Codes mentioned: B10A2 (restraint control module failure)
Repairs/costs cited: RCM (Restraint Control Module) replacement required; parts unavailable for extended periods (delays of months); some owners report parts never became available. Costs not specified by owners.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford Recall 14S04 (NHTSA #14V237000) for RCM defect in certain models; Ford Recall 14V597000 (Air Bags, Seat Belts); Ford Recall 14S21. Parts distribution issues documented; VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Airbag non-deployment in frontal crashes
Front airbags fail to deploy during frontal collisions or direct frontal impact. Occurs across varying impact speeds and severity. Multiple crash scenarios documented with no airbag function despite significant front-end damage.
When: At time of accident; mileages documented as 99,000 and 212,000+ miles at failure
Symptoms owners cite: Front airbags do not deploy in head-on collision; No deployment in frontal crash with significant front-end damage; Driver's head strikes steering wheel due to lack of deployment; Passenger airbags failed to deploy in multi-vehicle crash
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles not repaired; damage assessed as total loss in some cases. One incident noted vehicle was drivable but airbag system failure not diagnosed or repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 14V597000 (Air Bags, Seat Belts) related to some complaints
Side airbag non-deployment in side-impact crashes
Side airbags fail to deploy during side-impact collisions or when vehicle lands on its side. Occurs even in crashes meeting typical sensor actuation criteria. Multiple documented cases with no deployment despite direct side impact or vehicle rollover.
When: At time of accident; mileages include 107,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Side airbag does not deploy in T-bone collision at 20-25 mph; Driver-side side airbag fails to deploy when vehicle lands on side; No side-impact airbag deployment when vehicle struck on driver-side; Head strikes window/door frame due to lack of deployment
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles not repaired; one vehicle totaled. Injuries sustained include concussion, soft tissue injuries, TMJ disorder, head/neck injuries.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall notice 14V597000 issued; some owners advised no fix was available at time of dealership visits prior to accidents
Seat belt pretensioner failure
Seat belt pretensioner does not function during crash impact. Documented in at least one rear-end collision scenario where restraint system should have activated.
When: During crash event
Symptoms owners cite: Seat belt pretensioner fails to activate during rear-end collision; Driver suffers injuries (fractured nose, facial bruises, neck injuries) in crash that should have been mitigated by pretensioner
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle sustained damage to front bumpers, grill, and rear; was drivable but failure not diagnosed or repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 14V597000 (Air Bags, Seat Belts) referenced
Airbag bracket fire hazard
Airbag bracket assembly catches fire while vehicle is parked and unoccupied. Fire department investigator identified airbag bracket on left side above passenger door as ignition point with roof hotspot above airbag.
When: Approximately 4 hours after morning drive; mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle catches fire while parked unoccupied; Interior completely melted; Fire department identified airbag bracket as fire source
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle totaled; entire interior melted. Owner reports Ford unresponsive to claims.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford referred to toll-free customer service line; no resolution documented
Passenger airbag off warning light malfunction
Passenger airbag off warning light illuminates intermittently or continuously even when passenger is properly seated, or fails to illuminate when needed. Light activation does not correlate with passenger weight or seating position.
When: Intermittent, occurring during normal operation
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag off light comes on when granddaughter (14 years old, ~90 lbs) sits in front seat; Passenger airbag warning light illuminates randomly while passenger seated; Warning light does not correlate to actual passenger presence or weight
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to duplicate issue; no repair performed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership advised vehicle is safe to drive despite warning light
Inadvertent airbag deployment
Airbag deploys while vehicle is parked and unoccupied with no impact or trigger event.
When: While vehicle parked
Symptoms owners cite: Front passenger-side airbag above window deploys inadvertently while parked
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to dealer but not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware of failure
Synthesized from 49 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.