2002 Ford Escape Air Bags & Restraints Problems

The passenger side flashes with the Air bag symbol and has the seat belt too. Sometimes the symbol just stays on the dash board.

THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON ON THE DASHBOARD. IT CONTINUES TO STAY ON AND BEEPS FIVE TIMES REPEATING FIVE TIMES. THIS OCCURS DURING START UP OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT ALSO OCCURS ABOUT 30 MINUTES AFTER CONTINUOUS DRIVING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND STRUCK THE OTHER VEHICLE AGAIN. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED CHEST INJURIES THAT NEEDED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE.

I BOUGHT MY CAR ON SEPT 28, 2015. THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO. AT FIRST IT WOULD COME ON WHEN I START THE CAR AND SHUT OFF. NOW IT BLINKS THEN STAYS ON. I AM WORRIED THAT IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT MY AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE READ A LOT OF REVIEWS ABOUT THIS AND IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY BIG ISSUE. I HAVE SEARCHED THIS WEBSITE WITH MY VIN # AND THERE ARE NO RECALL. I BOUGHT THIS AS A FAMILY CAR BUT NOW I AM IN FEAR OF PUTTING MY CHILDREN IN IT.

THE AIR BAG READINESS SYSTEM ON THE CAR IS TROUBLING. THE RED LIGHT INDICATOR ON THE DASH EITHER FLASHES, OR REMAINS ON. THE MANUAL SAYS THE SYSTEM SHOULD BE SERVICED IMMEDIATELY. I CALLED A LOCAL FORD DEALER IN MY TOWN AND THEY SAY THEY WON'T PAY FOR IT. HAVE THERE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE MAKE/MODEL/ YEAR? SINCE IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, WOULDN'T THE MANUFACTURER BE REQUIRED TO FIX IT?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE DUE TO ICE AND GRAVEL ON THE HIGHWAY. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BRUISED HEAD AND FRACTURED THUMB THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUALLY ILLUMINATES; CABLE COUPLING UNDER PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT COMPLETE THE CIRCUIT WHICH TRIGGERS THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. THIS CONDITION OCCURS IN ALL WEATHER AND DRIVING CONDITIONS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH BEFORE CRASHING INTO THE REAR OF A UTILITY TRUCK. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT DURING THE CRASH, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED HEAD, CHEST, AND LEG INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 181,000.

I HAVE HAD MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE SINCE JUNE 2002. I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW AND I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY AIRBAGS BEFORE AND HAVE NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS THAT WOULD CAUSE THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. ALL OF A SUDDEN IN EARLY JANUARY 2013, I STARTED TO NOTICE MY CHECK AIRBAG LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD ILLUMINATE. I THOUGHT THIS WAS ODD SINCE IT HAD NEVER DONE SO BEFORE AND I HAD NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS SO I DIDN'T REALLY THINK ANYTHING OF IT AND THOUGHT THE LIGHT WOULD JUST GO OFF. THE LIGHT CONTINUED TO GO ON AND SO I FINALLY BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON FEBRUARY 15, 2003. THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE AIRBAG SYSTEM ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT BOTH OF THE PRE-TENSIONER CONNECTORS THAT CLIP TO THE WIRE HARNESS THAT MAKES THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WORK HAD HIGH RESISTANCE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WITHOUT A FIX, THE AIRBAG SYSTEM NO LONGER WORKED. THEY CLAIMED THAT OVER TIME WITH THE WEAR AND TEAR OF THE VEHICLE, THIS WILL HAPPEN AND THE CLIPS WILL NO LONGER CLIP AS THEY SAID. I FIND THAT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A MAJOR SAFETY FEATURE OF A VEHICLE SUCH AS AIRBAGS WOULD ALL OF A SUDDEN STOP WORKING CREATING A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS SITUATION IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I JUST WANTED TO SHARE MY STORY WITH YOU IN CASE THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER SIMILAR SITUATIONS WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE THAT MIGHT WARRANT A MODEL RECALL IN THE FUTURE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,600.

THE CABLE CONNECTIONS FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG IS FAULTY CAUSING THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT TO COME ON OCCASIONALLY INDICATING THAT THE CONNECTIONS ARE LOSE. THIS HAPPENS ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY FORD OWNERS. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE $300 TO REPLACE THE CABLING, BUT THE ISSUE IS WITH A $30 CONNECTOR UNDER THE SEAT. *TR

ESCAPE WAS HIT ON FRONT LEFT BUMPER BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING ESCAPE TO EXIT HIGHWAY AND CRASHING INTO AND SLIDING DOWN A CONCRETE OVERPASS PILLAR; DAMAGING THE FRONT BUMPER, LIGHT, AND COMPLETE LEFT SIDE OF ESCAPE. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY! *TR

THE FRONT SIDE HARNESS SEATBELT FELL APART. ONLY THE LAP BELT RESTRAINT WORKS NOW. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, NOTICED THE HARNESS FELT VERY LOOSE, ONCE ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION, WENT TO UNFASTENED THE SEAT BELT AND IT FELL APART IN MY HANDS, THE ENDS ARE FRAILTY LIKE IT BECAME UNSEWN. IT APPEARS TO HAVE COME UNRAVELED. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THIS WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND WOULD COST AROUND $300 TO REPAIR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ILLUMINATED AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY STATED THAT THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE BUT THE LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,959.

MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE IS EXPERIENCING ITS SECOND MAJOR AIRBAG PROBLEM. THE WIRING UNDER THE SEAT HAS NOW "BURNT UP" FOR THE SECOND TIME AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE THEM REPLACED AGAIN TO THE TUNE OF $450 SO I DRIVE WITHOUT ACTIVE AIRBAGS. THE WIRING HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE ALREADY JUST 4 MONTHS AGO BUT I LIVE IN A DIFFERENT STATE THAN I DID 4 MONTHS AGO SO I'M STUCK. IN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ONLINE I SEE THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. SHOULDN'T THERE BE A RECALL WHEN IT INVOLVES A SAFETY ISSUE LIKE THIS? *TR

AIR BAG LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF. *TR

AIR BAG TROUBLE LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE ON ONE MORNING. A SERIES OF BLINKING......6 TIMES, 4 TIMES, 6 TIMES, 4 TIMES AND THEN REMAINED ON. ONLY WENT OFF WHEN TURNING ENGINE OFF. LOCAL REPAIR SHOP SAID ONLY DEALER COULD HANDLE THIS. DEALER QUOTED PRICE TO JUST INVESTIGATE. AND THAT IT WOULD DEPEND ON WHAT THEY FOUND IF THE QUOTE WOULD BE APPLIED TO THE TOTAL REPAIR COST. HMMM. DEALER ALSO SAID THAT MOST LIKELY WHILE THE WARNING LIGHT IS ON THAT THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION. I HAVE SEEN THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS HERE AT THIS WEBSITE AND ELSEWHERE AND MERELY WANT TO ADD MINE TO THE GROWING LIST. THE MORE WE COMPLAIN MAYBE WE'LL GET SOME RESULTS. THANKS. *TR

I PURCHASED MY 2002 FORD ESCAPE IN FEBRUARY 2006. WITHIN A FEW DAYS THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THE SEATBELT PRETENSER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT I CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY ALMOST $500. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT BECAUSE I CAN'T HAVE IT FIXED, MY AIRBAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO THE FORD COMPANY AND GOT NO HELP. SO, BASICALLY THEY ARE SAYING THAT I DESERVE TO BE HURT OR KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE THE PRETENSER FIXED. I FOR ONE DO NOT THINK THAT IS FAIR. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAGS MAY NOT WORK PROPERLY IN A COLLISION. FORD DEALER PERFORMED AIR BAG SELF TEST AND CODE B1881 WAS OBTAINED. I HAD TO HAVE WIRING REVISIONS TO BOTH SEATS AT A COST OF $292.86. THE DEALER REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED ME THAT THE WIRING REVISION WAS NECESSARY BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL WIRING UNDER THE SEATS WAS INCAPABLE OF ACCOMMODATING THE FULL RANGE OF NORMAL SEAT ADJUSTMENTS ALLOWED BY THE ELECTRIC SEAT ADJUSTOR. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT INVOLVING A SAFETY FEATURE OF THE 2002 FORD ESCAPE. SHOULD NOT THE MANUFACTURER HAVE TO PAY FOR CORRECTING THIS SAFETY DEFECT? *TR