2007 Ford Escape Air Bags & Restraints Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND A BEEPING NOISE WAS HEARD. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RED MCCOMBS FORD (210-996-2678, LOCATED AT 8333 W IH 10, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78230) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,526.

CAR WAS MOVING ON COUNTY ROAD, OAKVIEW RD, ALBANY, OREGON. CAR WAS HIT "T-BONE" SIDE IMPACT ON PASSENGER SIDE DURING LEFT TURN. SIDE IMPACT BAGS DEPLOYED. CAR ENDED IN ROADSIDE DITCH. FRONT AIRBAG, STEERING WHEEL, DID NOT DEPLOY. FIRE CHIEF AND COUNTY SHERIFF DEPUTY WERE CONCERNED. CAR HAD NEVER BEEN IN A COLLISION PRIOR TO THIS. SINGLE OWNER, US, CAR. WE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THIS DEVICE. ALL SERVICE WAS DONE BY FORD DEALER, ROBERSON FORD, ALBANY, OR. STATE FARM CLAIM: [XXX] DATE OF LOSS: 05/31/2019 [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT

AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED AND THE CAR FLIPPED NUMEROUS TIMES. THERE WERE INJURIES INVOLVED THE AIRBAG DIDNT OPEN UP SO THIS IS FAULTY EQUIPMENT. *TR

I ATTEMPTED TO PUSH THE SEAT BELT RELEASE BUTTON AND THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE. I HAD TO STRETCH THE BELT AND PULL IT OVER MY HEAD TO CLIMB OUT OF THE CAR. MY HUSBAND ATTEMPTED TO RELEASE THE BUTTON, BUT THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE. I HAVE TO HAVE THE WHOLE THING REPLACED AND WAS QUOTED $450.00 AS IT WILL HAVE TO BE REWIRED ALSO. *TR

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, STRIKING ME IN THE FACE, BREAKING MY EYE GLASSES AND COMPLETELY OBSTRUCTING MY VISION WITH THE INFLATED AIR BAG. I SLOWED SOME BY GAUGING MY SPEED BY THE CARS NEXT TO ME (4 LANES OF TRAFFIC, 2 EACH DIRECTION). I KEPT PUSHING ON THE AIR BAG WITH ONE HAND, TRYING TO DEFLATE IT QUICKER, SO THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I FINALLY GOT THE AIR BAG DEFLATED ENOUGH TO SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD, I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER INTO THE RIGHT HAND LANE AND PULL ASIDE. I REMOVED THE FUSE TO THE HORN AS IT WAS SHORTED OUT WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND CONTINUED ON TO MY HOME. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. AND THEY ISSUED A LETTER REQUESTING A DEALER TO REMOVE THE RCM AND SEND IT TO THEM. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET A DEALER TO DO THIS. FORD NOW WANTS TO DO NO MORE. I HAVE RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE A LOT A PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO THEM WITH THIS MODEL. I REMAINED CALM WHEN MINE WENT OFF AND AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN TO SOMEONE WHO STARTLES EASY, THIS COULD RESULT IN A FATALITY. *TR

WAS DRIVING IN TOWN WITH PASSENGERS PROPERLY BUCKLED IN SEAT BELTS IN OUR 2007 FORD ESCAPE WITH 67,000 MILES. SUDDEN STOP AND THE PASSENGER IN THE REAR PASSENGERS SEAT HAD THE SEAT BELT PULL LOOSE FROM THE CONNECTOR. INSPECTION SHOWED THAT THE SEAT BELT STITCHING ON THAT PARTICULAR SEAT BELT HAD APPARENTLY NEVER BEEN PROPERLY STITCHED AND THERE WERE ONLY A FEW THREADS HOLDING THE SEAT BELT TOGETHER. CLOSE INSPECTION OF THE OTHER SEAT BELTS IN THE CAR SHOWED THE REST HAD A WHITE INSPECTION TAG WHILE THIS SEAT BELT DID NOT HAVE ONE AT THE "SUPPOSED" SEWED JOINT. LOOKS LIKE THE SEWING MACHINE NEEDLE DRILLED THE HOLES BUT DID NOT PUT THREADS THROUGH THE TWO PIECES. WE ARE NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNERS BUT CLOSE INSPECTION APPEARS TO BE AN ORIGINAL DEFECT AND THE SEAT BELT WAS APPARENTLY NEVER PROPERLY SEWN TO THE CLIP. CONTACTED (THROUGH CHAMPION FORD IN CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS OUR HOME) A LADY NAMED LISETTE WHO APPARENTLY IS THE TEXAS FORD CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVE AND SHE STATED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WE WERE NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER THAT IT WAS NOT FORD'S RESPONSIBILITY TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. NO APPARENT RECALLS ON SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND NO ONE BUT FORD APPARENTLY KNOWS HOW MANY "REPLACEMENT" SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES HAVE BEEN PURCHASED BY FORD ESCAPE OWNERS. PICTURES OF THE SEAT BELT SEPARATED FROM THE CLIP IS AVAILABLE. *JB

2007 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DISSATISFACTION WITH NEEDED VEHICLE REPAIR *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE PICKED HIS VEHICLE UP FROM THE REPAIR SHOP, HE DISCOVERED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT FIXED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED TAPE WRAPPED AROUND THE SEAT BELT LATCH, LOCATED IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELT METAL LATCH WAS LOOSE AND THERE WAS ALSO A CRACK IN THE METAL LATCH. THE DEALER MADE THE CONTACT AWARE THAT THE TAPE WAS COSMETIC AND DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIR TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,692.

OUR FATHER'S VEHICLE STRUCK A BRICK BUILDING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES PER HOUR(FRONT / HEAD ON ) IN 2007 FORD ESCAPE. HE SUFFERED SEVERE INJURIES (FRACTURED NECK, BACK, MULTIPLE RIB FRACTURES , AND DIED AS A RESULT 2 WEEKS LATER. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON IMPACT. WHAT IS OUR NEXT STEP? WE RESEARCHED SEVERAL OTHER INSTANCES ON THIS SITE, REPORTS OF AIRBAGS NOT WORKING? PLEASE ADVISE ON NEXT STEP. *TR

ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 2010 MY DAUGHTER BECAME TANGLED IN HER SEATBELT, AND WAS SO CONSTRICTED BY THE BELT THAT WE HAD TO CUT THE BELT. THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS IS AS FOLLOWS: 1. SHE BELTED IN, AS ALWAYS. 2. SHE ASKED IF SHE COULD LIE DOWN ON THE SEAT BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T FEEL WELL; I SAID OKAY, BUT KEEP THE BELT ON 3. WE PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY B/C SHE NEEDED THE BATHROOM - WHEN SHE SAT UP, SHE SAID "I'M STUCK IN MY SEATBELT." ONCE PARKED, SHE RELEASED THE CLIP, BUT REMAINED TANGLED IN THE SHOULDER STRAP. 4. AS WE TRIED TO GET HER OUT OF THE BELT (SHE IS 5'3", SO I COULD NOT SIMPLY LIFT HER UP), WHICH WAS AROUND HER WAIST IN A FULL TWIST, SHE PULLED THE BELT TO FULL EXTENSION, ACCIDENTALLY STARTING THE RATCHET FUNCTION. 5. THE BELT BEGAN TO RATCHET TIGHTER AND TIGHTER, AND BECAME SO CONSTRICTED THAT SHE HAD TO FACE OVER THE BACK SEAT. 6. I HELD THE BELT TO STOP THE RATCHETING, WHILE A FRIEND RAN IN TO GET A PAIR OF SCISSORS. THE BELT WAS INCREDIBLY TIGHT ON HER - WE COULD NOT EVEN MOVE IT UP OR DOWN ON HER WAIST AND SHE WAS CRYING BECAUSE IT WAS CUTTING IN TO HER SIDES. 7. UNABLE TO RELEASE THE BELT, I CUT IT OFF MY DAUGHTER. THE CAR IS A FORD ESCAPE, HYBRID, 2007 - BUT THE SEATBELTS ARE SIMILAR IN MOST CAR BRANDS. THE BELT IS UNDER WARRANTY AND WILL BE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE. I DO NOT KNOW HOW THIS COULD BE PREVENTED, AS THE RATCHETING FUNCTION OF THE SEATBELT IS NECESSARY FOR CHILD SEAT RESTRAINTS (CAR SEATS). HOWEVER, IT WAS THE RATCHETING OF THE BELT THAT PUT MY DAUGHTER IN SO MUCH DANGER, AS ONCE THE SEATBELT BEGINS RATCHETING, IT WILL NOT RELEASE UNTIL IT IS FULLY RETRACTED. THANKFULLY, I NOTICED IT WAS RATCHETING BEFORE SHE WAS COMPLETELY CONSTRICTED. I AM ALSO REPORTING THIS TO FORD. IT COULD HAPPEN IN ANY CAR WITH RATCHETING SEATBELTS, REGARDLESS OF THE BRAND. HOPEFULLY, IT WILL NOT HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. *TR

ON AUGUST 27TH OF 2009 I WAS DRIVING MY 2007 FORD ESCAPE WHILE CORRECTING MY CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT I HIT A WET SPOT IN THE ROAD AND LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE I ROLLED 2 TIMES AND STOPPED WITH A FRONT END COLLISION. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT CATCH CAUSING ME TO BASH MY FACE INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AT LEAST TWO TIMES. THE AIR BAGS ALSO DID NOT WORK EITHER. BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY EQUIPMENT IT CAUSED ME TO BREAK MY NECK IN 3 PLACES AND SPENDING 2 WEEKS IN THE HOSPITAL HAVING TO HAVE SURGERY WITH A METAL ROD AND TWO SCREWS....BECAUSE OF THE DEFAULTED EQUIPMENT I STILL SUFFER FROM PERMANENT NERVE AND MUSCLE DAMAGE AND CHRONIC PAIN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS REAR ENDED AND CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. SHE WAS FORCED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND WAS STRUCK HEAD ON BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS INJURED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 17,500. UPDATED 03/04/08. *LJ

SINCE I PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE I AM HAVING WATER LEAKS PROBLEMS IN THE DRIVER SIDE I BROUGHT FOR REPAIR 5 TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE COMPANY SAYS THEY CANT FIND NO WATER LEAKS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT DOING THE WATER LEAK TEST PROPERLY, PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS SITUATION. *TR

MY DAUGHTER WEIGHS 90 LBS. WHEN SHE SITS IN THE FRONT SEAT OF OUR 2007 FORD ESCAPE, THE AIRBAG TURNS ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY, DEPENDING ON MINOR ADJUSTMENTS OF HER POSTURE. THE DEALER HAS SEEN IT AND SAYS THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT, AS IT IS A FEDERALLY REGULATED SETTING. SO I GUESS WE'LL JUST NEVER KNOW IF MY DAUGHTER WILL HAVE A FUNCTIONAL AIR BAG IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. *JB

I WAS TRAVELING NORTH AND THIS PERSON WAS GOING SOUTH, CROSSED THE CENTERLINE AND SLAMMED INTO ME, PUSHING ME BETWEEN TWO TREES AND TOTALING MY VEHICLE. IT WAS A HEAD ON COLLISION AND MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN ME FROM SLAMMING MY FOREHEAD INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD DO NOTHING AND SEND NO ONE TO SEE WHY THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I ENDED UP BEING BROUGHT BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE X-RAYS SHOWED MY NECK WAS SPRAINED AND I HAD A SCRAPE TO MY FOREHEAD FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE DOES NOT WEIGH ENOUGH FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG ON INDICATOR TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DID NOT KNOW HOW TO DISABLE THE AIR BAG ON-OFF SWITCH ASSEMBLY. THE FUEL SYSTEM AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 10,000.