Print this page

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
14 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
9 / 0
Average Mileage:
55,836 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2002 Ford Escape seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2002 Ford Escape:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2002 Ford Escape Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #51

Jun 162021

Escape

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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

- Grants Pass, OR, USA

problem #50

Oct 142020

Escape

  • 14,000 miles
Gears is hard to shift to the right gear and lights went out early like a drain in electrical and my stearing is becoming hard to turn on streets and out my drive way

- Skokie, IL, USA

problem #49

Dec 202013

Escape

  • miles
On 12/20/2013 I had the lower control arms replaced, and had to pay $1,279.79. In April 2014 you announced a recall for this same item. For some treason you excluded my car. Considering my car required the exact item replaced only 4 months prior, I am requesting to be reimbursed for the cost of that repair. Also a complaint I have is the warning light for the airbag will not go out. A defect that does not seem repairable. In light of the airbag recall I am concerned I am sitting in front of a loaded gun. I will keep this complaint where my family can find it and respond accordingly if something happens to me after you have been notified of this complaint

- Groton, CT, USA

problem #48

May 232017

Escape

  • 150,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Airbag light stays on and also I have a issue with the steering wheel and suspension there are other issues with the car and never was fixed by previous owner now im stuck with a car that has past recalled issues. If you own a car and just purchased it by previous owner make sure that recalls have been fixed on vehicle. Now I dont know what to do with my vehicle.

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #47

Aug 292017

Escape

  • miles
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.

- Burr Oak, MI, USA

problem #46

Aug 152014

Escape

  • 37,500 miles
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.

- Darien, CT, USA

problem #45

Jun 182017

Escape

  • 90,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Cantonment, FL, USA

problem #44

Jan 242016

Escape

  • 177,000 miles
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.

- Cleveland, OH, USA

problem #43

Oct 122015

Escape

  • 119,000 miles
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.

- Elyria, OH, USA

problem #42

Jul 012014

Escape

  • 190,000 miles
For the past year and a half the ABS warning light has been illuminated. I took it to the Ford dealership to have the latest recall fixed regarding the reservoir cap. Ford couldn't get the ABS warning light to turn off...so, hence the light still intermidantly comes on and off. Also, the oil pressure light keeps coming on when I start my car and when I am slowing down. I just had my mechanic change the oil a week ago and and still having the problem. One last thing, the air bag illumination light has been on for the past two years. I took it to my dealer and they couldn't get it to turn off. Am I safe in thinking that my air bag won't deploy just for the heck of it" not sure what to do" but it scares me.

- Post Falls, ID, USA

problem #41

Jun 032015

Escape

  • 135,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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"

- Wausau, WI, USA

problem #40

Feb 262015

Escape

  • 131,000 miles
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.

- Martinsburg, WV, USA

problem #39

Sep 032012

Escape

  • miles
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.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #38

Jan 032014

Escape

  • 110,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the air bag and ABS warning lights illunimated on the instrument panel. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 110,000 and the current mileage was 166,000.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #37

May 022014

Escape

  • 181,000 miles
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.

- Jemison, AL, USA

problem #36

Nov 282009

Escape

  • miles
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!

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #35

Jan 112013

Escape

  • miles
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.

- Stratford, CT, USA

problem #34

Jul 012006

Escape

  • 80,060 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving the air bag light erroneously illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 80,060 and the current mileage was 130,000.

- Richland, SC, USA

problem #33

Oct 082012

Escape

  • 108,500 miles
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.

- Delray Beach, FL, USA

problem #32

Dec 192002

Escape 6-cyl

  • 69 miles
The airbag light keeps coming on. I took it in for service for regular maintenance and then the light was off. I've had the car now for 10 years this December. I can't recall a time my airbag light has not been on. Just recently I started researching and found their is a short wire under the drivers seat and it has a little gray prong on it. The gray prong needs to be grounded and it should be attached the bars the seat slides back and forth on. I stuck the gray plug in and the airbag light went out. The only problem is every time you move the seat it pushes the gray plug down and eventually it will come back on and I will have to fix it again. Ford needs to correct this problem. The problem is an easy fix and I don't understand why they don't change the plug or make a longer cord. Ford needs to fix the problem. I love my car but hate the frustration.

- Senoia, GA, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?