Skip to content
Air bagsPart report

2016 Ford Escape Air bags Problems

Complaints
25about this part
Share
2%of 1,177 total for the year
Median mileage
46,617miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 25 complaints about the air bags of the 2016 Ford Escape, 2% of the 1,177 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 46,617 miles. 13 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Vehicle in motion traveling roughly 50mph, on rt. 9 in north berwick maine. 100 ft ahead a separate vehicle pulled out across traffic. I slammed on my brakes but was unable to avoid impact. Impact area was the front nose, no airbags deployed. Assuming but unsure of speed at point of impact, my seat belt was on. This is a company owned fleet vehicle, I am one owners of the company.”

NHTSA complaint #10991119, filed 2017-05, 49,500 miles

“I was driving on interstate 75 near bradenton in fl. 1:00 p.m. Perfectly clear & dry day. I was hit from behind, sent my Ford into the grassy median, car came to a stop at a wire guard rail. I didn't hit another vehicle. I was knocked unconscious, so I have no recall. This happened near a construction area & all I remember is traffic slowing, perhaps I was going 45-50 MPH, & in process of slowing down. Although there was extensive damage to left front & side no airbags deployed. My head/face apparently hit the steering wheel. Therefore seat belt restraints did not hold me tight to the seat. …”

NHTSA complaint #10851954, filed 2016-03, 2,778 miles

“Dash airbag warning light comes on when vehicle is in motion. This problem has remained intermittent until today, on three occasions the driver's air bag has been changed, the electrical harness and the module have also been changed. Today the truck is with the Ford dealer, and they have not been able to find a solution.”

NHTSA complaint #11363380, filed 2020-10, 4,350 miles

“Hit a concrete barrier with left front quarter panel at 72 MPH on interstate and airbags did not deploy but phone was trigger through sync to call 911 for crash detected.”

NHTSA complaint #11320276, filed 2020-04, 87,000 miles

“I was driving at 50mph and a car pulled out infront of me. I had no option but crashing into them. The impact was in the front end of my vehicle causing enough damage to total the vehicle and the airbags did not deploy. The insurance aduster did look at the vehicle.”

NHTSA complaint #11541342, filed 2023-08

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Air bags: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202514%
202468%
202311%
202242%
202121%
2020131%
2019112%
201890%
2017211%
2016252%
2015172%
2014322%
2013542%
2012254%
2011262%
2010141%
2009141%
2008312%
2007125%
2006174%
2005342%
2004459%
20036011%
2002798%
2001636%
2000120%

Other parts of the 2016 Ford Escape

Transmission and drivetrain
321 complaints
Back-over prevention (rear camera)
256 complaints
Engine
201 complaints
Other or unknown
158 complaints
Electrical system
95 complaints
Steering
73 complaints
Fuel system
71 complaints
Engine cooling
57 complaints
Vehicle speed control
32 complaints
Wheels
32 complaints
Brakes
21 complaints
Body and structure
21 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2016 Ford Escape

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology