Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Ford Escape owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I put money down on the vehicle the next day when I drove it I noticed that the seat belt doesn't work. I told him about it and he told me to se if it stays clicked on the passenger side. It does but I couldn't drive that way it was choking me. He said he would put a new one in it but never did. I have gone there several times a week and several times in a day for a couple of weeks. It has airbags or they don't work. Because the light will flash a bunch of times and then stay on. I can't drive it because there are no safety devices to keep me from being killed in the event of an accident. I would like help getting my down payment back so I can get a road worthy vehicle. I have spent all if this time trying to find away to get my money back. I have lost almost all of my clients due to not having reliable transportation to get to my the homes to clean them.
While going down the road 60 miles an hour at night time a deer ran in front of the car. My son jammed on the brakes skidding a distance hitting the deer. Because of jamming on the brakes my son hit the steering wheel with his face causing injury to his neck, face and head. His seat belt was on and the airbags never went off. He skidding a distance swerving right to the edge of the road hitting a metal bar at the edge of a driveway. I sent a complaint into the NHTSA and was told the air bags wouldn't of gone off. I also have a picture of a friends Ford truck going off the road at 60 hitting a house and the airbags never went off. So the excuse the airbags wouldn't go off hitting a deer is completely wrong. Figure out the force of jamming on the brakes at 60 miles an hour skidding a distance. Ford has a problem and should stand by their vehicles. …
Car was involved in a front-end collision at about 30-35 MPH in dec 2002. Air bags did not deploy. Ford dealer repaired damage. Air bag light would flash and stay on at intermittent times. Dealer checked and could not find any problems. Recently the air bag light began to flash, then stay on continuously, every time vehicle was started. Now the air bag light does not come on, however we receive a series of 5 beeps, 5 times, every time car is started, and every 30 minutes if vehicle is running. Took vehicle to dealer and were told the instrument cluster needs to be replaced as well as the airbag wiring harness. Total cost = over $1100. Dealer would not guarantee this would solve the problem. Internet research reveals we are not the only consumers with this problem. Ford should be responsible to repair all escapes since they are aware of this issue.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Ford Escape. The contact was driving approximately 15 MPH approaching a stop signal and when driving from the complete stop the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated up to 58 MPH and crashed into a nearby utility pole. The contact sustained severe injuries. A police report was filed of the incident. In addition, the air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to a savage facility and declared as destroyed. The contact planned to notify the manufacturer of the unintended acceleration. There was a recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number 00V210001 (vehicle speed control); however the contact did receive a recall notification. The approximate failure was 137,000.
My son was going down the road about 60 miles an hour when a big deer came out in front of him. He jammed on his brakes skidding but still hit the deer totaling the car. Not one of the airbags came out. He went forward hitting his upper body and face on the steering wheel. He had his seat belt on. The police were called to the accident. He was taken to the hospital by friends. He turned black and blue and still is hurting. The car was just inspected the end of October. I feel Ford and the manufacturer should be held liable. That the car should be replaced because of the airbags not working causing injury. I'm without a car...updated 12/04/14 updated 06/2/2015
Tl* - the contact called regarding the 2001 Ford Escape. The contact was traveling at 35 MPH. The road conditions were clear. The sun blinded the contact, and she rear ended the other vehicle, causing minor damage. The contact's vehicle was badly damaged. The frame was bent. The airbags did not deploy on impact. The airbag deployed after the contact's head hit the windshield. The driver was belted. The seat belt pretensioner did not deploy. The driver's head hit the windshield and the windshield cracked. The contact sustained injuries. The failure mileage was 84000. A police report was taken.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Ford Escape. While driving 50 MPH, another vehicle rear ended the contact's vehicle. The contact then crashed into the rear of the preceding vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The driver sustained a whiplash. As of September 17, 2007, the dealer had not inspected the vehicle to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer stated that the air bags were designed to deploy in certain conditions and because they did not, does not necessarily indicate a failure. A police report was filed. The failure mileage was 85,000 and current mileage was 100,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the gear shifter failed while reversing from a residential drive way. The gear failed to shift out of reverse and caused the contact to lose control of the vehicle, crashing into a parked vehicle. The front air bags failed to deploy. The contact suffered injuries to the right side lower back. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard and was not diagnosed for the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure and current mileage was 109,050.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Ford Escape. While driving different speeds, the accelerator pedal became stuck. The contact placed the vehicle in neutral and depressed the brake pedal, which caused the vehicle to jerk and continue normal driving. The contact also stated that the passenger side air bag had bubbles and appeared as though it would explode. The failures were not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was 163,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the air bag warning light illuminated intermittently and the power steering seized. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was made aware of NHTSA campaign number: 14V597000 (air bags, seat belts). The failure mileage was 119,345.
Airbag complaints in other Escape years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2001 Ford Escape?
NHTSA has 63 complaints about the air bags of the 2001 Ford Escape, 6% of the model year's 996 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (27 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Ford Escape airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2001 Ford Escape, though it has 13 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2001 Ford Escape airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 84,000 miles, and 10% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 34 crashes, 2 fires and 29 injuries and 1 death to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.