Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2014 Ford Escape owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Unknown- I purchased my Car in 2021 and I've had ongoing transmission issues since I purchased it. As of now the issues have gotten worse. I had the transmission recall repair done, but it did not fix the jerking way my car was driving. The repairs keep getting more costly and I don't believe there's an actual fix, but rather that this vehicle was sold with a faulty transmission. As of now I can't drive my vehicle because last month there was a fire under my hood and it's totally unsafe for me and my family to be in. Ford won't take any responsibility but they've already had to buy back vehicles for settling them with bad transmissions. This is not new for them.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after driving into a parking space and switching the transmission to the park position, the vehicle suddenly jolted forward and crashed into a brick wall. During the crash, the vehicle experienced significant damage to the front end but no air bag was deployed. The driver sustained neck and back injuries but no medical treatment was required. The vehicle was not towed. No police report was taken. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 110,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while stopped in traffic, he was rear-ended by another vehicle that was driving at 70 MPH. The contact applied the emergency brake to prevent his vehicle from hitting the vehicle in front of him. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact sought treatment at a urgent care where he was treated for the pain in his neck and back. A police report was not filed. The contact drove the vehicle home and contacted a dealer who referred him to an independent collision center. The vehicle was towed to the collision center where the vehicle was repaired. Upon return of the vehicle, the contact stated that the instrument cluster screen was white and would flicker. The vehicle was taken back to the collision center where they towed the vehicle to the Ford dealer. …
I have been needing to add coolant to my car almost bi-weekly and just recently it lost power while getting on the freeway. The airbags have been problematic since I purchased the vehicle even after having the wire harness replaced twice at a Ford dealership. The light will not go off.
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while stationary, in the park position, the vehicle rolled backwards and crashed into the neighbor's vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle prior to the rollaway. The contact stated that the driver's door clipped onto the car port housing, in which the vehicle was parked under, and the driver's door hinge fractured. Upon impact with the rear spare tire mount of the neighbor's vehicle, the air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. There were no injuries sustained, as the contact was not in the vehicle at the time of the crash and neither was the neighbor. The contact called the insurance company and remained in possession of the vehicle thereafter. In addition, an autobody repair shop was made aware of the rollaway. A dealer was not contacted about the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. …
Takata recall. Purchased sept 2013. Rear ended twice within the first month of ownership. Airbags did not deploy either time. Bleakley Ford repaired both times. 2015 got recall notice for 'airbags'. Asked service person what was wrong with the airbags. She said 'they had to be turned on". This means, they were turned off when the car left the factory, and when I was rear ended both times. This indicated that Ford knew the airbags were dangerous, and was turning them off in the factory. I found my vehicle on one Takata list, so I know it has them. I have requested several time to have my airbags replaced, but they just brush me off. I'm very nervous not knowing if they are going to explode while I'm driving. I live in the south where it is hot and humid. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle driving in front abruptly stopped and the brake pedal was depressed but the contact crashed into the rear of the other vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact mentioned that there was an abnormal odor in the vehicle when the air bag failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries to his right shoulder and chest along with upper back injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a collision center where it was diagnosed with internal control module software incompatibility. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure but the contact stated that he had a previous accident in 2014 where the air bags failed to deploy and the manufacturer was notified then. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2014 Ford Escape. While driving 20-25 MPH, a vehicle cut in front of the contact's vehicle. As a result, the contact crashed into the front quarter panel of the other vehicle. The seat belt failed to retract and the driver's side door air bag failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the shoulder and hand, which required medical attention. The passenger was not injured. The vehicle was towed to an independent lot and deemed destroyed by the insurance company. A police report was filed. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was contacted and did not assist. The failure mileage was 99,000. Consumer also stated driver side airbag and seat belt failed. Consumer 's right side hit against seat belt buckle, causing her to severly bruise with injury. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2014 Ford Escape. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the contact depressed the brake pedal and was rear ended by another vehicle. As a result, the contact crashed into another vehicle. The driver's seat fell backwards due to the impact. As a result, the contact lost control of the steering and crashed into the guardrail. The air bags failed to deploy. In addition, the key failed to release from the ignition switch and the doors failed to open, which prevented the contact from exiting the vehicle. The contact sustained back and chest injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a tow lot. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 16V643000 (latches/locks/linkages). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, another vehicle merged rapidly ahead causing a crash. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained a lower back injury and the passenger located on the rear driver's side seat in a booster seat sustained a right knee injury. There was no injury to the person in the other vehicle. A police report was filed but no one was transported for medical attention. The vehicle was towed to an auto body shop where it was pending body repairs. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 34,000. Updated 12/23/16 updated 01/05/17.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 C-MAX, and Escape vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the restraint control module (RCM) may have errors in the programming software which may result in a delayed deployment of the side-curtain rollover air bag.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the RCM, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S04.
Airbag complaints in other Escape years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2014 Ford Escape?
NHTSA has 32 complaints about the air bags of the 2014 Ford Escape, 2% of the model year's 2,089 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2014 Ford Escape airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-237 (sensor/control module-inactive, May 7, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2014 Ford Escape airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 45,000 miles, and 39% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 17 crashes, 2 fires and 14 injuries 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.