2003 Ford Escape air bags problems
60 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the air bags on the 2003 Ford Escape — 11% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“I was doordashing as it's my job and all of sudden my car starts not idling won't stay off od off switch that switch stayed consistently flickered either the engine or transmission is slipping or misfiring”
filed Apr 19, 2025
“I had a rear end at fault collision that totaled my 2003 Ford Escape on Dec.19, 2021....not one air bag deflated (yes I was at fault) because I was the one whom ran into the back of a jeep.....I'm having neck pain and spasms from whiplash, just curious whu not 1 airbG in the whole car deflated?”
filed Dec 30, 2021
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Air Bags problems in other Escape years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Escape | 1 | 5% |
| 2024 Escape | 6 | 8% |
| 2023 Escape | 1 | 1% |
| 2022 Escape | 4 | 2% |
| 2021 Escape | 1 | 0% |
| 2020 Escape | 12 | 1% |
| 2019 Escape | 11 | 2% |
| 2018 Escape | 9 | 1% |
| 2017 Escape | 21 | 1% |
| 2016 Escape | 24 | 2% |
| 2015 Escape | 16 | 2% |
| 2014 Escape | 32 | 2% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2003 Ford Escape
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.