A lack of clearance between the engine cover and the speed control cable connector meant the throttle could get stick open when the accelerator was fully depressed. Following a petition from the Center for Auto Safety, NHTSA opened an investigation and eventually issued a recall to fix the sticky throttles in the 2001–2004 model years.
Even with the throttles fixed, the 2001 model year could still have trouble stopping due to multiple problems with leaking brakes.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
15 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
17 / 0
Average Mileage:
74,579 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.
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.
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.
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. You have lost a few customers because of the lack of standing by your product. I am sending complaints to whomever I can because I know the NHTSA would do anything.
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 65 mph, the air bag warning indicator illuminated continuously. The failure recurred on several occasions. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer nor an independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 67,230.
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
- Campbell, NY, USA
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Going down route. 226 when a big buck ran out in front of the Ford Escape. The car was totaled and had to be towed. The nys troopers came to the accident. Had to take my son to the hospital because of hitting his upper body and face on the steering wheel. The front air bags failed to open. My back and neck is sore.
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 65 mph, the air bag deployed and there was no warning light indicator. The warning light had been flashing prior to the failure. The dealer was not able to diagnose the problem. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 112,700.
On November 11, 2013, while my wife was driving a 2001 Ford Escape at night approximately 65 mph on interstate 5 in northern California, the front side airbag on the drivers side (built into the driver's seat backrest) spontaneously deployed, frightening and nearly causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. The car had not hit a pot hole or any other object that might explain the deployment of the airbag. The airbag hit the drivers arm, causing red marks that lasted a day, but fortunately no lasting injury. After pulling the car over and finding no other damage (besides the ripped-out side of the backrest with the deflated airbag) that would affect operation of the vehicle, it was driven home approximately 10 miles. The incident has been reported to Ford customer service and, on 11/14, was driven to jim wilson Ford in yreka, ca to try to determine the cause and cost of repair. The dealer said that two or three malfunctions could have caused the airbag to deploy, but they couldn't pin down the cause. Cost of repair is estimated to be $2,043. As of today (11/21/13), the airbag has not been repaired, thinking that more investigation might be proposed for the potentially serious and even deadly defect.
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.
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Escape. The contact stated that when driving at various speeds, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who advised him that the alternator failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure recurred approximately six months later. The manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance to the contact. The failure and current mileages were approximately 120,000. Updated 04/30/13
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while traveling 30 mph the vehicle was crashed into on the rear passenger side by another vehicle. As a result, the vehicle rolled over and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained cuts and bruises. The vehicle was destroyed. Also, the contact stated that the rear driver side seat belt webbing would seize, making it difficult to extend the seat belt. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileage was not available. Updated 11/14/12 updated 11/15/12
Submission from re Ford Escape 2001 safety recall notice 11S24 the consumer received a recall notice in Jan 2012. The notice indicated she would be informed when the parts required to complete the safety recall would become available, which wouldn't be until the second quarter. The vehicle caught on fire while parked, which was prior to the recall, but was quickly extinguished. Shortly after the fire, the vehicle was repaired. Several months later, the consumer was partly compensated by Ford in the form of a check for $1900 accompanied by a document which stated by accepting the compensation, she would also be signing off on any other claims. The consumer also stated the catalytic converter, exhaust manifold, master cylinder, wiring harness, ABS, brake line booster, power steering rack and pinion, tie rods, intake manifold as well as the air bag were all replaced. The steering column would freeze, the rear passenger door handle fell off, rendering the door unstable, the coolant light illuminated, the oil pan needed to be replaced, the air condition stopped working and the rear shock were leaking.
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 45 mph around a curve, she crashed into a parked vehicle and the air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed and the driver was hospitalized due to head injuries. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileage was 125,000. Updated 06/05/12 updated 06/06/12
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.
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.
This problem occurred more than 3 times. The first date was 11-12-2003. The air bag light continued to stay on. The consequence of this is that we are not sure when the bag will deploy or not. Dealer traced and found open circuit, connector not seated. Resecured and system passed. This was the first occurrence. The vehicle was returned to this dealership up to four times for the same problem.
The 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.
My daughter was involved in a car crash which resulted in her 2001 Ford Escape being totaled and at no time did the air bags deploy. She went across three lanes of highway hit the guard rail went back across the three lanes and hit the other guard rail. She lives to tell her story. She now has pain in her cervical spine resulting in her seeing a doctor on a regular basis.
: the contact stated the airbag light illuminated and the vehicle was taken to the dealership. The dealership determined the pretensioner in the driver side seat belt needed to be replaced. The consumer had to pay for the repairs. Updated 07/03/06.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Fort Mill, SC, USA