2004 Ford Escape Air Bags Problems

NHTSA component category: AIR BAGS · data through 07/12/2026

41Air Bags complaints

8.2%Of all 499 complaints

#4Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How air bags ranks on this vehicle

SUSPENSION148 · 29.7%

STRUCTURE:BODY111 · 22.2%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL76 · 15.2%

AIR BAGS41 · 8.2%

WHEELS33 · 6.6%

Share of the 499 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2004 Ford Escape overview page.

What owners report

“2004 FORD ESCAPE XLT WITH 72,000 MILES. AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AFTER VEHICLE WAS STARTED. TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND AIR BAG LIGHT WENT…”NHTSA complaint 10375512 — filed 01/10/2011

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WOULD CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE AUTO…”NHTSA complaint 10256132 — filed 01/23/2009

“STARTING APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK AGO, THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON CONSTANTLY IN MY 2004 FORD ESCAPE, INDICATING THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN CASE…”NHTSA complaint 10235483 — filed 07/23/2008

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Air Bags complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2004 Ford Escape have air bags problems?

Air Bags is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2004 Ford Escape: 41 of 499 complaints on file (8.2%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2004 Ford Escape have in total?

499 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 29 involved a crash, 14 involved a fire, 16 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's air bags category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the AIR BAGS category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.