I was writing this for my sister who is no longer here. She drove a 2001 Ford Escape going 60 mph down the highway. The people in front of her stopped and she rear ended them. Her car flipped several times and she was ejected. Although the state troopers said she wasn't wearing her seat belt she clearly had a 2" by 4" abrasion on her left shoulder exactly the size and location that her seat belt would have been. The SUV was completely destroyed, not a panel on it wasn't smashed - and yet the airbags didn't go off. It was so bad that I went by the accident and didn't even recognize the car until a police officer called our house and told us about the accident and location. My sister was 22 years old with a husband and a daughter and now she is no longer here. I realize there has been a recall on the seat belt, we got a letter 2 months after the accident even though the recall was 2 years before. Something needs to be done about the airbags though. R.I.P. amanda whitmore.

- Welaka, FL, USA

We noticed a hissing noise, took it to dealer, was told brake booster, master cylinder, left stabilizer link assy, and pre-tensioner connectors on air bag all need replaced. Can not afford to replace pre-tensioner connectors. Seems unusual to me that all would go out all of a sudden, especially both the booster and master cylinder. To my knowledge we did nothing to contribute to the probs. I may be hard to reach, as I am staying with my father in hermann while he undergoes cancer treatments, but, my wife can be reached at the evening phone # listed.

- Rolla, MO, USA

- 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.

- Monroe, MI, USA

: the contact stated the vehicle was involved in a front end collision and neither frontal air bag deployed. The contact was driving 10-20 mph. The seat belts were in use at the time. There was extensive damage to the vehicle. The driver sustained injuries. There was a police report filed.

- Salt Lake City, UT, USA

While driving at approximately 35 mph, another vehicle was turning in front of consumer's vehicle, causing it to swerved around the vehicle trying to avoid an accident. In the process, it hit another vehicle. Upon impact, air bags failed to deploy.

- Rudy, AR, USA

The consumer was traveling 30 mph, when suddenly a vehicle turned in front of his/her vehicle. The vehicle became involved in a head on collision and the air bag's did not deploy.

- Grayslake, IL, USA

While driving 40 mph consumer's vehicle was involved in a head on collision.. upon impact, air bags did not deploy. As a result driver sustained cervical spine strain.

- Bristol, TN, USA

Nar 05/28/2003 the consumer made several attempts to fix inoperable air bag assembly. Seat belt restraint system replaced. Dealer notified.

- Uknown, DC, USA

On April 1, 2004, a 1995 Ford Taurus turned in front of my 2001 Ford Escape. I was traveling at a speed around 40mph and slammed on the brakes. The front of my vehicle hit the passenger side front of her vehicle. My airbags failed to deploy and my car was deemed a total loss. I suffered a strained neck, strained back muscles, multiple contusions from the seatbelt, as well as a pulmonary contusion. I feel that my injuries were enhanced due to airbag failure.

- Columbus, GA, USA

While driving the vehicle was hit on the passenger side which caused the vehicle to hit a tree. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was totaled.

- Southgate, MI, USA

While driving at 60 mph consumer was involved in an accident and neither of the air bags deployed. Also seat belts did not hold the passengers in the seats.

- Yorktown, VA, USA

Consumer's vehicle was hit from rear which caused the consumers vehicle to hit another vehicle in front of her. Both front air bags did not deploy. Dealer notified.

- Hillview, KY, USA

The vehicle was involved in a frontal collision, and none of the air bags deployed.

- Otwell, IN, USA

Consumer airbag light has illuminated, light is staying on. Consumer feels that the airbag may not deploy.

- Rockland, MA, USA

In a frontal collison none of the air bags deployed on impact. Police officer informed consumer extent of damage to front of vehicle. Also, bags should have deployed.

- Pearland, TX, USA

Safety restraint systems, ; passenger's side air bag cover will pop off, and over a period of time, air bag will start seeping out. This has been replaced by dealership three times. Also driver's side seat belt buckle will not remain (female piece) latched. This has been replaced by dealership twice.

- Newport News, VA, USA

Consumer states the airbag on the passenger side, the cover is lifting off. Consumer feels very unsafe because airbag may deploy unexpectantly.

- Miami, FL, USA

Front collision at 60 mph, neither airbag deployed. Consumer suffered a broken nose and shoulder. Vehicle was totalled.

- Combine, TX, USA

F-150 barely stops from hitting a CRV in front of it. As soon as I saw him apply his brakes I slammed on mine. The brakes did not seem to help to slow Escape's speed. Went under F150's bumper and was bounced back at least a car length and a half (have pictures). The front was cruppled and airbags did not deploy. I was told by Ford they found nothing wrong with breaking system but I know what it felt like. Maybe systems were working according to their computer but I know if I had been in my 1996 Explorer it would have stopped.

- Miami, FL, USA

This driver was driving on I-64 West and just passed exit 34 when a deer came jumping over a double high concrete barrier and in front of the Ford Escape. I was travelling about 75 miles per hour in a 70 zone. The only thing this driver had time to do was to begin ad turn the wheel. The hit was basically head on. The deer was a big buk that stood at shoulder height above the hood of the Escape. The entire front end was smashed in. The initial impact was just above the bumper and the grill radiator, fan assembly and condenser were destroyed. Every thing othe than the bumper is to be replaced and installed bumper cover, bumper brackets, etc. On the adjusters statement it says that bumper needs an overhaul. This event has been reported to Ford. Ford motor sees to be unconcerned saying that 2 of three sensors need to be deployed in order to engage the air bags. Two of these sensors are in the bumper and the other is on the left side of the radiator. The radiator on this 2001 Ford Escape was smashed like a pancake. Dave at turnpike Ford told me that upon visual inspection that there is a sensor on the left side of the radiator and it remained untouched. The main bulk of the deer did hit above the bumper and there was alot of him. I feel that at 75 mph that hitting an animal that big should have deployed the airbags. Isnt that what this safety feature about. How am I to feel sure that I am to be safe when involved in a collision. If a larger vehicle were to hit me and miss my bumper sensors does that mean that the same airbag system in this Ford Escape would not deploy?

- Cincinnati, OH, USA