Did the 2016 Ford Escape have an airbag recall?

Yes. Recall 17V398000, reported June 26, 2017, covers driver's knee airbag modules built without inflator gas generant material, which prevents proper airbag function. Ford dealers replace the affected airbag free of charge.

How many airbag complaints does NHTSA have for the 2016 Ford Escape?

NHTSA lists 24 airbag complaints for the 2016 Escape, which is 2% of the 1,123 total complaints filed for that model year.

What do owners say happens with the airbags?

Owners most often report that airbags failed to deploy during a crash, or deployed without properly inflating, in incidents involving 12 crashes and 9 injuries.

At what mileage do airbag problems typically show up?

The median mileage at failure for airbag complaints on the 2016 Escape is 46,617 miles.

Is the airbag recall a do-not-drive order?

No. NHTSA's recall data marks 17V398000 as not a do-not-drive or park-outside recall; Ford dealers replace the affected knee airbag module free of charge.

2016 Ford Escape Airbags Problems

NHTSA lists 24 airbag complaints for the 2016 Ford Escape, 2% of all complaints that year, tied to 12 crashes and 9 injuries. A related recall (17V398000) covers driver's knee airbag modules built without inflator gas generant material.

Airbags complaints: 24; 2% of 1,123
Crashes reported: 12
Fires reported: 0
Injuries reported: 9
Median mileage: 46,617 mi
Related recalls: 1

Typical airbag symptoms owners report

Owners report airbags failing to deploy at all during moderate-speed frontal or rear-end collisions, including impacts with deer, other vehicles, and roadside barriers.
Some drivers describe airbags deploying but failing to inflate properly, leaving occupants to strike the steering wheel or dashboard.
Several complaints mention seat belts failing to lock or retract at the same time as the airbag non-deployment, resulting in occupants being thrown forward.
Non-deployment was reported across a wide range of driving speeds, from low-speed parking-lot collisions to highway-speed crashes.
One complaint links non-deployment to a sudden acceleration event that ended in a crash.

When 2016 Ford Escape airbag complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 28, 2016, latest Aug 5, 2026.

24 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2016 to Aug 2026; peak Jul 2019 (2).

Airbags recalls for the 2016 Ford Escape

NHTSA 17V398000Jun 26, 2017Airbags3 vehicles
Air bags:knee bolster
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016 Ford Escape vehicles. The driver's knee airbag modules installed in these vehicles were produced without the inflator gas generant material, and, as a result, the air bags may not inflate properly in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: In the event of a crash, if the driver's knee air bag does not inflate as intended, the driver has an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace driver's knee air bag, free of charge. The recall began on August 8, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C11.

Airbags complaints by Escape model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

200534 (2%)
200617 (4%)
200712 (5%)
200831 (2%)
200914 (1%)
201014 (1%)
201126 (2%)
201224 (4%)
201354 (2%)
201432 (2%)
201516 (1%)
201624 (2%)
201721 (1%)
20189 (1%)
201911 (2%)
202012 (1%)
20212 (1%)
20224 (2%)
20231 (1%)
20246 (8%)
20251 (4%)

Frequently asked questions

Did the 2016 Ford Escape have an airbag recall?: Yes. Recall 17V398000, reported June 26, 2017, covers driver's knee airbag modules built without inflator gas generant material, which prevents proper airbag function. Ford dealers replace the affected airbag free of charge.
How many airbag complaints does NHTSA have for the 2016 Ford Escape?: NHTSA lists 24 airbag complaints for the 2016 Escape, which is 2% of the 1,123 total complaints filed for that model year.
What do owners say happens with the airbags?: Owners most often report that airbags failed to deploy during a crash, or deployed without properly inflating, in incidents involving 12 crashes and 9 injuries.
At what mileage do airbag problems typically show up?: The median mileage at failure for airbag complaints on the 2016 Escape is 46,617 miles.
Is the airbag recall a do-not-drive order?: No. NHTSA's recall data marks 17V398000 as not a do-not-drive or park-outside recall; Ford dealers replace the affected knee airbag module free of charge.