NHTSA Complaint #10887618 — 2004 FORD ESCAPE

IN APRIL 2016, I PURCHASED A USED 2004 FORD ESCAPE WITH APPROXIMATELY 130,000 MILES ON IT. THE VEHICLE HAD A RECENT STATE INSPECTION STICKER VERIFYING THAT IT PASSED ALL STATE SAFETY STANDARDS, TO INCLUDE HAVING WORKING AIRBAGS. HOWEVER, AFTER DRIVING THE ESCAPE FOR ONLY A FEW DAYS, THE AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND LATER STAYED ON. NOW THE AIRBAG STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. DURING THIS SAME TIME, THE VEHICLE ALSO STARTED EXPERIENCE AN INTERMITTENT STALLING PROBLEM. NOT SURE IF THESE PROBLEMS ARE CONNECTED TO A LARGER ISSUE...ESPECIALLY SINCE BOTH PROBLEMS STARTED OCCURRING AT THE SAME TIME. AFTER READING VARIOUS ARTICLES ONLINE, I REALIZED THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT ISSUE IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG FORD ESCAPES AND EXPENSIVE TO FIX AND SOMETIMES A REOCCURRING PROBLEM. I HAVE DRIVEN MANY OTHER VEHICLES (NON-FORD) WITH OVER 200,000 MILES ON THEM, AND NONE OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE EVER HAD ANY NON-OPERABLE AIRBAG ISSUES. DUE TO THIS BEING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, WITH AIRBAG(S) IN THE FORD ESCAPES BECOMING PREMATURELY INOPERABLE, FORD SHOULD MAKE A SAFETY RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM...BEFORE SOMEONE ACCIDENTALLY GETS HURT OR KILLED, FROM HAVING AN INOPERABLE AIRBAG OR AIRBAGS IN THEIR VEHICLE.