Ford Recalls 2020 Escape and Transit Vehicles for Air Bag Defect
Ford is recalling 2020 Escape and Transit vehicles because a defective air bag component may prevent proper inflation during a crash, increasing injury risk.
What this means for you
Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).
The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.
Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural vehicle defect in the air bag system that may fail to deploy properly during a crash, increasing the risk of injury, which aligns with the 'Severe' criteria for significant injury risk.
Plain-English summary
Ford Motor Company is recalling certain 2020 Escape and Transit vehicles due to a defect in the side curtain air bags. The affected vehicles may have an improperly crimped diffuser, which can detach from the inflator during air bag deployment.
If the diffuser detaches in a crash, the curtain air bag may not inflate properly. This malfunction increases the risk of injury to vehicle occupants. The recall began on January 11, 2021, and an interim safety letter was mailed to owners on August 3, 2020.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side curtain air bag modules free of charge. Owners can contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 for more information.
The recalled product
- Product
- FORD ESCAPE, TRANSIT
- Brand
- FORD
- Manufacturer
- Ford Motor Company
- Category
- Vehicle — Air Bags
- Affected units
- 68
Is your product affected?
Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.
Model numbers (2)
- ESCAPE
- TRANSIT
Distribution
Distributed nationwide across the United States.
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