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Ford Escape and Transit Side Airbags May Fail

NHTSA campaign 20V415000 · Reported Jul 17, 2020 · Ford Motor Company

high How serious is it? About this label

If the curtain airbag does not inflate properly in a crash, it increases the risk of injury. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving.

Key facts

NHTSA campaign number	20V415000
Reported to NHTSA	Jul 17, 2020
Manufacturer	Ford Motor Company
Part affected	AIR Bags:side/window
Vehicles covered	2 model/year combinations, model years 2020
Do-not-drive advisory	No
Park-outside advisory	No
Repair	Free at any franchised dealer

What's wrong, in plain English

Ford is recalling certain Escape and Transit vehicles because a part inside the side curtain airbags, called the diffuser, may not have been crimped correctly. In a crash, the diffuser could detach from the inflator, and the curtain airbag may not inflate the way it is supposed to.

What you should do

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm your vehicle is affected.
2. Contact a Ford dealer, or call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
3. The repair is free.

Where do I find my VIN, and what do I tell the dealer?

Your VIN is the 17-character code on the lower left of the windshield, on your registration and usually on your insurance card. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether this recall is still open on your car. When you call the dealer, say you have an open safety recall and give them NHTSA campaign number 20V415000. More in how recalls work.

Affected vehicles (2)

2020 Ford Escape
2020 Ford Transit

Who to contact

Ford — official Ford recall lookup

Customer service: 1-866-436-7332

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

The bigger picture

Ford Airbag Recalls Involving Deployment Failures and Loose Components · all 14 Ford recalls in this area

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All 41 Escape recalls

Official notice

Component: AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Escape and Transit vehicles. The affected vehicles may have an improperly crimped diffuser in the side curtain air bags which may result in the diffuser detaching from the inflator in the event of an air bag deployment.
Safety risk: In the event of a crash, if the diffuser detaches from the inflator during air bag deployment, the curtain air bag may not inflate properly, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side curtain air bag modules, free of charge. An interim letter notifying owners of the safety risk was mailed August 3, 2020. The recall began January 11, 2021. Owners may contact Ford's customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S35.

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.