Ford Escape 2016: Driver Knee Airbag May Not Inflate in Crash
Ford is recalling 2016 Escape vehicles with driver knee airbags that may not inflate properly during crashes, risking injury. Owners must have the airbag replaced free by August 8, 2017.
Use caution until it’s fixed
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.
What happened, in plain English
Ford is recalling 2016 Escape vehicles because the driver's knee airbag might not inflate during a crash, increasing injury risk. This affects vehicles that were sold starting in 2016. Owners should contact Ford for a free airbag replacement. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/1226825-ford-escape-2016-driver-knee-airbag-may-not-inflate-in.
Source Summary by GovInfoNow · govinfonow.com/recall/1226825-ford-escape-2016-driver-knee-airbag-may-not-inflate-in · Updated October 8, 2026 · Official notice: NHTSA #17V398000
Cite this page
“Ford Escape 2016: Driver Knee Airbag May Not Inflate in Crash.” GovInfoNow, updated October 8, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/1226825-ford-escape-2016-driver-knee-airbag-may-not-inflate-in. Based on NHTSA recall #17V398000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=17V398000).
Why it’s dangerous
The driver's knee airbag modules were made without the correct gas generator material, so they might not inflate properly in a crash. This means the driver could have a higher risk of injury compared to vehicles with properly functioning airbags.
Who’s affected
Owners of 2016 Ford Escape vehicles are affected. Drivers are most at risk if the airbag fails to inflate during a crash.
How to tell if you have this one
Check if your 2016 Ford Escape was sold after August 8, 2017. The recall covers vehicles with the driver's knee airbag module that lacks the required gas generator material.
- Brand
Ford- Category
Vehicle
What to do — step by step
Contact Ford
Call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 to schedule a free airbag replacement.
What NHTSA says to do
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.
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Where this comes from
The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official NHTSA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.
- Official source: NHTSA Recall #17V398000 (June 26, 2017)
- Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on October 8, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the NHTSA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
- GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official NHTSA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.