Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | ||||||
| DP01001 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 04/19/2001 | 11/01/2001 | AIR BAG NON-DEPLOYMENT | ||
| This petition alleges that the frontal air bags do not deploy during frontal impact | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | |||
| 11/01/1998 | 10 | 11/01/1998 | |
| Tl* - the contact stated horn has not worked properly since she purchased the vehicle. the vehicle currently has 31,000 miles. the contact took the vehicle to dealer for repairs, and was told that the airbag was defective , and that itwas causing the horn not to work. the horn has been replaced, but it still did not work. the contact stated the horn would just come on and would not stop. the contact removed the circuit breaker a few weeks ago, but now the service engine light will not turn off. the dealer checked the computer system and found nothing wrong with the vehicle. the driver's side front had a leak in the firewall. the contact had the leak repaired four times. *ak | |||
| 08/03/2004 | 90000 | 1 | 11/21/2000 |
| Dt: the consumer states that the 1998 ford escort crashed into a light pole. the driver hit the pole and the air bag deployed and broke. the inside of the air bag sprayed the chemicals on the driver, the chemicals burnt her hands and arm. she said that she could not find a lawyer in her town to take case. the lawyers and the insurance company were working together against her. she said that she had a boil on her hand and a bruise on her chest. the consumer has pictures of the air bag. she wanted someone to reimburse her for the car because she lived in low income housing. she said vehicle was totaled and the junk dealer came and got it. and she did not get paid for it. a police report was taken. *ak | |||
| 03/10/2005 | 1 | ||
| While driving approximately 20 mph consumer's vehicle rear ended another vehicle. upon impact, seat belts did not lock, and air bags did not deploy. *ak | |||
| 10/30/2004 | 110000 | 1 | |
| Vehicle is experiencing problems with the air bags. owner was driving about 45 mph on the highway and hit a parked vehicle. upon impact, the air bags failed to deploy. *ak | |||
| 12/17/2003 | 104300 | 1 | 01/20/1999 |
| On december, 17th, in the evening, my husband was on route 20, in marlborough, ma. he had made a wrong turn and was going 2 mph, doing a k-turn, when both the airbags in his 1998 ford escort inflated. he has a standard shift car. at the time of the faulty inflation, as he was struck by the airbag in the head, his feet came off the pedals and the car stalled, rolling to the side of the road and hitting a curb. we are very lucky that he was not on the highway when these airbags deployed. had he not made the wrong turn, he would have been on the highway. at a speed of 65 mph on route 495, i don't believe his outcome would have been so good, after the airbag deployment. he suffers still from neck and back pain from the incident. the important point to note here is that he did not hit anything. the airbags just deployed on their own, while he was driving. we called ford the next day to report this. they said that someone would contact us within 7-10 days. two and a half weeks went by, and no one called. my husband called ford again. they said there was nothing they could do. my husband then called our local ford dealer. a regional rep. was going to be at that location the following day. he called us, stating that within a few days ford would be in contact with us. a few days went by, and he told us that there was nothing he could do, we had to file certain paperwork first before ford would talk to us. the paperwork arrived the next day. it requests such things as complete history of oil changes and any work performed on the car. it is a generic form, not applicable to faulty airbag deployment. i am writing to you because i have a problem with their lack of caring about consumer protection. what ford should have done, was to immediately take possession of the car for as long as they needed to find out why the airbags deployed. ford apparently has no interest in assessing the reason for the faulty airbag deployment. *cb | |||
| 11/29/2003 | 55000 | 1 | |
| While swerving to avoid hitting an animal rear end failed. as a result, vehicle collided into a tree, then flipped, and landed on all four tires. upon impact, dual airbags did not deploy. *ak | |||
| 01/15/2001 | 1 | ||
| While driving horn kept going off which might startle occupant and cause a crash. dealer said it was due to airbag system which needed to be replaced at 59,000 miles. airbag light did not come on. common problem. *ak | |||
| 03/18/2000 | 1 | 10/01/1999 | |
| The air bags did not deploy at the point of impact. front end collision | |||
| 11/19/1998 | 1 | ||
| No deployment of air bag, and shut off valve failed during accident resulting in headaches from hitting head on mirror, neckaches and upper back problems. nlm | |||
| 09/26/1998 | 2 | 08/01/1997 | |
| Brief summary of defective safety gear: 09/26/98 this vehicle was traveling 35-40mph and rear-ended a truck, neither air-bag deployed. now, 9/17/99, atruck traveling 35-40mph rear-ended this vehicle causing about a 20mph smash to the vehicle in front and again, no air bag deployment and the fuel pump cut-off switch failed to function. this time however, the driver of this vehicle received double the whip-lash effect that could have been kept to the single inflictrd in a rear-end collision involving only two vehicles. a needless neck injury has been suffered this time and i feel that if the air-bags were deployed, the elimination of the forward whip would not have been a factor of the neck injury. | |||
| 12/31/1997 | |||
| In two frontal impact the driver and passenger airbag did not deploy which did not protect the occupant in the crashes. dlr cannot determine the problem. please provide further information and vin#. | |||
| 05/26/1998 | 1 | 05/12/1998 | |
| No deployment of airbags caused injury (neck & back) to driver during vehicle collision. | |||
| 12/02/1997 | 1 | 11/07/1997 | |
| Steering wheel locked causing loss of control due to a defective air bag. | |||
| 1 | |||
| Violent deployment of air bag during collision, causing burns/neck injury. | |||
| AIR BAGS - FRONTAL | |||
| 10/24/2008 | 90000 | 1 | |
| My son was driving my 1998 ford escort lx on a 35 mph road when the driver in front of him slammed on his brakes. my son immediately tried to stop the car, but he rear-ended the other car before he could come to a complete stop. during the impact, the driver's seat belt did not lock in place and the dual airbags did not deploy - allowing my son's upper body to continue forward until his face hit the steering wheel. the lap belt functioned properly, holding my son's lower body in place. *tr | |||
| 08/01/2008 | 81756 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 1998 ford escort. while driving between 35-40 mph, rear ended another vehicle. at the time of the crash, the air bags failed to deploy. both occupants were wearing seat belts, but that did not prevent them from being thrown to the front of the vehicle and injured. the driver sustained injuries to the head and face. a police report was filed. the vehicle was partially destroyed and the front bumper, bumper support, radiator and support, air conditioner condenser, and power steering reservoir were damaged. the failure and current mileages were 81,756. | |||
| 08/03/2004 | 1 | 09/30/2001 | |
| Dt: the consumer's vehicle was involved in an accident, and the driver's side air bag deployed. when the airbag deployed it caused the consumer to be severally burned. the passenger side airbag did not deploy completely. this occurred on august 3, 2004. the consumer's vehicle hit a post. the vehicle was totaled. she no longer has the vehicle. a police report was taken. the manufacturer will not help the consumer. *ak *nm | |||
| 02/08/2005 | 1 | ||
| While driving in inclement weather driver applied the brakes and the pedal went to the floor. vehicle hydro planed , and the driver was unable to maintain control of the vehicle, smashing into a concrete barrier. upon impact, both airbags did not deploy. the driver refused medical attention on the scene, but went to the hospital later that day. vehicle was towed and totaled by the insurance company. *ak | |||
| 08/09/2004 | 1 | ||
| After striking a vehicle in front air bags did not deploy. manufacturer was contacted. however, no response was received. *ak | |||
| 1 | |||
| While traveling 40 mph on a gravel road consumer made an made a right turn and vehicle ran off the road into a guard rail. this caused extensive damage to the front of vehicle. upon impact, air bags failed to deploy. *ak | |||
| 05/26/2000 | 1 | ||
| While driving 30 mph the vehicle was involved in a frontal collision yet none of the air bags deploy. *nlm | |||
| 11/18/2002 | |||
| While driving at 25 mph in a frontal collison the driver side air bag didn't deploy on impact, causing injuries to the driver upon vehicle impact. please provide more details. ts | |||
| 08/30/2002 | 0 | ||
| Consumer states while she was sitting at a stop light, another auto hit her from behind, causing the back end of the auto to come in the front seat. she states her air bags did not deploy. she was told that by an investigator that an impact of that magnitude the air bags should have deployed. she and her passenger were injuried. ts | |||
| 10/09/2002 | 1 | 11/01/2001 | |
| Consumer's daughter rear ended another vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. *jb | |||
| 08/19/2002 | 1 | ||
| Consumer states involved in a frontal collision at 50 mph. the other vehicle was traveling 70 mph. the driver's air bag deployed, but passenger air bag did not deploy. mr | |||
| 09/02/2002 | |||
| Vehicle hit a tree at 45 mph and neither airbag deployed. driver hit head on windshield and broke arm. damage to vehicle unknown.*ak | |||
| 04/20/2002 | 1 | 08/01/2098 | |
| This vehicle was involved in a 35 mph collision with another vehicle of similar size and sustained massive front end damage however neither airbag in this vehicle deployed.*ak | |||
| 02/20/2002 | 1 | ||
| Vehicle was involved in a collision, hitting a pole at 45 mph, upon impact driver and passenger air bags did not deploy. *ak there was one injury. *yd | |||
| 03/28/2001 | |||
| Was traveling 35-40mph another vehicle turned in front of consumer's vehicle and was hit head-on. upon impact, neither air bag deployed. no injuries or emergency room treatment. went to dealer later.*ak | |||
| 03/13/2001 | |||
| Consumer was rear ended by another vehicle at approximately 40 mph, and was forced into a vehicle ahead of her. airbags failed to deploy. please provide any additional information.*ak | |||
| 03/11/2001 | |||
| Vehicle hit pole head-on at 30 mph, and neither airbag deployed, $ amount of damage unknown. *ak | |||
| 02/22/2001 | |||
| While traveling on highway a chain reaction multiple vehicle accident occurred, and airbags did not deploy. driver was only occupant, and she sustained moderate/severe injuries. *ak | |||
| 02/24/2001 | |||
| Consumer was traveling approximately 45mph on dry roads another vehicle cut in front trying not to hit vehicle. consumer hit two parked cars instead. airbags in front didn't deploy. manufacturer referred consuemr to a ford dealer. vehicle has a fuel injection switch that cut vehicle off. vehicle started back up. *ak | |||
| 02/16/2001 | 1 | ||
| Consumer was on a side street turning into a parking lane. and another vehicle hit her from behind, and passenger's side airbag went off all the way. driver's side airbad didn't deploy all the way. *ak | |||
| 01/19/2001 | 1 | 06/01/1998 | |
| While waiting to make a turn another car hit consumer's vehicle on right side. dashboard cracked, but none of frontal airbags deployed. also, seat belt came loose. the driver was injured during the accident.*ak | |||
| 01/03/2001 | |||
| Consumer got into a accident at 25mph and rear ended another vehicle. upon impact, air bags did not deploy. no prior warnings. has not conducted dealer.*ak | |||
| 01/10/2001 | |||
| Vehicle involved in a frontal collision of 40-45 mph with another vehicle. upon impact, both air bags did not deploy. dealer/manufacturer were not notified at this time. please feel free to provide any further details on this matter. *ak | |||
| 10/07/2000 | 0 | ||
| While driving at 35 mph hit another vehicle tha tpulled out in front of consumer. consumer hit the back of the other vehicle. upon impact, none of the airbags deployed.*ak | |||
| 12/08/1999 | |||
| Consumers vehicle was struck from behind & knocked into vehicle in front. hood & headlights had to be replaced. 29-aug-2000, another vehicle struck consumer's vehicle from the side, and airbags didn't deploy. consumer spoke with different dealers & got the run around. consumers was very concerned if it was defective.*ak | |||
| While traveling at 50 to 55 mph vehicle hit a tree head-on, and neither air bag deployed. ford has not been contacted. *ak | |||
| While driving at approximately 45 mph in wet conditions driver lost control of vehicle and ran into a tree head on ,did not have enough time to apply brakes , dual airbags did not deploy, causing head injuries. *ak | |||
| 10/29/1999 | |||
| Vehicle was involved in a frontal collision. upon impact, airbags did not deploy, resulting in minor injuries. manufacturer has been notified.*ak | |||
| 06/05/2000 | 0 | ||
| Consumer has car to dealer 6 times for a loose airbag, consumer says it jiggles a lot when driving down the street because the panel that airbag is in is very loose. consumer feels this is very unsafe for passengers.*ak | |||
| 07/26/1999 | 0 | 07/20/1999 | |
| Consumer was driving about 55 mph and another vehicle backed out of driveway, causing consumer to hit the other vehicle in the rear. upon impact, air bags did not deploy. consumer was injured. *ak | |||
| 05/01/2000 | 1 | ||
| While driving 40-45mph had frontal impact, and driver's/ passenger's airbags did not deploy, which did not protect the occupants in this crash. no prior problem with the airbag system. *ak *ml | |||
| 03/29/2000 | |||
| When vehicle rear ended a suv while traveling at 45 mph, there was no deployment of driver's side or passenger's side air bags. please provide any further information. *ak | |||
| While traveling 35 mph consumer hit a hall, air bag did not deploy, it became hot, causing unjuries. please provide further information. *ak | |||
| 10/15/1999 | |||
| When the airbags deployed the sensor flew out, hitting and injuring the driver. the manufacturer will be notified. *ak | |||
| 10/21/1999 | |||
| While driving at 35 mph rear ended another vehicle, and another vehicle rear ended the consumer's vehicle. upon impact, driver's side and passenger's side air bags didn't deploy. *ak | |||
| 10/16/1999 | 0 | ||
| While going east a car going west decided to make a left hand turn, consumer hit next driver on passenger's side head-on. upon impact, airbags did not deploy. *ak | |||
| 10/02/1999 | |||
| While driving driver's side air bag deployed, but not high enough. driver sustained severe head injuries by going through the windshield. however,air bag on passenger side deployed fully, and passenger sustained less severe injuries. *ak | |||
| 09/03/1999 | |||
| Consumer was driving high speed between 60 to 65mph and another vechicle jumped in front of him. consumer made a sudden stop to avoid hitting vehicle. he swerved and flipped over three times. upon impact, airbag didn't deploy. consumer sustained injuries, suffered a broken leg/ arm and pelvic bone. was taken to hospital. | |||
| 07/26/1999 | 1 | ||
| During collision no deployment of driver's side air bag resulted in injury to consumers face when hitting the windshield and mirror. mjs | |||
| 05/03/1999 | |||
| While driving 35 mph braking system malfunctioned, causing no braking ability which resulted in a frontal collision with a cadillac. upon impact, driver's and passenger's air bags did not deploy properly. there was no air in the bags which caused injuries to driver. please provide further information and vin# *ak | |||
| 06/01/1998 | |||
| In a crash, i was hit by a car going approx. 40 mph, the airbags did not deploy. however, for 4 days following the accident there was an overwhelming odor of propellant in the car. this odor brought on a severe asthma attack for me. also, the car hesitates and loses power when the air conditioning compressor kicks in. the car loses power enough so that it slows itself down when traveling on the highway. also it is very alarming when it kicks on when accelerating from a stop sign or stoplight. the hesitency and power loss causes great concern for the welfare of the car. *ak | |||
| 06/03/1999 | 0 | ||
| Consumer was in an accident and the air bag did not deploy. *ak | |||
| 05/05/1999 | |||
| While driving about 30mph vehicle was involved in a head-on collision, and airbags did not deploy. the dealer and manufacturer will be notified. *ak | |||
| 04/12/1999 | |||
| When driving driver's side air bag light comes on and won't go off. consumer states that this is a safety defect. *ak | |||
| 04/23/1999 | 0 | ||
| Consumer was in an accident and the air bag did not deploy. | |||
| 01/18/1999 | |||
| Vehicle was involved in an accident. vehicle spinned out of control, hitting another vehicle by the passenger's side right rear wheel. before the impact, consumer noticed speed of 50 mph. driver's side seat belt failed to lock in place, and air bags failed to deploy. manufacturer. notified. *ak | |||
| Vehicle rearended another vehicle at a speed of 40mph when the airbags deployed, the driver's side airbag had melted to the inside of the steering wheel, causing the airbag to not completely inflate. dealer has vehicle currently. *ak | |||
| 06/07/1998 | |||
| Backing out of driveway and looking in the mirror to see if any one was coming, all of a sudden vehicle flew forward and hit fence. then wheels turned to the right, missing the telepole. vehicle ended up hitting trees and stopped. air bag did not deploy. had seat belt on. *ak | |||
| 06/01/1998 | |||
| In a 35mph, direct frontal impact, the driver's and passenger's airbags did not deploy which did not protect the occupant in the accident. no prior problems. dealer cannot determine problem. *ak | |||
| 01/10/1999 | |||
| Driving at approximately 50 mph consumer hit a vehicle head-on, dual airbags did not deploy, causing head and neck injuries. *ak | |||
| 01/22/1999 | 04/13/1998 | ||
| While driving at 45 mph hit another vehicle head-on,and driver's side and passenger's side air bags didn't deploy. driver sustained injuries. *ak | |||
| 10/12/1998 | 1 | ||
| While driving south about 35-40mph, another vehicle turned the corner, heading north & speeding, drifted into escort's lane. escort driver applied brakes to avoid vehicle, & vehicle pulled left. it skidded across the road & hit a pole. abs did not work. right brakes had disintergrated. air bags did not deploy, but seat belt held. driver has bruised knee. vehicle totaled by insurance co. | |||
| 09/26/1998 | 2 | 05/12/1998 | |
| When wife was driving vehicle and was at stop sign, another vehicle in front collided with consumer's vehicle. air bags did not deploy. consumer added that the other vehicle was driven about 35 mph and air bags did deploy. dealer and manufacturer were contacted. *ak | |||
| 08/22/1998 | |||
| Vehicle was in a frontal impact with another vehicle, the speed was 5-10 mph when leaving a parking lot and crossing the highway. dealer and manufacturer were contacted. *ak | |||
| 06/28/1998 | |||
| While in an accident the air bag's did not deploy, resulting injury to the consumer. please provide further details. *ak | |||
| 07/14/1998 | 1 | 11/06/1998 | |
| No deployment of driver's air bag during a collision. also driver's seat belt failed to lock. driver sustained injuries. entire front part of vehicle wa scrushed when vehicle hit a pole. | |||
| 05/16/1998 | |||
| Driving about 25mph on the highway and a truck in front of the vehicle made a sudden stop and the vehicle hit the back of the truck. the airbag didn't deploy. heavy damage was done to the front of the vehicle. *ak | |||
| 04/09/1998 | 1 | 01/01/1998 | |
| While turning at 15 to 20 mph vehicle was struck at a 45 degree angle on passenger's side, there was no deployment of driver's or passegers side airbags. also driver's side seat belt failed to restrain occupant. *ak | |||
| 01/06/1998 | |||
| Consumer states that while driving about 40 mph vehicle was involved in a frontal collision and the passenger's side airbag did not deploy. the dealer and manufacturer have been notified. *ak | |||
| AIR BAGS - FRONTAL - SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE | |||
| 05/06/1998 | 2 | 10/27/1997 | |
| No deployment of airbags in two accidents. qcaw | |||
| AIR BAGS - SIDE/WINDOW | |||
| While driving at about 30mph driver lost control and hit a light pole head-on, and neither driver's side nor passenger's side airbag deployed. ford has not seen vehicle. *ak | |||
| 10/07/2000 | 0 | ||
| While driving at 35 mph hit another vehicle tha tpulled out in front of consumer. consumer hit the back of the other vehicle. upon impact, none of the airbags deployed.*ak | |||