NHTSA complaint: 2000 FORD FOCUS — AIR BAGS
AUTO ACCIDENT ON 8/26/2013 IN FREDERICKSBURG, VA, CORNER OF HWY 1 AND HWY 208 AT 9:15 AM. DRIVING BETWEEN 5-7 MPH DUE TO STOP AT RED LIGHT TO MAKE RIGHT TURN. DRIVER IN FRONT STARTED THROUGH THE RED LIGHT AND STOPPED. I HIT HER CAR BUT NO CAR BODY DENTS ON EITHER CAR. MY 2000 FORD FOCUS UPON IMPACT DEPLOYED (2) AIR BAGS, EVEN THOUGH I WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE CAR AND NO WEIGHT ON PASSENGER SEAT. THE AIR BAGS CAUSED ALL THE CAR DAMAGE AND SECOND DEGREE BURN ON MY RIGHT HAND. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LID SMASHED THE CAR WINDSHIELD. THE CAR WAS DRIVABLE BUT UNSAFE TO DRIVE AWAY FROM ACCIDENT. I TOWED IT TO LOCAL FORD DEALER (PURVIS) ON HWY 1 FOR DIAGNOSTICS TEST TO CHECK THE SENSORS. THE DEALER REPORT SAID THAT THE CAR OPERATED AS DESIGNED AND BOTH AIR BAGS SHOULD DEPLOY AND CAUSE ALL THAT DAMAGE (CAR/BODY) ESTIMATED $4914.00 AT LOW SPEEDS. THE REPAIR COST IS MORE THAN THE VALUE OF THE CAR.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation