NHTSA complaint: 2000 FORD FOCUS — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
FORD FOCUS 2000. FACTS ABOUT THIS ACCIDENT INCLUDE THAT THE IMPACT WAS HEAD ON WITH THE DAMAGE TO LEFT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER , JACOB, WAS BELTED , BUT THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN HIM. THE AIR BAG DID NOT OPEN UNTIL HE HIT THE WIND SHIELD OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE AIR BAGS OPENED THE STEERING WHEEL CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED..COMBUSTION WAS SUBSEQUENT TO THE AIR BAG OPENING AND THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF SMOKE THAT THE DRIVER INHALED BEFORE THE PASSENGER IN THE REAR SEAT , MICHAEL WILLIAMS, GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. SHE WAS TRAPPED IN THE CAR BY THE SEAT BELT , IT WOULD NOT RELEASE BUT IT FAILED TO RESTRAIN HER AND SHE HIT THE WINDSHIELD ..NOT NEARLY AS BAD AS JACOB, BUT IT IS BROKEN. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BURNED. MICHAEL SAW SOME SORT OF SPARKS THAT HE THOUGHT WAS FROM THE SEAT BELT.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation