NHTSA complaint: 2002 FORD FOCUS — AIR BAGS
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2002 FORD FOCUS ON EXPRESSWAY AT ABOUT 40-45 MPH WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE, SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WENT OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE, BUT MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. MY WIFE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO HER LEFT ARM AND HAD RINGING IN HER LEFT EAR FOR TWO DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND INSPECTED. THE DEALER COULD ONLY FIND A SMALL DENT ON THE UNDER CARRIAGE (LOCATED AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE) OF THE VEHICLE. THE DENT APPEARED TO BE OLD DAMAGE. A CHECK OF THE COMPUTER REVEALED THE CODE FOR PROPER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. FORD STATED THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE EXPENSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE COMPUTER CHIP INDICATING THE CORRECT DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG. FORD REFUSED TO LISTEN THAT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO INDICATE THE PROPER DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG, NOR WOULD THEY BELIEVE MY WIFES STATEMENTS. PLEASE ADVISE.*AK
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation