# 2003 FORD EXPLORER — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
> NHTSA complaint `530300` · 2005-04-09 · Ford Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** FORD
- **Model:** EXPLORER
- **Year:** 2003
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
- **Speed:** 45 mph
## Narrative
DRIVING ON SEMI-CLEAR ROAD ABOUT 40 MPH, AIR TEMPERATURE WAS -7 DEGREES.  HIT BLACK ICE AND WENT OFF THE ROAD AND INTO A DITCH.  THE EXPLORER HIT A TREE STUMP ON THE FRONT LEFT CORNER OF BUMPER AND WHEEL.  THE TRUCK DID NOT ROLL OVER DURING THE ACCIDENT.  BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE WEARING THE SEAT BELT/SHOULDER BELT.  BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.  THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A FRACTURE/COMPRESSION OF THE L1 VERTBRAE (SPINE) DUE TO THE SEAT BELT (SEAT-BELT SYNDROME).  THE TRUCK SUSTAINED HEAVY DAMAGE TO THE FRONT, FRONT WHEEL AND ENGINE AREA. THE REPAIR MECHANIC DID PERFORM A CHECK OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM DURING THE REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE SYSTEM CHECKED OUT AS NORMAL.  NO AIR BAG SYSTEM PART HAD BEEN REPLACED DURING THE REPAIR.  *AK
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*