# 1993 FORD TAURUS — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
> NHTSA complaint `537175` · 2005-05-31 · Ford Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** FORD
- **Model:** TAURUS
- **Year:** 1993
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
- **Miles at failure:** 136,200
- **Speed:** 20 mph
## Narrative
HIT DIP (ROAD DEFECT) 04/26/05; DRIVER'S-SIDE AIRBAG (FROM STEERING WHEEL) DEPLOYED.  THOUGHT CAR ABOUT TO CATCH ON FIRE (THAT AIRBAG POWDER WAS SMOKE); QUICKLY EXITED CAR, THEN REALIZED SITUATION.  SUSTAINED AIRBAG BURNS - LOWER FACE/CHIN, ALL ACROSS CHEST/BREASTS; RIGHT HAND BRUISED, SWOLLEN BETWEEN 2ND & 3RD KNUCKLES.    *NO* DAMAGE TO CAR, OTHER THAN AIRBAG DEPLOYING.    MY OPINION REGARDING AIRBAGS SHIFTED 180 DEGREES; JUST WANT MY CAR'S AIRBAGS DISABLED, BUT TOLD THAT'S ILLEGAL (AT LEAST IN CA).    SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DRIVE AFRAID OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT & INJURY OR EVEN DEATH, WITHOUT ANY SAY IN THE MATTER.  AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AIRBAGS DESIGNED TO PROTECT 220-LB. _MAN_ IN FRONT-END COLLISION, RE-ENGINEERED AFTER 1ST GENERATION TO DEPLOY WITH MORE FORCE BECAUSE _NON-SEAT-BELT-WEARERS_ INJURED.  I _ALWAYS_ WEAR SEAT BELT IN CAR (CA LAW); SINCE RELATIVELY SHORT (5'5"), DIRECTLY IN LINE OF DRIVER'S-SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT); LIGHTWEIGHT (125 LBS.) -- NOWHERE NEAR 220 LBS.    EXTREMELY LUCKY NO OTHER CARS AROUND WHEN INCIDENT OCCURRED; ELSE UNNECESSARY AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT:  DEPLOYMENT (EXPLOSION) AND RESULTANT POWDER SHOCKED ME & OBSCURED VISION.    PER MOTOR SPORTS DIGEST (MSD@STIC.NET), FOR PROFESSIONAL/SKILLED RACE CAR DRIVERS:      - "... SHOWROOM STOCK CLASSES ... USE THE SAME KIND OF CARS WE ALL DRIVE EVERY DAY, ONLY THEY _REMOVE_ THE AIR BAG FOR SAFETY!"  AT RACING SPEEDS, WITH SAFETY PARAMOUNT -- YET RACERS REALIZE AIRBAGS ARE DANGEROUS.      - 
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*