# 2004 FORD FOCUS — AIR BAGS
> NHTSA complaint `571492` · 2006-02-04 · 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:** FOCUS
- **Year:** 2004
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** AIR BAGS
- **Miles at failure:** 24,000
- **Speed:** 65 mph
## Narrative
VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, WEATHER WAS CLEAR, ROAD WAS DRY. STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY VEERED TO RIGHT AND OUT OF CONTROL.    VEHICLE STRUCK GUARD RAIL HEAD ON, UPON IMPACT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY WIFE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED WHEN HER HEAD STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD. SHE RECEIVED CUTS TO HER FOREHEAD, MULTIPLE CONTUSIONS AND A FRACTURED ANKLE THAT WILL REQUIRE SURGERY  TO REPAIR.    THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A CRASH INVESTIGATOR AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A DEFECTIVE TIE ROD WAS THE LIKELY CAUSE OF THE LOSS OF CONTROL AND THERE WAS SUFFICIENT FORCE TO DEPLOY AIR BAGS.  *NM
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*