Engineering Analysis · FRONTAL AIR BAG NON-DEPLOYMENT IN CRASH · Opened 2003-07-02 · Closed 2004-06-23
Investigation
Action number
EA03010
Type
Engineering Analysis
Open date
2003-07-02
Close date
2004-06-23
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Affected makes
FORD; MERCURY
Affected components
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Affected model years
2000, 2001
Affected (make, year) variants
4
Summary
THIS INVESTIGATION IDENTIFIED A TOTAL OF 427 REPORTS ALLEGING NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS.OF THE 427 REPORTS, TWO INCIDENTS (FATAL CRASHES) HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS SEVERE FRONTAL CRASHES IN WHICH THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.A DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE ATTACHED SUMMARY REPORT.