2001 Ford Focus Air Bags

The front dashboard and steering wheel airbags went off. if I was moving this could’ve ended even worse but luckily I was stopped. My hearing was affected. I was parked at a red light and my airbags went off. I did not hit anything nor was my car moving. Witnesses at a restaurant and auto repair shop say the same. My car had passed that years inspection and there was no signs of this happening. No lights, sounds, anything. It was very sudden.

ON 5/2/15 DURING A COLLISION WHERE MY CLIENT STUCK ANOTHER DRIVER THAT FAILED TO YIELD AND RAN A STOP SIGN, THE AIRBAG INSIDE MY CLIENT'S 2001 FORD FOCUS DEPLOYED. DURING ITS DEPLOYMENT IT BURNED THE RIGHT VOLAR (INSIDE) FOREARM OF MY CLIENT, CAUSING A FULL THICKNESS BURN. SHE HAD TO UNDERGO SURGICAL TANGENTIAL EXCISION OF THE BURN AND SKIN GRAFTING, WHERE THEY HARVESTED THE SKIN FROM HER RIGHT THIGH TO HER RIGHT VOLAR FOREARM. THE AIRBAG IS DANGEROUS AS IT CAUSED FULL THICKNESS BURN TO HER SKIN, FOR WHICH SHE IS STILL RECOVERING.

STOPPED IN TRAFFIC FOR REDLIGHT, TRAFFIC STARTED TO MOVE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED AND I REAR ENDED HIM CAUSING AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY AND SMASH WINDSHIELD. WHEN I EXITED THE VEHICLE TO MY SURPRISE THERE WAS NO FRONT END DAMAGE ONLY A SCUFF MARK ON FRONT BUMPER WHERE MY CAR WENT UNDER THE 1991 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS THAT I HIT. RECEIVED A POWDER BURN TO MY LEFT HAND FROM AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. CAR THAT I HIT HAD NO DAMAGE. INSURANCE COMPANY THINKS THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE TO BE TOTALED BECAUSE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. AT HE TIME OF IMPACT I WAS TRAVELING BETWEEN 5 AND 10MPH. *TR

MY 16-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING STALL AND MOVING FORWARD TO EXIT THE PARKING AREA. SHE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 10 MPH WHEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. SHE WAS INJURED MOSTLY ON HER RIGHT SIDE FROM THE SEAT BELT AND ALSO BURNS FROM THE AIR BAG ON HER UPPER TORSO AND NECK. BRUISES ON HER LEGS AND VERY, VERY SORE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH INTO A PARKING SPACE THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO SHATTER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 FORD FOCUS AND FOR NO REASON THE PASSENGER SEAT SIDE AIR BAG WENT OFF. THE LOUD NOISE SCARED ME AND I ALMOST WRECK THE VEHICLE. MY EARS ARE STILL RINGING FROM THE LOUD BLAST FROM THE AIR BAG WENT OFF. I CHECKED AND FOUND THERE ARE SOME PENDING LAW SUITES FOR THIS SAME OCCURRENCE IN OTHER 2001 FORD FOCUS. I FEEL THE FORD MOTOR CO. NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GET SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, HOWEVER THEY DID NOT OFFERED ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 129,000.

IN JULY OF 2010 I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 FORD FOCUS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THE LADY INFRONT OF ME STOPPED, I HAD TURNED FOR A SECOND, WHEN I TURNED BACK I SAW THE AIRBAGS BLOW IN MY FACE. I WAS TRAVELING A MAXIMUM OF 10MPH THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE OTHER VEHICLE OR MINE (FROM THE ACCIDENT). THE DRIVER AIRBAG BURNED MY ARM, THE PASSENGER SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD, GUN POWDER COVERED THE ROOF LINING. THE PARTS MANAGER AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE AIRBAGS WHERE RATED 25-30MPH. I CONTACTED FORD IN AUGUST OF 2010, IN JANUARY OF 2011 THEY FINALLY REPLIED BY SAYING THAT "ALL EQUIPMENT FUNCTIONED PROPERLY." *TR

I OWN A 2001 FORD FOCUS. I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON A ROAD NEAR MY HOUSE WHEN I ACCIDENTALLY BUMPED THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME. BOTH MY PASSENGER AND MY DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, SMASHING MY WINDSHIELD! THE OFFICER THAT REPORTED TO THE SCENE SAID THAT THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS GOING FAST ENOUGH FOR THEM TO DEPLOY BECAUSE I HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE TRAFFIC FOR A WHILE AND WE WERE MERELY ROLLING. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF MY CAR OR TO THE BACK OF THE OTHER PERSON'S CAR SO I FEEL THAT THE AIRBAGS PROBABLY SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE OFF. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THIS IS A DEFECT?? *TR

WE WERE AT A COMPLETE STOP AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND HAS CAUSED SOME INJURY TO MY FACE AND MAY HAVE CAUSE SOME LOSS OF VISION IN MY RIGHT EYE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED. THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS UNOCCUPIED. THERE WAS NO IMPACT OR WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED DUE TO A CRASH. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 78,871. UPDATED 3/11/08 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO DAMAGE DONE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 03/11/08 *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STRUCK A CURB WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE INSURANCE CLAIM ADJUSTER ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT, THE INSURANCE AGENCY LABELED THE VEHICLE AS DESTROYED. FORD MOTOR COMPANY STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL IF ONE WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT WHILE DRIVING 30-40 MPH. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 94,000. UPDATED 02/12/08. *LJ

ON MY 2001 FORD FOCUS BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED DURING NORMAL CAR MOVEMENT. NO ANY ACCIDENTS HAPPENED BEFORE, NO VEHICLES OR CURBS INVOLVED, JUST DURING MOVEMENT, FORTUNATELY ON VERY LOW SPEED. BOTH BUMPERS HAS NO ANY TRACKS OF CONTACT WITH SOMETHING. (SIMILAR, LIKE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : PE02026). *TR

DEFECT REPORTED BY A PROFESSIONAL TOW COMPANY, THE INDIVIDUAL A CERTIFIED ASE AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN.(VERIFIABLE) SEAT-SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WHILE CRANKING VEHICLE. . FIRST OCCURRENCE: CRANKING VEHICLE ON ROADSIDE. DRIVER'S SEAT-SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYS. SECOND OCCURRENCE: FOLLOWING DAY, CRANKING VEHICLE WITH PASSENGER SEATED IN FRONT. PASSENGER SEAT-SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYS WHILE CRANKING MOTOR.NO COLLISION OR IMPACT INVOLVED NO INJURIES WORTHY OF DOCUMENTING. AIRBAG FAULTS ARE NON-DISPUTABLE UNACCEPTABLE. ANY UNWARRANTED AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT CAN COST LIVES, AND WARRANTS A FULL INVESTIGATION TOWARDS A RECALL FOR INSPECTION, AND/OR REPLACEMENT OF THE FAULT DESIGNED AIRBAG SYSTEM. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED IN AN ACCIDENT AND CAUSED BURNS TO THE CONTACT DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE AGENCY AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER. UPDATED 11/30/2006 - *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WITH AN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE AIRBAG CAUGHT THE CONTACT'S SHIRT ON FIRE (INVESTIGATION #EA02017) CAUSING THIRD DEGREE BURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER AFTER THE ACCIDENT, HOWEVER THE INSURANCE COMPANY DECIDED THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND THE DEALER NEVER MADE ANY COMMENTS OR DETERMINATIONS. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. UPDATED 11/09/06. *JB

2001 FORD FOCUS PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED ALTHOUGH SEAT WAS UNOCCUPIED. *TS ***NAR*** THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER IS PETITIONING THAT ALL VEHICLES SHOULD BE EQUIPPED WITH AN ON-OFF SWITCH TO DEACTIVATE THE AIRBAGS FROM DEPLOYING IF THE SEAT IS UNOCCUPIED. UPDATED 07/20/11

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. THIS INCIDENT CAUSED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. BOTH BUMPERS CRACKED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED THAT NO OTHER MECHANIC LOOK AT THE VEHICLE UNTIL THEY DETERMINE WHAT OCCURRED. *AK

THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND BURNED THE DRIVER. THE CAR FILLED WITH SMOKE IMMEDIATELY. *JB

ACCIDENT HAPPENED AT DEPT. STORE PARKING LOT. HIT CONCRETE POLE IN PARKING LOT CAUSING AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY AND CAUSING AIRBAG BURNS ON WRIST. CAR TOTALED.

DT: THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH WHEN HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH HER HEAD, AND WHEN SHE DID SO, THE AIR BAGS THEN DEPLOYED. THE POINT OF IMPACT WAS THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES SINCE SHE WAS WEARING SEAT BELTS. A POLICE AND INSURANCE REPORTS WERE TAKEN. *AK.

MY SON WAS DRIVING OUR 2001 FORD FOCUS WAGON ON 10/14/05 WHEN HE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. HE SUSTAINED 2ND DEGREE BURNS ON HIS LEFT ARM, FROM WRIST TO ELBOW, DUE TO THE AIRBAG CHEMICALS VENTING IN AN IMPROPER WAY. HE IS BEING TREATED BY A PHYSICIAN FOR HIS INJURIES. THE VEHICLE IS NOT BEING DRIVEN AT PRESENT. *NM

I REAR-ENDED A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AT A STOP LIGHT. MPH WAS LESS THAN 10. BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED GIVING ME 2ND DEGREE BURNS TO MY HAND AND ARM RESULTING IN LOSS OF WORK FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND SCARRING. MY WINDSHIELD ALSO SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE THAT WAS HIT HAD NO DAMAGE. MY WAS VERY MINIMAL. MY AIRBAGS AND WINDSHIELD WERE REPLACED, BUT MY STEERING WHEEL WAS NEVER FIXED. WITH THE MANY NUMEROUS RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE PLUS THIS INCIDENT, MY WIFE AND I FEEL UNSAFE IN THIS CAR.

FOCUS DRIVER HIT REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AT STOP LIGHT - BOTH FOCUS AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PASSANGER AIR BAG DOOR HIT WINDSHIELD SO HARD IT SHATTERED WINDSHIELD AND SHARDS OF GLASS WENT EVERY WHERE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. LUCKLY THERE WAS NO PASSANGER OR INJURY COULD HAVE RESULTED FROM FLY GLASS. FOCUS AND OTHER DRIVER WERE NOT INJURED. COMPLAINT IS THE POOR LOCATION OF PASSANGER AIRBAG. WHEN ACTIVATED THE WINSHIELD IS DESTROYED BECAUSE OF THE PASSANGER AIRBAG DOOR. GLASS GOES EVERYWHERE INSIDE VEHICLE.

THE AIR BAGS ON A 2001 FOR FOCUS DEPLOYED WHEN THERE WAS NO IMPACT. FORD WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THE BLACK BOX SAYS THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR A REASON. THERE WAS NO PHYSICAL DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE CAR EXCEPT FROM THE AIR BAGS. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT REPORT TO FILE BY THE POLICE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO IMPACT, WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE OR WITHOUT. SHE WAS DRIVING 10 MPH IN TRAFFIC AND USED HER BRAKES. *AK *SC *JB