2002 Ford Focus Air Bags
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
HUSBAND WAS DRIVING APPROX. 35 MPH WITH HIS MOTHER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT DOWN A COUNTRY ROAD. DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITH NO ACCIDENT. PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG OR COVER BROKE WINDSHIELD. HUSBAND HIT BRAKES.
I HAVE A 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX5, MY DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AT A SPEED OF 35 MPH WITH ABSOLUTELY NO IMPACT TO THE CAR. DUE TO IT DEPLOYING AND GOING OFF IT HAD HIT MY LEFT SHOULDER AND CAUSED ME TO SWERVE TO THE RIGHT, IF IT WASN'T FOR THE FACT THAT I WAS ALREADY IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE I WOULD'VE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AS THIS ALSO HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF "RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC". I HAVE READ ON OTHER WEBSITES WHERE 2004 AND 2006'S SAME AIR BAGS HAVE DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON W/O ANY KIND OF IMPACT. THE NOISE WAS SO LOUD IN MY LEFT EAR THAT I COULD NOT HEAR OUT OF IT FOR OVER 45MINS, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT THAT WOULD'VE DONE TO MY INFANT IF THEY WOULD'VE BEEN IN THE CAR AT THAT TIME. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER AS I AM 5MONTHS PREGNANT AND IF THE FRONT AIR BAG WOULD'VE GONE OFF IT COULD'VE CAUSED MUCH MORE INJURY TO ME AND MY UNBORN CHILD. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND CONSIDER HAVING THIS MODEL PUT ON THE RECALL LIST.
AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON BLINKS THEN STAYS ON. *TR
I SIMPLY WANT TO KNOW IF MY CAR IS INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT MASSIVE AIR BAG RECALL. I ALREADY CHECKED BY VIN NUMBER. HOWEVER, I AM NOT SURE IF I WENT THROUGH THE CURRENT SOURCE OF INFORMATION REGARDING THE CURRENT BIG AIRBAG RECALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE IGNITION THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE FROM THE FRONT END. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO PROVIDE RESTRAINT TO THE DRIVER. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
I WAS DRIVING ON BAKER STREET IN WEST ROXBURY, MA. I HAD THE RIGHT OF WAY WHEN ANOTHER DRIVER IN A 2010 LINCOLN MKX RAN A STOP SIGN AND HIT ME. I WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE SPEED AND FORCE OF THE IMPACT TOOK OUT THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF MY CAR. MY VEHICLE WAS DRAGGED OFF BAKER STREET AND INTO THE INTERSECTION OF BAKER AND CAPITAL. THE DRIVER WHO HIT ME WAS DRIVING AT SUCH A SPEED, THAT BEFORE STOPPING, THEY CONTINUED ON, HITTING A STOP SIGN, TAKING IT DOWN AND HITTING ANOTHER CAR, PUSHING IT UP ONTO THE SIDEWALK INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THIS WAS AN ACCIDENT THAT TOTALED 3 VEHICLES - AND - MY AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF! I AM WRITING BECAUSE WEEKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT MY LOWER BACK AND SHOULDERS ARE STILL CAUSING ME A GREAT DEAL OF PAIN. AND I CALLED TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT TO FORD AFTER READING THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES TO DRIVERS/OWNERS IN 2002 FORD FOCUS'S! FORD TOLD ME THEIR REGIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER ([XXX]) WOULD BE IN TOUCH IN 1 DAY - AND THEY WOULD WANT TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE . . . [XXX] HAS NOT BEEN IN TOUCH AND I HAVE NOT HEARD A WORD FROM FORD. I APPRECIATE THE PROBLEMS OF AIRBAGS GOING OFF WHEN THE SHOULD NOT, OR GOING OFF UNEXPECTEDLY - BUT IF AIRBAGS DO NOT GO OFF WHEN THERE IS AN IMPACT THERE IS A PROBLEM! IF IT HAPPENS ONCE OR TWICE IT MAY BE A FLUKE - THIS IS NOT THE CASE! AIRBAG FAILURE IN THE 2002 FOR FOCUS IS A REPORTED PROBLEM BY MANY - REPORTED TO YOU OVER AND OVER - LET THERE NOT BE A DEATH BECAUSE YOU AND FORD DID NOT DO THE RIGHT THING - CHECK THESE VEHICLES - ALL OF THEM! ONE LIFE IS TOO PRECIOUS NOT TO DO WHAT IS CLEARLY THE RIGHT THING - DO A RECALL! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
BLACK ICE WAS HIT AND THE CAR SLID OVER A THIRTY-FOOT EMBANKMENT. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE CAR WAS CONSIDERED TOTALED. THE SECOND ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE WITH THE SAME CAR, WHICH HAD BEEN SALVAGED AFTER THE FIRST ACCIDENT. HIT BLACK ICE AGAIN, FLIPPED ON ITS SIDE, AND ROLLED. AGAIN, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE ENTIRE SIDE AND ROOF WERE DEMOLISHED AND THE CAR WAS NOT SALVAGEABLE THIS TIME. THIS IS THE SECOND 2002 FORD FOCUS WE HAVE HAD--BOTH WERE IN ACCIDENTS, AND IN ALL THREE ACCIDENTS, BOTH CARS WERE TOTALED AND NO AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. WONDERING IF THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED? AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON FORD FOCUSES, I FOUND THAT THE 2001 FORD FOCUSES HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAGS. THEY WOULD DEPLOY AT THE SLIGHTEST IMPACT. CAN'T HELP IF FORD DIDN'T OVERCOMPENSATE FOR THE PROBLEM IN THE NEXT YEAR'S MODEL? *TR
THE CAR REAR-ENDED A TRUCK, SLID UNDER THE TRUCK, AND CRUSHED THE WHOLE FRONT END. THE HOOD WAS SHOVED INTO THE WINDSHIELD AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CAR WAS DEEMED TOTALED. THIS IS THE SECOND 2002 FORD FOCUS WE HAVE OWNED. BOTH WERE IN ACCIDENTS (OUR OTHER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, SALVAGED, AND IN AN ACCIDENT AGAIN) AND ALL THREE TIMES NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT THE 2001 FORD FOCUSES HAD PROBLEMS WITH EARLY DEPLOYMENT FROM THE AIR BAGS. PERHAPS FORD OVERCOMPENSATED FOR THE NEXT YEAR'S MODEL? WONDER IF THE 2002 FORD FOCUSES SHOULD BE RECALLED? *TR
DRIVING 45 MPH RAN OVER SMALL PIECE OF RUBBER IN ROAD AND SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHEN THERE WAS NO IMPACT. *TR
TWO CARS COLLIDED. ONE WAS HEADING EAST THE OTHER HEADING NORTH. THE CAR HEADING NORTH'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IT WAS NOT HIT HEAD ON, HOWEVER, THE FRONT DOES HAVE SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED UNNECESSARY INTERNAL DAMAGES AND INJURIES. *TR
DRIVING MY 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX5. IT WAS EARLY IN THE MORNING AND I LIVE NEAR MANY WOODS - I HIT A DEER GOING ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR. THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY TOTALED, AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE AIRBAG LIGHT FLICKERS ON AND OFF WHEN YOU START THE VEHICLE. *TR
I WAS DRIVING DOWN CALIFORNIA 130 WHEN MY DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG THAT IS LOCATED IN THE SEAT DEPLOYED I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING IT JUST WENT OFF FOR NO REASON. *TR
2002 FORD FOCUS SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITH A LOUD BANG. STATED THAT IT WAS KIND OF AN EXPLOSION. *KB THE CONSUMERS SON EXPERIENCED RINGING IN HIS EARS, REDUCED HEARING AND A SEVERE HEADACHE FROM THE EXPLOSIVE FORCE OF THE AIR BAG. *JB
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE MY CAR HIT THE CENTER DIVIDER, SPUN OUT OF CONTROL, FLIPPED OVER ONTO ITS HOOD, AND SLID DOWN THE FREEWAY UPSIDE DOWN BEFORE HITTING THE CENTER DIVIDER ON THE DRIVER SIDE ONCE AGAIN. MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL CAUSING MY HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, AND A FEW OTHER PLACES IN THE CAR. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE FRONT DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN TWO SEPARATE FRONT END COLLISIONS AND BOTH TIMES, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ON THE FIRST OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, AND 30 MPH ON THE SECOND INCIDENT. BOTH TIMES THE CONTACT WAS WEARING THE SEATBELT; THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING LIGHTS TO INDICATE THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MODERATE INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER AFTER THE FIRST ACCIDENT, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE AIRBAGS NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED AND PERFORMED THE REPAIR. AFTER THE SECOND ACCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION. THE CONTACT ENCOUNTERED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE.
MY NIECE'S 2002 FORD FOCUS PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WENT OFF WITH NO APPARENT CAUSE. FORD SAYS 'SENSOR' INDICATES AN ACCIDENT, BUT THERE WAS NONE, AND CHARGED $95 FOR THIS. FORD REFUSES TO ANALYZE THIS FURTHER, AND REMAINING AIRBAGS NO LONGER FUNCTION. WE BELIEVE THAT AIRBAG SENSORS/SYSTEMS ARE DEFECTIVE. *NM
DT: CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. IT WAS PUSHED INTO THE GUARD RAIL. UPON IMPACT, THE FRONT AIR BAGS OR SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALL OF THE OCCUPANTS WHERE WEARING THEIR SEAT BELTS. INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. *AK
I WAS IN A FRONT-END COLLISION TRAVELLING ABOUT 25 - 30 MILES PER HOUR AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, A CAR SWERVED INTO MY LANE, CAUSING ME TO SWERVE TO AVOID HIM. I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND STRUCK A CONCRETE DIVIDER WITH THE PASSENGER FRONT BUMBER, CAUSING THE CAR TO CLIMB UP THE DIVIDER, BACK DOWN, AND END UP FACING THE OTHER WAY ON THE HIGHWAY. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AT THAT TIME, BUT 10-15 MINUTES LATER WHEN I RE-ENTERED THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG HAD DEPLOYED PARTIALLY. THE CAR WAS TOTALLED.
DT: 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOUND THE THERMAL FUSE IN THE CONTROL MODULE FOR THE AIR BAG BLEW OUT, THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE CONSUMER HITTING A DEER ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2005. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE DEER HIT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT THERE WAS A WHITE SMOKE THAT CAME FROM THE DRIVER'S AREA, AROUND THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE BODY SHOP, AND THEY FOUND THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON ,AND THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THERE WAS NO ONE INJURED WHEN THIS HAPPENED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN OVER THE PHONE WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT TELL THE CONSUMER WHAT THE SMOKE WAS THAT CAME OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT PRIOR TO THIS.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WENT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH DRIVERS SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK *BF *NM
I HAD A FRONT END COLLISION HIT A DITCH HARD. AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. SLICK TIRES SHARP CURVE AND BAD WEATHER CAUSED THE ACCIDENT.*AK
ON THE MORNING OF 14 FEBRUARY 2005 MY SON WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON CRASH IN AN INTERSECTION. OUR 2002 FORD FOCUS WAS TOTALED (IT HAS 37,000 MILES ON IT, AND I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW FROM A FORD LOT.) THE AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF! BOTH MY SON AND HIS PASSNGER SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES.*AK
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Quick Summary
The 2002 Ford Focus has 58 Air Bags complaints on file. 35 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.