1997 Ford Escort airbag problems

AIR BAGS

MY MOTHER AND I WERE DRIVING TO MY GRANDPARENTS HOUSE WHEN SHE HIT A BABY DEER GOING ABOUT 35 MPH. I WAS 12 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME AND SITTING IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED HITTING ME IN RIGHT SIDE OF THE FACE. MY TEETH WENT INTO MY LIP, AND I HAD BURN MARKS FROM THE AIRBAG ON MY CHEEKBONES, AND CHIN, ALSO MY RIGHT EYE WAS SWOLLEN SHUT THE NEXT DAY. I WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM WHERE THE POLICE OFFICER INFORMED MY MOTHER THAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. HE SAID THE AIRBAGS WERE SO SENSITIVE THAT HE COULD HAVE KICKED THE BUMPER AND THEY WOULD HAVE WENT OFF. MY MOTHER ONLY RECEIVED A BROKEN FINGER FROM WHERE HER HANDS WERE RESTING ON THE STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA complaint #10592090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED TO THE SHOULDER AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS MELTING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT APPEARED ON THE SCENE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. THE CONTACT NOTICED THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V323000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE) AND PLANNED ON CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,000.

NHTSA complaint #10467606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD ESCORT. AS A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE BEEN DRIVEN 5 MPH IN A DRIVEWAY BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. SHE STATED THE DRIVER WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIONUS AND THE OTHER PASSENGER HAD A INJURY TO THE FACE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE AND A BRANCH HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER OR MECHANIC. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,152. VWB

NHTSA complaint #10350773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG BURNING ODOR WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART WOULD BE ORDERED AND REPLACED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V323000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE). THE CONTACT SMELLED THE ODOR AGAIN THE FOLLOWING DAY AND THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CHRYSLER DEALER. CHRYSLER NOTIFIED FORD AND INFORMED THEM THAT THE AIR BAG MONITOR BURNED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. FORD STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT RELATED TO THE AIR BAG MONITOR. FORD ALSO ADVISED CHRYSLER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THEM, BUT ANY ADDITIONAL DAMAGE WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER FILED A REPORT AND STATED THAT IT WOULD BE SENT TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND A RESPONSE WOULD BE RECEIVED IN WRITING. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 146,808.

NHTSA complaint #10209062 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

I AM THE SERVICE MANAGER AT C.H.URNESS MOTOR CO IN THE DALLES,OR, I PURCHASED A 1997 FORD ESCORT FOR MY DAUGHTER ON 06/02/2007,THEN ON 06/04/2007,THE CAR HAD A FIRE UNDER THE DASH,UPON INSPECTION WE FOUND AN OPEN RECALL "02S44"FOR THIS EXACT FAILURE,I CONTACTED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER(RAY SCHULTENS FORD AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT HELP ME BECAUSE THE AIRBAG MODULE WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE!. I THEN CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. CUSTOMER RELATIONS(CASE # 1433871927).ON 07/23/07 I RECEIVED A LETTER STATING "FORD MOTOR CO. WAS UNABLE TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE AT THIS TIME"THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP TOLD ME OVER THE PHONE THAT I SHOULD MAKE THE DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR AT "BUY IT BACK,AFTER ALL YOU WORK FOR THEM"THIS CAR HAS AN UNREPAIRED RECALL AND IS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED DUE TO NO PARTS AVAILABLE,WHAT IS MY NEXT STEP IN THIS PROCESS?

NHTSA complaint #10197566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE, NHTSA # 02V323000, CONCERNING THE AIR BAG SENSOR. HOWEVER, THE RECALL REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THE WINDOWS FOGGING UP AND OPENED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. WHILE INSIDE LOOKING AT THE GAUGES THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THIS PINNED THE TECHNICIAN BETWEEN THE SEAT AND STEERING WHEEL. THE DEPLOYMENT CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. UPON INSPECTION, THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM INDICATED IN THE RECALL. THERE WAS WATER ACCUMULATED IN THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR. *NM UPDATED 3/1/2006 - THE CONSUMER STILL HAS THE DEFECTIVE PARTS IN HER POSSESSION.

NHTSA complaint #10147714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO DEALER. WHILE TALKING TO A MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE VIA PHONE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE LESS THEN 15 MINUTES WHILE PARKED. THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED TO BE ELECTRICAL.

NHTSA complaint #10113814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO SUSTAIN MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10099343 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND LURCHED FORWARD WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HIT A BRICK WALL. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #10097832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

MY CLIENT, AKRUARIA WRIGHT WAS DRIVING HER 1997 FORD ESCORT LX SEDAN SOUTH ON GA HWY 300, WHEN BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. AS NOTED IN THE POLICE REPORT, THERE WAS NO CONTACT OR IMPACT WITH ANY OBJECT OR VEHICLE. THE ROAD THAT SHE WAS ON IS A MAJOR ROAD; IT IS PAVED AND IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. UPON DEPLOYING, THE AIRBAGS FORCED THE DASH UP AND BUSTED THE WINDSHIELD. THE AIRBAGS, AS THEY DEPLOYED, MADE CONTACT WITH MS. WRIGHT'S FACE, ARMS, HANDS, AND CHEST. ON HER FACE, ARMS , AND HANDS SHE SUFFERED MINOR BURNS FROM THE CONTACT. SHE ALSO HAS SUFFERED CERVICAL AND THORACIC STRAIN FROM THE CONTACT. AT THIS TIME, THE CAR IS STILL WAITING TO BE REPAIRED. I HAVE CONTACTED THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY IN DEARBORN, MI, BUT AS OF NOW I HAVE NOT HAD A RESPONSE.

NHTSA complaint #10080972 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

VEHICLE FIRE INVOLVING 1997 FORD ESCORT.*MR AFTER INCIDENT OCCURRED A RECALL WAS ISSUED ADVISING A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN AIR BAGS AND AIR BAG MODULES. HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF SEVERE DAMAGES SO THE DEALERSHIP VOIDED THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT FORD RE -ACTIONS WHERE UNACCEPTABLE, AND IS REQUESTING TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE LOSS DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE SAFETY RECALL LETTER ISSUED IS (O2S44). PLEASE INVESTIGATE.

NHTSA complaint #10040385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

LAST THURSDAY MY HUSBANDS 1997 FORD ESCORT CAUGHT FIRE, AND WE THINK IT WAS BECAUSE OF A FAULTY AIR BAG SENSOR. IT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY RECALLED, AND WE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND HAD THE PROBLEM CORRECTED. BUT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED FELL IN EXACTLY WITH WHAT THE RECALL LETTER SAID WOULD HAPPEN IF WE DIDN'T GET IT FIXED. WE WOULD LIKE THIS MATTER FURTHER INVESTIGATED BECAUSE WE FEEL THAT THE FORD DEALERSHIP ONLY INSTALLED ANOTHER FAULTY AIR BAG SENSOR INTO OUR CAR INSTEAD OF FIXING IT LIKE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO. NEITHER MY HUSBAND OR I WERE INJURIED WHEN THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE, BUT THAT WAS ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD. IF WE CAN PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING TO SOMEONE ELSE THEN WE SHOULD.

NHTSA complaint #10070836 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE CONSUMER SUDDENLY CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. AS A RESULT THE DRIVER REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT NEITHER OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHICH RESULTED IN SOME INJURIES. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #10059299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.