2000 Ford Taurus airbag problems

AIR BAGS

Someone pulled out in front of me as I was slowing down to make a left turn. I T-boned their vehicle while going 35mph, resulting in a total loss for my 2000 Ford Taurus. (This was in 2018 so it was not a new car). My driver steering wheel airbag DID NOT deploy. I was wearing my seat belt. I still have chest pains when I sneeze and cough, even 4 years later (in November 2022, at time of writing), and in the last year (2021) received a cortisone shot in my left shoulder. I was offered a neck brace in the ambulance and was prescribed an arm sling in the hospital. I was diagnosed with whiplash. I believe I was given pain medication. Someone from the NHTSA in Indiana contacted me and we spoke briefly about it that week, so this may have been previously reported to this agency. I only found out this week that the 2000 Ford Taurus had a history of airbag issues, which is why I bring this up now. I think the car has already been scrapped, so no chance of examination unfortunately. As above, my safety was in jeopardy. Had I been going faster, I could have died. (Apparently someone DID die from a faulty Taurus front airbag.) I, to this day, have chest pain down to my elbows when I sneeze or cough. My doctor says it's a musculoskeletal strain. Ford has not issued recalls for airbags. The vehicle was declared totaled on scene by the police officer and then towed by a towing service. The towing service said the undeployed airbag was "a ticking time bomb" and really unsafe to attempt to repair. I sent pictures to the at-fault driver's insurance, so it was also inspected by insurance. I do not remember any seeing warning messages. I would have checked any unfamiliar warnings or dash lights. Side note: For number of injured, I think I was the only one to take an ambulance. At-fault driver first hesitated to call 911, but eventually did. There were two people in his car, including himself: driver, and passenger in front seat.

NHTSA complaint #11494852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A PATCH OF SAND AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS IT TRAVELED AND CRASHED DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 241,074.

NHTSA complaint #10508702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THEIR VEHICLE, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A FENCE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON IMPACT. THE CONTACT AND A PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 129,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MAUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. UPDATED 08/14/2012

NHTSA complaint #10464055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. HER VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 89,000.

NHTSA complaint #10265709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

MY MOTHER HAD A HORRIFYING EXPERIENCE AND A ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING MY 2000 FORD TAURUS. AS SHE WAS PUTTING CAR IN DRIVE, WHEN LEAVING RESTAURANT THE CAR SUDDENLY WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND SPED UP ON ITS OWN AND EVEN WHILE SHE HAD HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR CAR WOULD NOT STOP, THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK AND SHE WAS TERRIFIED AS SHE WAS HEADING HEAD ON TO THE RESTAURANTS BRICK BUILDING WHERE SHE ENDED UP CRASHING INTO AND PEOPLE INSIDE RESTAURANT SAID THEY WERE HURT AS WELL AS MY CAR GOT BADLY DAMAGED AND THE BUILDING. MY MOTHER AND THE PEOPLE INSIDE ARE LUCKY TO BE ALIVE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE GAS PEDAL AND BRAKES THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DEADLY ACCIDENT. MY MOTHER IS BRUISED AND STILL VERY SORE FROM THE ACCIDENT AND THE IMPACT WAS SO HARD WHEN SHE CRASHED INTO THE BRICK BUILDING THAT BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. PLEASE SOMEONE NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS BECAUSE THIS I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS HAS HAPPEN TO OTHERS WHO OWN 2000 FORD TAURUS. I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID THEY HAD A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE IN 2002 AND THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED BUT HERE IT IS 2009 AND IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN SO SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT WITH THESE CARS AND IT SHOULDN'T HAVE TO TAKE SOMEONE TO DIE BEFORE FORD REALIZES THAT THIS PROBLEM IS STILL HAPPENING AND THEY NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM. AND IF FORD SAID THEY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM IN 2002 THEN WHY IS IT STILL HAPPENING??????????? PLEASE DO SOMETHING BEFORE ITS TO LATE. I WAS REALLY UPSET AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT 2000 FORD TAURUS OWNERS WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THERE CAR AND THIS WAS AFTER THE 2002 RECALL WHEN FORD CLAIM THEY FIXED IT. I WISH I KNEW THIS BEFORE I BROUGHT THE CAR OR EVEN LET MY MOTHER DRIVE IT BECAUSE I WOULD NEVER HAVE PUT HER LIFE OR OTHERS IN JEOPARDY LIKE THAT. TOW TRUCK HAD TO PULL MY CAR FROM BUILDING AND THEN IT HAD TO BE TOWED AWAY.

NHTSA complaint #10259407 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO INJURE HER FACE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. SHE DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 95,000.

NHTSA complaint #10244536 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

I HIT A CAR HEAD ON GOING ABOUT 25 MPH AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MINOR INJURIES INCLUDE BRUISING, SCRATCHES, AND MINOR NECK PAIN/WHIPLASH. NO PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED YET.

NHTSA complaint #10201632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG NON-DEPLOYMENT DURING HIGH IMPACT FRONTAL COLLISION, AND RESULTING SERIOUS BODILY INJURY. NM

NHTSA complaint #10177651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONT COLLISION AT 40 MPH. THERE WAS PRIOR BRAKING. THE SEATBELTS WERE WORN, AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKING AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS.

NHTSA complaint #10149952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON 09/25/2005. I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND THERE WAS A 1996 FORD F-150 IN FRONT ON ME. I WAS DRIVING A 2000 FORD TAURUS. FROM BEHIND AT APPROXIMATELY 60-70 MPH CAME A 1996 FORD TAURUS THAT SLAMMED INTO THE BACK OF ME. MY CAR WAS FORCED INTO THE F-150. MY CAR WAS TOTALED IN FRONT AND BACK. THE DRIVER OF THE 1996 TAURUS WAS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF CRYSTAL METH & ALCOHOL. HE WAS ARRESTED. HIS AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN THE 1996 TAURUS. IN MY 2000 FORD TAURUS NEITHER MY DRIVER'S NOR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. I WAS THROWN INTO MY STEERING WHEEL AND MY NECK JERKED. I AM 5 MONTHS PREGNANT. I WAS TAKEN AWAY BY AMBULANCE. THEY WERE ABLE TO DO AN ULTRASOUND ON THE BABY, BUT THEY COULD NOT GIVE X-RAYS BECAUSE I AM PREGNANT. SO I HAVE BEEN IN PAIN TAKING EXTRA STRENGTH TYLENOL. I HAVE OBTAINED A LAWYER, BECAUSE I FEEL THAT MY AIRBAGS ARE DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA complaint #10137964 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

WE HAD THIS VEHICLE CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMING ON/STAYING ON/FLASHING. ON ONE OCCASION THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED, AFTER THAT IT WAS CLEANED, DUE TO CORROSION AT THE CONNECTION. MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT ON 8/16/05 WHERE THE CAR WAS HIT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT END AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES PER HOUR, THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MY WIFE SUSTAINED WHIPLASH FROM THE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10134419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DT: 2000 FORD TAURUS. THE CAR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON THE JULY 4,2005. WHILE DRIVING AT 25-30 MPH AN ONCOMING VEHICLE TURNED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AND IT SWERVED TO MISS THE CAR AND HIT A LAMP POST HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE BODY SHOP SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND THEY SAID IT COULD HAVE BEEN THAT THE IMPACT WAS NOT HARD ENOUGH OR THE CAR WAS NOT HIT THE RIGHT SPOT TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAGS. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10132086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DT: CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WHILE GOING 47 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NIETHER OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.

NHTSA complaint #10126839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DT: THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. THEY DEPLOYED AFTER IMPACTING, AND CONSUMER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE IMPACT WAS ON THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. THE ACCIDENT HAD BEEN OVER FOR 6 SECONDS BEFORE THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THEN THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND THREW THE CONSUMER BACKWARDS. THIS WAS THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG THAT WAS LATE IN DEPLOYMENT, BUT PASSENGER'S AIR BAG CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK

NHTSA complaint #10121663 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING MY CAR THAT WE PAID FOR IN CASH, GOING ABOUT 30MPH ON A SLIPPERY ROAD AND SPUN OUT AND HIT AN ELECTRIC POLE, DRIVERS SIDE HIT AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. AFTER WE ALREADY GOT RID OF THE CAR, THEN SOMEONE TOLD ME ABOUT CONTACTING FORD. WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY INSURANCE ON IT YET. THE INSURANCE GUY WAS COMING OUT THAT NIGHT. SO THIS WAS A TOTAL LOSS. IT HAPPENED ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND I AM STILL WITHOUT A VEHICLE. SOMEONE TO CONTACT ME WOULD BE NICE ABOUT A POSSIBLE LAWSUIT.

NHTSA complaint #10118593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #10108775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE COMPLAINT WAS RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. IN JUNE OF 2004 I WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AT 40 MPH. NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, BUT FORTUNATELY THE SEAT BELTS DID WORK, QUITE POSSIBLY PREVENTING SERIOUS INJURIES. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT I NOTIFIED FORD CONSUMER SERVICE DIVISION ABOUT THE AIR BAGS, BUT THEY DIDN'T PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAD ALREADY COVERED THE DAMAGES, AND THEY HAVE CURRENT POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE. THEY JUST BLEW ME OFF. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10097862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION YET THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*MR THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER RIBCAGE.

NHTSA complaint #10092911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

FAILURE OF AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN 2001 FORD TAURUS. *MR THIS WAS A HIGH SPEED CRASH WHERE THE CONSUMER COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND IMPACTED A CONCRETE BRIDGE RAIL. *SC WHEN THE CONSUMER FIRST TOOK POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE, IT HAD A BAD SHIMMY IN THE FRONT END WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE DEALER FOUND THE ROTORS WERE WARPED, A FEW DAYS AFTER THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE FISH TAILED, THE DEALER THEN DISCOVERED THE REAR DRUMS WERE NOT ROUND AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. MONTHS LATER THE VEHICLE FISH TAILED AGAIN AND THE TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA complaint #10089250 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.

NHTSA complaint #10087423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.