2002 Ford Windstar airbag problems

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A FIRE HYDRANT AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND SHOULDER INJURIES BUT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED WRIST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 02/12/16*LJ UPDATED 05/14/18*JB

NHTSA complaint #10811918 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL ON AN ICY ROAD AND CRASHED INTO A RIVER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIBS AND BRUISES ON ENTIRE BODY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA complaint #10672947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

FORD WINDSTAR VAN, WHICH WAS ALREADY SUBJECT TO REAR AXLE RECALL, AND THE REAR AXLE DID BREAK ON IT IN MAY, AND WAS REPLACED AND I RECEIVED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT FROM FORD. HOWEVER, ANOTHER INCIDENT HAPPENED IN DECEMBER. MY 21 YEAR OLD SON WAS IN AN ACCIDENT DRIVING THIS VAN ON THURSDAY, DEC. 16. THE VAN LOST TRACTION AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT, PULLING HIM INTO A DITCH AND DOWN A STEEP EMBANKMENT. THE FRONT OF THE VAN WAS RIPPED OFF, TIRES SLASHED, VAN ALMOST FLIPPED OVER, AND THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. HE HIT A DIRT EMBANKMENT HEAD ON GOING ABOUT 30-35 MPH. THE ROADS WERE ICY THAT DAY, AND HE WAS ON A CURVE... THE VAN WOULD NOT RESPOND TO STEERING TO CORRECT THE DIRECTION THE VAN WAS GOING. I EXPERIENCED SOMETHING SIMILAR LAST WINTER; THE VAN SEEMED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT, GOING OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT ALLOWING THE DRIVER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, WHEN I WENT OFF THE ROAD, IT WAS IN A SHALLOW DITCH AND IT CAUSED NO DAMAGE TO THE VAN. MY SON WAS NOT AS FORTUNATE, AND HE COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED. I FEEL THAT THIS MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE CURRENT INVESTIGATION INTO THE FRONT SUSPENSION... THE VAN COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED, AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT. OUR INSURANCE CO. IS TAKING CARE OF THIS, AND I DON'T KNOW THE CURRENT LOCATION OF THE VAN. IT IS TOTALED, I KNOW THAT. I ASKED STATE FARM TO CHECK OUT THE FRONT SUSPENSION FOR WEAKNESS OR RUST, BUT DON'T KNOW IF THEY'LL KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE FRONT IS SO DAMAGED FROM THE WRECK THAT THE TIRES ARE TURNED SIDEWAYS, AND I BELIEVE THE FRONT AXLE IS BROKEN. PLEASE SEND SOMEONE TO LOOK AT MY VAN, AND SEE WHAT CAUSED THIS WRECK; MY SON COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'VE DONE SO FAR.... YOUR ORGANIZATION IS SO VALUABLE TO CONSUMERS.

NHTSA complaint #10373585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN HE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE FACE AND LEG AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER RESPONDED SIX MONTHS LATER STATING THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH IMPACT FOR THE AIR BAGS TO HAVE DEPLOYED AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA complaint #10373153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

FRONT END COLLISION WITH A TREE-CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS WITH SEVERE DAMAGE TO ENTIRE FRONT END-DEAD CENTER HIT WITH TREE OFF ICY ROADWAY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #10297914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

I HAD AN ACCIDENT IN MY 2002 FORD WINDSTAR IN WHICH I HIT AN EMBANKMENT, A DEER AND A TREE HEAD ON AT 35 MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR WAS TOTALED, THE ENGINE WAS PUSHED IN TO THE DASHBOARD. I HAVE TRIED SEVERAL AVENUES INCLUDING FORD TO FIND OUT WHY THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. WHAT DID THE BLACK BOX RECORD? AS TO THE EVENTS OF THE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10187036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELLING ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE PASSANGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. THE PASSANGER INCURRED INJURIES HOWEVER THE EXTENT OF INJURIES HAVE NOT BEEN COMFIRMED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERS FOR REPAIRS. THROUGH A DIAGNOSTICS ANALYSES OF VEHICLE THE DEALER DETERMINED THERE WAS A CATALYST CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY HOWEVER THE REASON HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED YET. THE DIAGNOSTIC REPORT HAS BEEN SENT TO THE MANUFACTURER SO THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER CAN COLLABORATE ON THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.

NHTSA complaint #10161964 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

I WAS DRIVING 55 AROUND 8:45 PM ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY, THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS AROUND, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A SOUND LIKE AN EXPLOSION AND I FELT PAIN ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY FACE. I DID NOT BRAKE, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND PULLED OVER AND TURNED ON THE OVERHEAD LIGHT. MY FACE AND EAR HURT AND MY EARS WERE RINGING, I LOOKED TO MY LEFT AND FOUND THAT THE SIDE AIRBAG THAT DEPLOYED, WHICH WAS WHAT HAD CAUSED THE RINGING IN MY EARS AND THE PAIN IN THE SIDE OF MY FACE. I CALLED 911 AND A NY STATE TROOPER RESPONDED. HE LOOKED IN THE ROAD AND AT THE CAR AND DETERMINED THAT I DID NOT HIT AN ANIMAL, THAT THERE WAS NO LARGE DEBRIS IN THE ROAD THAT I MAY HAVE HIT, AND THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO NEW DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE- ESPECIALLY THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THE ONLY EXPLANATION IS THAT THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED ON ITS OWN. WHEN THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, IT TORE OPEN THE FABRIC OF THE DRIVERS SEAT AND FOAM STUFFING FROM THE SEAT EXPLODED OUT AND ALL OVER THE INSIDE OF THE MINIVAN. TODAY I WENT TO THE FORD DEALER FROM WHOM I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO DETERMINE HOW THE DAMAGE WILL BE REPAIRED. FORD WANTS ME TO FILE AN INSURANCE CLAIM AND HAVE MY INSURANCE COMPANY PAY FOR THE REPAIR, BUT I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS MECHANICAL DEFECT ON FORD'S PART AND THAT FORD SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR AND INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM FURTHER. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP JUST KEPT TELLING ME THAT AIRBAGS JUST DON'T DEPLOY ON THEIR OWN, BUT AFTER LOOKING AT MY VAN HE AGREED THAT IT MUST HAVE DEPLOYED ON ITS OWN SINCE THERE IS NO DAMAGE ON THE DOOR TO INDICATE THAT I WAS STRUCK BY SOMETHING.

NHTSA complaint #10147131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK VOQ RETURNED NO SUCH STREET. PHONE DISCONNECTED.

NHTSA complaint #10119195 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

A CAR ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON JANUARY 9, 2004. CAR WAS HIT BEHIND, AND THE BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. VAN WAS TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP TWICE TO FIX LIGHT. THEY CAME TO THE DECISION THAT A CODE NEEDED TO BE PUT IN AND COULD ONLY BE DONE AT FORD. THE VAN WAS TAKEN TO FORD 4 TIMES, AND THE LIGHT STILL COMES ON. FIRST THEY PUT IN CODE. 2 WEEKS PASSED THEN LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. VAN TAKEN BACK TO FORD. IT WAS RELEASED TO US. AFTER ABOUT 5 WEEKS LIGHT CAME ON. THEY PUT IN THE CODE AGAIN. LIGHT CAME BACK ON AS SOON AS WE GOT TO THE DRIVEWAY. WE WENT TO FORD AGAIN, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH MODULE. THEY REPLACED THE MODULE AND A WHOLE NEW AIR BAG SYSTEM IN JULY. THE REPLACEMENT WAS DONE TWICE DUE TO THE FIRST AIR BAG SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE, THE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON THE NEXT MORNING. A COMPLETE NEW SYSTEM PLACE IN THE NEXT DAY. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN THEN WENT OUT. THEY SAID IT WAS OKAY. LIGHT IS BACK ON NOW (MARCH 2005). NOW FORD IS TELLING US THAT A NEW MODULE HAS TO BE PLACED IN BECAUSE IT HAS BURNT OUT. ALSO FORD NEEDS TO FIND OUT WHAT IS BURNING OUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM? OVER $500 WORTH OF WORK TO BE DONE AND NOW NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY FROM JULY 2004? WE ARE NOT SURE IF THE AIRBAGS WILL DEPLOY IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. AND WE HAVE SMALL CHILDREN TO TRANSPORT IN THE VEHICLE. SPOKE TO FORD DEALER IN OUR AREA. NO HELP.

NHTSA complaint #10114139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

A CAR ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON JANUARY 9, 2004. CAR WAS HIT BEHIND, AND THE BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. VAN WAS TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP TWICE TO FIX LIGHT. THEY CAME TO THE DECISION THAT A CODE NEEDED TO BE PUT IN AND COULD ONLY BE DONE AT FORD. THE VAN WAS TAKEN TO FORD 4 TIMES, AND THE LIGHT STILL COMES ON. FIRST THEY PUT IN CODE. 2 WEEKS PASSED THEN LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. VAN TAKEN BACK TO FORD. IT WAS RELEASED TO US. AFTER ABOUT 5 WEEKS LIGHT CAME ON. THEY PUT IN THE CODE AGAIN. LIGHT CAME BACK ON AS SOON AS WE GOT TO THE DRIVEWAY. WE WENT TO FORD AGAIN, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH MODULE. THEY REPLACED THE MODULE AND A WHOLE NEW AIR BAG SYSTEM IN JULY. THE REPLACEMENT WAS DONE TWICE DUE TO THE FIRST AIR BAG SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE, THE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON THE NEXT MORNING. A COMPLETE NEW SYSTEM PLACE IN THE NEXT DAY. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN THEN WENT OUT. THEY SAID IT WAS OKAY. LIGHT IS BACK ON NOW (MARCH 2005). NOW FORD IS TELLING US THAT A NEW MODULE HAS TO BE PLACED IN BECAUSE IT HAS BURNT OUT. ALSO FORD NEEDS TO FIND OUT WHAT IS BURNING OUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM? OVER $500 WORTH OF WORK TO BE DONE AND NOW NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY FROM JULY 2004? WE ARE NOT SURE IF THE AIRBAGS WILL DEPLOY IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. AND WE HAVE SMALL CHILDREN TO TRANSPORT IN THE VEHICLE. SPOKE TO FORD DEALER IN OUR AREA. NO HELP.

NHTSA complaint #10114139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

A CAR ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON JANUARY 9, 2004. CAR WAS HIT BEHIND, AND THE BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. VAN WAS TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP TWICE TO FIX LIGHT. THEY CAME TO THE DECISION THAT A CODE NEEDED TO BE PUT IN AND COULD ONLY BE DONE AT FORD. THE VAN WAS TAKEN TO FORD 4 TIMES, AND THE LIGHT STILL COMES ON. FIRST THEY PUT IN CODE. 2 WEEKS PASSED THEN LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. VAN TAKEN BACK TO FORD. IT WAS RELEASED TO US. AFTER ABOUT 5 WEEKS LIGHT CAME ON. THEY PUT IN THE CODE AGAIN. LIGHT CAME BACK ON AS SOON AS WE GOT TO THE DRIVEWAY. WE WENT TO FORD AGAIN, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH MODULE. THEY REPLACED THE MODULE AND A WHOLE NEW AIR BAG SYSTEM IN JULY. THE REPLACEMENT WAS DONE TWICE DUE TO THE FIRST AIR BAG SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE, THE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON THE NEXT MORNING. A COMPLETE NEW SYSTEM PLACE IN THE NEXT DAY. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN THEN WENT OUT. THEY SAID IT WAS OKAY. LIGHT IS BACK ON NOW (MARCH 2005). NOW FORD IS TELLING US THAT A NEW MODULE HAS TO BE PLACED IN BECAUSE IT HAS BURNT OUT. ALSO FORD NEEDS TO FIND OUT WHAT IS BURNING OUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM? OVER $500 WORTH OF WORK TO BE DONE AND NOW NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY FROM JULY 2004? WE ARE NOT SURE IF THE AIRBAGS WILL DEPLOY IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. AND WE HAVE SMALL CHILDREN TO TRANSPORT IN THE VEHICLE. SPOKE TO FORD DEALER IN OUR AREA. NO HELP.

NHTSA complaint #10114139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

I WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT WHERE I RAN INTO A MOTORHOME THAT PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40MPH AND HIT AT A SLIGHT ANGLE BUT DIRECT HIT TO THE REAR DUAL WHEELS THAT ACTUALLY DISLODGED THE AXLE OF THE MOTORHOME. MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. IT HAD SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END INCLUDING THE DRIVER'S SIDE HALF OF THE BUMPER. THE IMPACT BUCKLED THE ROOF OF MY WINDSTAR MINI-VAN. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEATBELT APPARENTLY FAILED AS MY CHEST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND ALSO MY FACE. THE STATE TROOPER SAID HE SAW MY TEETH MARKS IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS CRACKED. IF I DID NOT HAVE A BRUISE ON MY LEFT SHOULDER AREA THAT SHOWED THE SEATBELT ACTUALLY CAUGHT FOR AN INSTANT AND THEN RELEASED ME INTO THE STEERING WHEEL THE TROOPER SAID HE WOULD HAVE CITED ME FOR NOT WEARING A BELT. I HAD UNBUCKLED MY BELT TO GET MY HANKY TO TRY AND STOP THE BLOOD FLOW FROM MY FACIAL INJURY IS WHY IT WAS NOT ON WHEN THE TROOPER ARRIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED SO NO REPAIR WAS ATTEMPTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A NATIONWIDE EVALUATION CENTER IN COLUMBUS, OH WHERE THEY SAID THEY WOULD HOLD IT UNTIL OCTOBER 28 IN CASE ANYONE WANTED TO INSPECT IT. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER IN DETROIT MICHIGAN AND THEY SAID THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED INVESTIGATION WHY THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. I RECEIVED A FRACTURED STERNUM AND A FACIAL LACERATION THAT WENT FROM OUTSIDE TO INSIDE.

NHTSA complaint #10096160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH VEHICLE DRIFTED OFF TO THE MEDIAN. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER OVER CORRECTED , WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE ROLLING OVER 6 TIMES AND IMPACTING A GUARD RAIL. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. *AK WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH VEHICLE VEERED INTO MEDIAN ON THE INTERSTATE. DRIVER OVERCORRECTED CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER SIX TIMES WHERE IT CRASHED INTO THE GUARD RAIL. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED BUT THE OTHER THREE AIR BAGS DID NOT. TWO PERSONS INJURIED IN ROLLOVER ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10049950 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO REAR-END ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #10049842 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. NO BUMPS OR CRACKS IN THE HIGHWAY WERE HIT TO CAUSE THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. *NLM THE DRIVER WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM WITH PAIN IN THE CHEST AND NECK. UPON INSPECTION CORROSION WAS FOUND ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IMPACT SENSOR. THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. *TS *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10040615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.