This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Hello! I was involved in a collision yesterday where I was rear ended by a someone doing 35 mph. I was at a complete stop. His collision with me sent my car into the car in front me. It totaled the front end and bent the frame in the back. My air bag never deployed. I think that Ford should be held liable.
This vehicle was purchased to be driven by my daughter as a entry level vehicle that was suppose to be a safe, efficient and durable means of transportation. From advertisements I expected a safe and inexpensive car. During a low speed accident the airbags deployed causing more damage to the vehicle than the actual accident itself. First the engine was disabled, the dash cracked, the windshield completely knocked outward and the airbag system needing complete replacement. After a lot of online research I have found that over many years sense 2000 and 2001, there are thousands of the same complaints with the same exact outcomes. These vehicles sales were guided toward younger drivers which where there are more likely low speed impact accidents. Although there were safety issue at hand, the early deployment of the airbags at very low speed impact accidents has cost owners and insurance companies more in repairs due to the damages from the airbag deployment alone than necessary and have even caused total loss at owners and insurance companies expense. An investigation was opened early on after these issues were first developing and the investigation was closed quickly with the manufacture stating they set a low impact deployment speed to save lives and not so many vehicles experienced these outcomes. However over the years the records show these low speed deployments are more in numbers than mentioned and expected and is a uncalled for expense for owners and their insurance companies, causing from total loss of vehicles to unaffordable insurance rates due to the enormous cost to remove and replace the airbag systems as well as dashboard and windshield damages, when the passengers lives were not really at stake. In my daughters case, the airbag never was a safety tool as the airbag never really touched her. Therefore it was a un-needed deployment set by the manufacture with damages at our expense. This should have never happened. Damages us = $3000 other driver $1000.
My mother was parked in the car and moved the gear accidentally to drive rather than reverse to back out of her parking space and pushed on the gas which inevitably went forward instead of backwards and hit a curb and barrier, approx. 4-5 ft. In front of her. This caused the drivers & passenger airbags to deploy which destroyed the windshield. Now the car was not obviously going fast at all and there is no way these bags should have deployed. Very bad situation. We had to pay $250 to replace the windshield and are currently getting price quotes to repair the air bag system which so far, exceeds the value on the car...
The contact owns a 2000 Ford Focus. While driving approximately 5-10 mph, the vehicle locked and began to slide. The contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the preceding vehicle. On impact, the frontal air bags deployed. A police report was filed. The contact's hand was injured and the front windshield was cracked. He called Ford and is awaiting their response. The vehicle has not been repaired and is unable to be driven. The failure and current mileages were 99,967.
Following a minor accident, no damage, the airbag deployed broke the windshield and dashboard. For 12 months afterward the passenger floor would fill with water during rain showers. I took it to be repaired 4 times with no success finally on the 5th trip the body shop figured out that the glue or filler that was placed between the welded structural components during assembly at the factory had cracked leaving a tiny hole that was siphoning water into the passenger compartment. They applied sealant to the seam between the passenger door panel and roof and so far no more leaks.
- Universal City, TX, USA
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The contact's vehicle was involved in an accident. Upon impact, the airbags did not deploy. The contact and her husband sustained injuries. She had broken ribs, a broken foot, and a cut on her head. The contact's husband had cuts on the head, a broken back, and had to receive a blood transfusion. The air bag light did not appear prior to the accident. The contact's insurance company picked up and impounded the vehicle. No further action has been taken. A police report was taken at the scene. Updated 05/04/06.
This complaint is concerning clarification of our previous complaints to NHTSA regarding the 2000 Ford Focus : #10104088 and #10107840. I am extremely concerned about the misinterpretation of data collected by your Agency and posted for public review. Deaths are not posted, nor are they included as injuries. This misrepresents the seriousness of the vehicle and equipment failures reported.
While driving, and without warning another vehicle crossed over into the lane of the consumer and hit the consumers vehicle head on. Both air bags did not deploy. The consumer was not injured. The vehicle was towed to the body shop. Please fill in additional information.
Fatality vehicle fire, Dec. 8 2004. My husband is the original owner of a 2000 Ford Focus, subject to numerous service visits to bill brown Ford, livonia mi for: Ignition, steering column, wheel bearing, brake, rear window control, seat belt &trunk latches, overhead light and engine light. The vacuum line & fuel pump & valve assembly were replaced 2/03, followed by stalling. In 6/03, A/C compressor & manifold line replaced. Fuel line & pump failure in 8/03, resulted in gasoline spill on residential street minutes after parking. Bogging followed repairs, PCM reprogrammed & leaking pvc tube replaced 1/04. Fuel pump again replaced. In 8/04, our 24 year old son took ownership of this problematic car. We are uncertain as to whether vehicle malfunction caused a 35 mph collision with a fire hydrant. An immediate engine explosion and fuel fed fire trapped my son and his passenger. Described by police as a relatively minor crash which would not be expected to claim lives, the subsequent unexplained engine fire claimed two young lives. A malfunctioning driver's airbag was also detected. This incident was originally reported to NHTSA by my husband (#10104088). I am supplying these additional facts for your clarification. Please correct your posting of "0" injuries as there were 2 fatalities. Please take effective action to save lives, as these trouble plagued vehicles seem to become more lethal as they age. Confirmation of receipt of this information is requested.
Consumer's vehicle was involved in a frontal collision at 35 mph. Upon impact, air bags deployed but the substance in the air bag burnt through the driver's jacket sleeve and caused first and second degree burns to the arms. The jacket was made of 78% polyester and 27%Ram.
While driving air bag light illuminated and stayed lit the remainder of the time that vehicle was being operated. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.
Vehicle: 2000 Ford Focus, while driving down a residential road at approximately 20 mph, both front airbags deployed, causing damage to the dashboard and the windshield. I was injured, minor burns and a sprained wrist. The manufacturer claims that there is nothing they can do, that there is no problem with the airbags of the Ford Focus. The warranty on the car has run out, and the insurance also won't cover this.
While driving at 65 mph driver lost control of the vehicle, resulting in a head on collision with a wall. Upon impact, both frontal air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained minor injuries.
While driving at 5 mph the vehicle was involved in a head on collision. The dual air bags deployed. As a result of air bag deployment the driver sustained second degree burns on the left arm. (in re: Driver's side air bag) the driver accidentally applied the gas pedal instead of the brakes and crashed into a store. There was a hesitation then the airbags deployed like an explosion. The airbags released an unknown chemical.
I skidded into the car in front of me with minimal force. There was no damage to the car I hit. There was minimal damage to my car, (small scratch on the front bumper and a headlight needed to be realigned) except both of the front air bags deployed and the front passenger seatbelt locked (there was no one in the passenger seat)..
The consumer was driving when she saw a deer coming down a hill and stopped as the deer crossed. Then a large truck passed the consumer in a 40 mile zone and a new deer hit the left side of the vehicle. The airbags did not deploy. The consumer suffered minor injuries.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Elizabethtown, KY, USA