2000 Ford Focus Air Bags & Restraints Problems

VEHICLE TURNING AND COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE SPPEDING. PER INSURANCE COMPANY, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PAID FOR REPAIRS, THEN REALIZED THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JS

AUTO ACCIDENT ON 8/26/2013 IN FREDERICKSBURG, VA, CORNER OF HWY 1 AND HWY 208 AT 9:15 AM. DRIVING BETWEEN 5-7 MPH DUE TO STOP AT RED LIGHT TO MAKE RIGHT TURN. DRIVER IN FRONT STARTED THROUGH THE RED LIGHT AND STOPPED. I HIT HER CAR BUT NO CAR BODY DENTS ON EITHER CAR. MY 2000 FORD FOCUS UPON IMPACT DEPLOYED (2) AIR BAGS, EVEN THOUGH I WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE CAR AND NO WEIGHT ON PASSENGER SEAT. THE AIR BAGS CAUSED ALL THE CAR DAMAGE AND SECOND DEGREE BURN ON MY RIGHT HAND. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LID SMASHED THE CAR WINDSHIELD. THE CAR WAS DRIVABLE BUT UNSAFE TO DRIVE AWAY FROM ACCIDENT. I TOWED IT TO LOCAL FORD DEALER (PURVIS) ON HWY 1 FOR DIAGNOSTICS TEST TO CHECK THE SENSORS. THE DEALER REPORT SAID THAT THE CAR OPERATED AS DESIGNED AND BOTH AIR BAGS SHOULD DEPLOY AND CAUSE ALL THAT DAMAGE (CAR/BODY) ESTIMATED $4914.00 AT LOW SPEEDS. THE REPAIR COST IS MORE THAN THE VALUE OF THE CAR.

I HAVE A 2000 FORD FOCUS, I HIT A CAR FROM THE BACK, BECAUSE THEY SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED. I WAS GOING 25-30 MPH. THE FRONT OF THE CAR IS TOTALLY TOTALED. BUT THE AIRBAG SENSOR IS VISIBLE TO THE HUMAN EYE! I AM WONDERING WHY MY AIRBAG DO NOT DEPLOYED? AIRBAG DEFECTS? MY FACE SMASH THE STEERING WHEEL. ME AND MY PASSENGER HAVE NECK, BACK, SHOULDER CONTUSIONS. I HAVE SEVERE PAIN IN THOSE AREAS. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON WHY MY AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOYED BECAUSE IT DID NOT SEEM RIGHT TO ME. AND I DISCOVERED A CASE AND WHICH THE SAME CAR MODEL, MAKE AND YEAR, SIMILAR TO MINES WHICH STATED, "FORD ADMITTED THAT IT DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THE ACTUAL AIR BAG NON-DEPLOYMENT THRESHOLD WHEN IT STARTED SELLING THESE CARS TO ITS CUSTOMERS! THEY LATER CHANGED THE AIRBAG SYSTEM DESIGN TO INCREASE THE THRESHOLD BEGINNING IN 2002, BUT THEY NEVER RECALLED THE 2000 AND 2001 FORD FOCUS CARS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM." *TR

I HAD TURNED ON MY VEHICLE AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. ORIGINALLY, THE AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHEN I STARTED THE CAR IN THE MORNINGS AND THEN SHUT OFF WHEN THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN FOR A SHORT PERIOD. I HAD AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT I HAVE USED FOR 8 YEARS INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE AND HE SUGGESTED I FILE A COMPLAINT, AS IT IS DIFFICULT FOR HIM TO PINPOINT THE FAULT FOR THE AIRBAG LIGHT. THIS VEHICLE HAS OVER A DOZEN RECALLS ON IT ALREADY THAT HAVE BEEN FIXED OVER THE YEARS. SOME OTHER ISSUES HAVE NOT BEEN ADDRESSED EVER, EXCEPT FOR THE SAME VEHICLE SOLD IN CANADA. ALSO, I NEVER RECEIVED COMPENSATION FOR THE BRAKE DISC REPLACEMENT THAT HAD OCCURRED AFTER 22,000 MILES HAD BEEN ON THE VEHICLE. I NEVER HAD TO REPLACE DISC AT SUCH SHORT TIME OF DRIVING A VEHICLE. LASTLY, THE CENTER CONSOLE IS UNSTABLE AND DETACHED FROM THE REAR AT THE BASE OF THE ARM REST, WHICH WAS POORLY SECURED WITH THREE 1/4 INCH WELDS. *TR

WAITING AT A LIGHT, DRUNK DRIVER ESCAPING POLICE REAR ENDS FORD FOCUS. FORD FOCUS HITS FIRE TRUCK. AT NO TIME DID THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 43 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT AN INSPECTOR WOULD BE SENT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.

DRIVING TO WORK, THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED QUICKLY, OUR CARS BARELY TOUCHED EACH OTHER, LESS THAN 3 MPH, NO OUT SIDE DAMAGE WAS DONE TO EITHER VEHICLE. BOTH OF MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BUSTED THE WINDSHIELD. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG BURNT MY RIGHT AIR AND HAS CAUSED NERVE DAMAGE IN THE AREA. *TR

WHILE MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. IT SMASHED THE WINDSHIELD AND GLASSES WERE FLYING ALL OVER HER. SOON AFTER SHE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, SHE SMELLED A FUME ODOR AND THINKING THE CAR IS CATCHING FIRE. SHE RUSHED TO OPEN THE DOOR TO GET OUT. ON HER WAY OUT THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED HITTING HER RIGHT SHOULDER. WE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY FOR FAULTY AIRBAGS ISSUE BUT THEY REJECTED RESPONSIBILITY AND TOLD US TO CONTACT OUR INSURANCE. OUR INSURANCE REFUSED OUR CLAIM STATING IT WAS THE MANUFACTURE WHO SHOULD BE LIABLE. PLEASE HELP US. THANK YOU. *TT

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. *TR

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. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 FORD FOCUS ON CAUGHDENOY ROAD IN CLAY, NY WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN HIT OR DAMAGED IN ANY WAY PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT OCCURRING. MY WINDSHIELD GLASS WAS SHATTERED SEVERELY, LEADING TO $335 IN DAMAGE FOR THE WINDSHIELD ALONE. THE AIRBAG COVER ALSO DID NOT COME OFF PROPERLY, LEADING IT TO CAUSE THE DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WERE SLIGHT INJURIES TO MY FINGER (A SMALL CUT) CAUSED BY THE AIR BAG, SINCE I PLACED MY HAND IN FRONT OF ME IN SHOCK, AND THE CAR IS CURRENTLY UNDRIVABLE DUE TO ITS CONDITION. *TR

THE FORD FOCUS COLLIDED HEAD-ON WITH A PLYMOUTH NEON THAT WAS ON A DARK ROADWAY WITH ITS LIGHTS OFF AFTER A PRIOR COLLISION. THE BUCKLE PRETENSIONER FOR THE FORD DRIVER FIRED, BUT THE RETRACTOR DID NOT LOCK ALLOWING THE DRIVER TO STRIKE HIS HEAD ON THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS MATERIAL WORN AWAY FROM THE B-PILLAR FROM THE RAPID EXTENSION OF WEBBING, AND LATCH PLATE HAD A CHANNEL CARVED INTO THE PLASTIC, WHERE THE WEBBING RAPIDLY PASSED THROUGH THE LATCH PLATE. THERE WAS NOT EVIDENCE THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE ANY SIGNIFICANT RESTRAINING FORCE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND THEY SAID THE LIGHT WOULD NOT COME ON FOR THEM SO THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 64,496.

DRIVING DOWN ROAD AFTER HEAVY RAIN, ROADS WET, RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, SUN CAME OUT GLARE OFF STREET. CAR TWO CARS AHEAD OF ME STOPPED SUDDENLY TO TURN LEFT. CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED. I SAW THE CARS STOP AND THOUGHT I HAD ENOUGH ROOM TO STOP, BUT STREETS WERE STILL WET AND MY TIRES LOCKED GOING 25MPH 2 CAR LENGTHS BEHIND CAR AND I SKIDDED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. LITTLE TO NO DAMAGE DOWN TO REAR BUMPER OR MY FRONT BUMPER HOWEVER, MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED SHATTERING MY WINDOW AND LOCKED MY SEAT BELT. CAUSING $800 IN PARTS DAMAGE NOT INCLUDING LABOR. FIRST TIME HAVING PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, WILL HAVE INSURANCE REPAIR MY CAR/AIRBAG/SEAT BELT, WINDOW, CAUSING MY INSURANCE TO GO UP. I HAD CHAIR POSITIONED ALL THE WAY BACK SO THE AIRBAG DID NOT HIT ME OR PROTECT ME FROM INJURY (I'M LUCKY I DID NOT HAVE BREATHING PROBLEMS FROM AIRBAG SMOKE THOUGH) I WAS PROBABLY GOING 15MPH WHEN I HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE, IF THE AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF I WOULD HAVE AFFORDABLE INSURANCE AND AN EXTRA $1000 TO MY NAME. BE CAREFUL!!!! *TR

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 $250.00 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... *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT SIDE OR HER SKULL AND SUFFERED HEADACHES. THE RADIATOR WAS PUSHED INTO THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS VERIFIED, BUT APPEARS TO BE INVALID. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 100,000 KILOMETERS.

TL*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.

INAPPROPRIATE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS AT A LOW SPEED CRASH (LESS THAN 15 MPH). *JB

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER MALFUNCTIONED. SEAT BELT DID NOT FUNCTION - PULLED ALL THE WAY OUT FROM THE DOOR PILLAR AND DID NOT RETRACT. CARWAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED.*AK

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. *JB