2004 Ford Focus Air Bags & Restraints Problems

I was coming home one night, in my 2004 Ford focus, when another driver comes speeding up behind me. He then proceeds to pass me during a corner, cutting me off. I hit the brakes and lost control. Ended up rolling my vehicle with my 8 month old daughter and i. Back window exploded, and not a single air bags had deployed when I got into my accident.

TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL: I LOOKED UP MY VIN NUMBER ON THE GOVT. WEBSITE MANY MONTHS AGO, AND FOUND THIS CAR HAS POTENTIALLY FAULTY TAKATA AIR BAGS. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO MOVE REPLACEMENT FORWARD ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, SINCE FORD HAS YET TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS MODEL. THE DEALER SAYS THEY NEED A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD USA AND WHEN I CALL FORD USA THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO MOVE FORWARD ON A RECALL FOR THIS AIRBAG. THE DEALER ALSO SAID I COULD NOT BE GUARANTEED A SAFE AIR BAG IF THEY JUST REPLACED THE ONE I HAVE, SINCE THE REPLACEMENT MIGHT ALSO BE FAULTY, UNLESS IT WAS A SPECIAL REDESIGNED ONE AS ISSUED IN A RECALL SETTING. I CALLED DTVSH ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF FORD USA AND THEY RECOMMENDED I FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE FTC. THE FTC CONTACT GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER: 69255063. I FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING AROUND IN A CAR WITH A POTENTIAL BOMB IN THE STEERING WHEEL, OR LOANING IT TO FAMILY MEMBERS. THE DEALER EVEN SAID I COULD JUST QUIT USING MY CAR FOR THE YEARS IT MIGHT TAKE TO WAIT FOR THE RECALL (!!!) I THINK THEY SHOULD GIVE ME A LOANER IF THEY THINK ITS THAT SERIOUS, YET THEY DO NOT HAVE THE POWER TO MOVE FORWARD ON STARTING A RECALL. THEY HAVE THREE MODELS OF CARS FROM THE YEAR MINE WAS BUILT THAT ARE UNDER RECALL. PLEASE INITIATE A RECALL ON THE FORD FOCUS WAGON TO ENSURE IT IS REASONABLY SAFE TO DRIVE. THE TYPES OF ACCIDENTS THAT ARE KILLING PEOPLE FROM THE EXPLODING, SHRAPNEL FILLED AIR BAGS ARE LOW IMPACT AND OTHERWISE WOULD NOT BE FATAL. I DON'T WANT ME OR SOMEONE IN MY FAMILY DYING BECAUSE FORD IS NOT IN RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *TR

HEAD ON COLLISON WITH ANOTHER CAR. CARS IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED SUDDENLY. I GOING DOWN ONE OF THE BUSIEST ROADS IN TOWN AND I COULDNT STOP IN TIME. FRONT OF MY CAR HAS SIGNIFICANT UNDRIVABLE DAMAGE. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

DRIVING ALONG HIT A POTHOLE AND HEARD A LOAD BANG THOUGHT IT WAS JUST THE SUSPENSION BOTTOMING OUT, LOOKED TO MY LEFT AND NOTICED THAT SIDE AIRBAG HAD DEPLOYED, FILLING THE CAR WITH NOXIOUS FUMES AND HITTING MY SHOULDER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE AND HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 2/11/14*CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 12 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE'S TOW HITCH AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT ONLY THE LICENSE PLATE HAD A DENT IN IT AND HE SUFFERED A SEVERE BURN INJURY ON HER LEFT HAND. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,687.

WHILE DRIVING ON A PARKWAY IN THE RIGHT LANE A CAR IN THE LEFT LANE OF THE TWO LANE PARKWAY HIT THE VEHICLE ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE NEAR THE BACK WHEEL. THE CAR THEN WAS DRIVEN INTO A ROCK CUT AND THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS CRASHED IN. ALTHOUGH THE FRONT END IMPACT WAS SUBSTANTIAL, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH RESULTED IN SEVERAL SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE DRIVER. THE POLICE REPORT AND PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE ARE AVAILABLE AS WELL AS CORRESPONDENCE WITH FORD ON THIS ACCIDENT. *JS

I WAS DISTRACTED WHILE DRIVING AND HIT A TREE, THAT IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE ROAD, ON A WINDING ROAD WITH THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF MY CAR. AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF AT ALL. WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL ON A GURNEY, IN AN AMBULANCE. LEFT SIDE OF MY FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUSTAINED QUITE A BIT OF TRAUMA. IT WAS SWELLING AT SUCH A RAPID RATE THAT THE NURSES AND DOCTORS THOUGHT I HAD BROKEN MY CHEEK BONE. AFTER CT SCANS, IT WAS DETERMINED I HAD NO BROKEN BONES, JUST BRUISED RIBS, SMALL CUTS, AND CONTUSIONS ON MULTIPLE PARTS OF MY BODY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOTALED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY. I PLAN TO GET THE SDM FROM THE VEHICLE AND SEE WHAT EXACTLY WAS RECORDED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. FOUR PEOPLE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES (BURN RASHES, ETC). THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 79,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SEAT CENTER SEAT-BELT FAILED WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO RELEASE HER FIVE YEAR OLD GRANDCHILD.INSTEAD OF THE SEAT BELT LOOSING, IT TIGHTENED AROUND HER STOMACH. THE SEAT-BELT HAD TO BE CUT IN ORDER TO RELEASE HER. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 149,000.

MY SON REAR-ENDED ANOTHER CAR IN A SNOWSTORM. HE WAS DRIVING BETWEEN 10-20 MILES PER HOUR AT THE TIME. THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON HIS 2004 FORD FOCUS IS NOW ON, BUT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN THE ACCIDENT. HE MUST HAVE BEEN JOLTED FORWARD PRETTY ABRUPTLY BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT SPOOL IS BROKEN - THE BELT IS STUCK. HE WAS NOT INJURED, BUT I DO WONDER WHETHER THE AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE INFLATED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE SEATING IN A BOOSTER SEAT IN THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR SEAT, THE CHILD WAS ABLE TO TIE THE SEAT BELT AROUND HIS HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY JUST LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND SUGGESTED THE CONSUMER CONTACTED NHTSA. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85342. UPDATED 12/22/09.*LJ THE CONSUMER HAD TO CUT THE STRAP. UPDATED 12/29/09.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. ON OCTOBER 25, 2008, WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 25 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS SUDDENLY DEPLOYED AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS NO IMPACT OR CRASH INVOLVED TO TRIGGER THE DEPLOYMENT. THE DRIVER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES TO HER NECK. THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS SENDING AN APPRAISER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 93,116. UPDATED 12/11/08 *BF THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO CANCEL THE COMPLAINT. THE CONSUMER STATED HER DAUGHTER WHO WAS DRIVING, HIT SOMETHING WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND THEREFORE TRIGGERED THE AIR BAGS. UPDATED 12/11/08

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER GRANDDAUGHTER BECAME TRAPPED IN THE SEAT BELT. BY PULLING ON IT, THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT WRAPPED AROUND HER LEG AND LOCKED INTO POSITION. THE GRANDDAUGHTER COULD NOT GET IT OFF HER LEG. THERE WAS NO LEVERAGE TO PULL HER LEG OUT AND THE FURTHER THE BELT WENT DOWN HER LEG, THE TIGHTER THE BELT BECAME. THE SEAT BELT BEGAN TO CUT OFF HER CIRCULATION. THE CONTACT WEDGED HER FINGER BETWEEN THE GRANDDAUGHTER'S LEG AND THE SEAT BELT TO RELIEVE PRESSURE. IN THE END, THE CONTACT CUT THE SEAT BELT WITH A PAIR OF SCISSORS. THE SEAT BELT SNAPPED BACK QUICKLY AND NOW IT IS FIRMLY STUCK INSIDE OF THE SEAT. THE CONTACT ASKED FORD WHY THIS HAPPENED, BUT RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. SHE STATED THAT AN APPOINTMENT WILL BE MADE FOR HER AT THE DEALER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT HAS NEVER BEEN USED AND THAT HER GRANDDAUGHTER WAS NOT SEATED IN THE MIDDLE SEAT. HER MAIN CONCERN IS NOT HOW HER GRANDDAUGHTER BECAME ENTANGLED IN THE SEAT BELT, BUT WHY THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LOOSEN WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE THE BELT. THE ENGINE SIZE AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 22,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT DID NOT DEPRESS THE BRAKES AND THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE STRUCK A GUARD RAIL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WAS A RECENT TIRE ROTATION PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AND AAA AND THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE LUG NUTS WERE STRIPPED. THE CONTACT HAS A POLICE REPORT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 97,000.

ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, MY DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING HER FORD FOCUS. SHE SMASHED THE CAR INTO A CEMENT BARRIER, SPUN AROUND AND SMASHED THE BACK OF THE CAR INTO THE BARRIER AND THEN SPUN AROUND AGAIN AND SMASHED THE FRONT INTO THE BARRIER AGAIN. THE CAR IS CONSIDERED TOTALED BY THE INSURER. THIS FORD FOCUS IS EQUIPPED WITH AIR BAGS. THESE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. FORTUNATELY, MY DAUGHTER AND HER PASSENGER WERE NOT SERIOUSLY HURT. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIR BAGS NOT WORKING. *NM

I HAD A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH A CAR THAT SHOT OUT OF A SIDE STREET DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. THE FRONT OF MY CAR HIT THE SIDE OF HIS VAN. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. MY RIGHT KNEE CAP WAS FRACTURED. THIS WAS A RENTAL CAR FROM ENTERPRISE. *NM

VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON THE ROAD DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FLIP OVER TWICE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

MASSIVE HEAD ON COLLISION OF A 2004 FORD FOCUS FAILED TO DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS. *JB

WAS INVOLVED IN REAR-ENDING A CHEVROLET IMPALA STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS GOING 55-60 MPH AND HIT THE BRAKES AT THE LAST SECOND. AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED AND HAD $7000-8000 WORTH OF FRONT END DAMAGE. THE ONLY THING I SUFFERED FROM WAS WHIPLASH. *TR