2002 Ford Windstar Air Bags & Restraints Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

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.

AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHES 7 TIMES THEN STAYS LIT. NEVER TURNS OFF NOW. WOULD COST ABOUT 300 TO 1,000 TO FIX!!!!!!!!!!!!! I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY. FORD NEEDS TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS. IM DRIVING MY KIDS AROUND WITH MY AIRBAG LIGHT ON AND MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ON ALL BECAUSE OF A COMPUTER ISSUE. DON'T FEEL THIS IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR. *TR

PURCHASED VEHICLE JANUARY 2012, PASSENGER FRONT SEAT BELT LATCH WAS BROKEN, I PURCHASED A NEW ONE FROM DEALER FOR $170.48. MARCH 2012, IT BROKE AGAIN WITH SAME PROBLEM. IT DOES NOT LATCH, OR WHEN IT DOES LATCH, IT OPENS ON ITS OWN WITH OR WITHOUT ANYONE IN THE SEAT. DEALER REFUSES TO WARRANTY THE 3 MONTH OLD LATCH, BUT OFFERED TO ORDER ME ANOTHER FOR $170.48 +LABOR WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY FOR IT FIRST. AFTERMARKET DEALERS SAY ITS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2001/2002 WINDSTAR'S AND 2001'S HAD A RECALL ON IT. 27 JUNK YARDS BETWEEN BUFFALO, NY,CLEVELAND, OHIO & PITTSBURG PA ALL HAVE DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT LATCHES IN THEIR 01/02 VANS. SO MY OPTION IS TO EITHER NOT USE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OR PAY $233.43 EVERY 3 MONTHS TO HAVE A NEW LATCH ASSEMBLY INSTALLED. I HAVE PAPERWORK FROM CHAMPION FORD, CONFIRMING THAT THE SEAT BELT IS BROKEN DATED 4/6/2013. BUT THE FEMALE SERVICE WRITER CONVENIENTLY LOST MY PAPER WORK FOR THE ORIGINAL SEAT BELT LATCH FROM 2012. ALSO SEARCHING NET BRINGS UP OVER 23,000 REPORTED ISSUES WITH 2002 WINDSTAR SEAT BELTS. WHY HAS THERE BEEN NO RECALL ON THE 2002 WINDSTAR AS THERE WAS WITH THE 2001. ITS NOT FAIR THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY $233.43 EVERY 3 MONTHS TO THE FORD DEALER TO HAVE A WORKING SEAT BELT. CLEARLY THIS IS A SAFETY AND MANUFACTURING DEFECT.. ITS UNREASONABLE TO MAKE ME DECIDE IF I FEEL SAFER HUNCHED OVER IN MY ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIR IN THE REAR OF MY VAN ONLY BELTED INTO THE WHEELCHAIRS SAFETY BELT HAVING TO HOPE THAT IT DOESN'T FLIP OVER SQUISH ME DURING AN ACCIDENT OR IF I WOULD RATHER BE EJECTED THRU THE FRONT WINDSHIELD!! HOW CAN I BE ASKED TO PUT MY LIFE AT RISK EVERY TIME I GET INTO THE VAN!! I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT SEAT BELTS WERE THE MOST IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE IN A VEHICLE. HOW CAN THIS BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE? I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 FORD WINDSTAR MY AIR BAG WENT OFF. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR AND JUST CROSSED A RAILROAD TRACK. THERE WAS NO COLLISION AND NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE APROX COST TO REPLACE AIRBAGS IS 2000 FORD SAYS THEY CANT DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME. THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHY IT DID IT BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE ABS & BRAKE LIGHT WARNINGS LIGHT UP. HAD ALL RECALLS DONE AND MECHANIC SAID IT WOULD COST AROUND $600.00 TO REPAIR. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE CONTROL MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS CONTINUE TO INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

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. *TR

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.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INDICATOR WOULD NOT DIM ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IF THE INDICATOR REMAINED LIT. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE FOR THE FAILURE; THEREFORE, THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 81,520 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,500. UPDATED 3/16/09 *CN UPDATED 03/18/09.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT FLUID FROM THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH LEAKED ONTO THE AIR BAG MODULE, CAUSING THE AIR BAG TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V399000 (COMPONENT: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL), BUT THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 220,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO IMPACT, CRASH, OR ANY SUDDEN ACTION AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT DROVE HOME AND CALLED THE DEALER. THE DEALER DID NOT OFFER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, BUT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED AND FORD IS REFUSING TO REPAIR IT FOR FREE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,800.

DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT COMES UNDONE BY ITSELF. *JB

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. *JB

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.

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. *JB

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.

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.

BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED PARTIALLY, WHILE DRIVING OVER A RAIL ROAD BETWEEN 10-15 MPH. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NO IMPACT, THEREFORE A SENSOR MUST OF MALFUNCTIONED. THE SENSOR AND BLACK BOX HAS BEEN SENT TO THE FACTORY FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. *NM

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.*AK