1998 Ford Escort Airbags Problems

MY SON WAS DRIVING MY 1998 FORD ESCORT LX ON A 35 MPH ROAD WHEN THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF HIM SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES. MY SON IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO STOP THE CAR, BUT HE REAR-ENDED THE OTHER CAR BEFORE HE COULD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. DURING THE IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK IN PLACE AND THE DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY - ALLOWING MY SON'S UPPER BODY TO CONTINUE FORWARD UNTIL HIS FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE LAP BELT FUNCTIONED PROPERLY, HOLDING MY SON'S LOWER BODY IN PLACE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10247134

Incident

Oct 24, 2008

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD ESCORT. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS, BUT THAT DID NOT PREVENT THEM FROM BEING THROWN TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND INJURED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND FACE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS PARTIALLY DESTROYED AND THE FRONT BUMPER, BUMPER SUPPORT, RADIATOR AND SUPPORT, AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSER, AND POWER STEERING RESERVOIR WERE DAMAGED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 81,756.

NHTSA ID

10239844

Incident

Aug 1, 2008

Mileage

81,756 mi

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED HORN HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY SINCE SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 31,000 MILES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE AIRBAG WAS DEFECTIVE , AND THAT ITWAS CAUSING THE HORN NOT TO WORK. THE HORN HAS BEEN REPLACED, BUT IT STILL DID NOT WORK. THE CONTACT STATED THE HORN WOULD JUST COME ON AND WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE CIRCUIT BREAKER A FEW WEEKS AGO, BUT NOW THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF. THE DEALER CHECKED THE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT HAD A LEAK IN THE FIREWALL. THE CONTACT HAD THE LEAK REPAIRED FOUR TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10177182

Incident

Nov 1, 1998

DT: THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. WHEN THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED IT CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO BE SEVERALLY BURNED. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY COMPLETELY. THIS OCCURRED ON AUGUST 3, 2004. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT A POST. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. SHE NO LONGER HAS THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT HELP THE CONSUMER. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10137979

Incident

Aug 3, 2004

DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE 1998 FORD ESCORT CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POLE. THE DRIVER HIT THE POLE AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND BROKE. THE INSIDE OF THE AIR BAG SPRAYED THE CHEMICALS ON THE DRIVER, THE CHEMICALS BURNT HER HANDS AND ARM. SHE SAID THAT SHE COULD NOT FIND A LAWYER IN HER TOWN TO TAKE CASE. THE LAWYERS AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY WERE WORKING TOGETHER AGAINST HER. SHE SAID THAT SHE HAD A BOIL ON HER HAND AND A BRUISE ON HER CHEST. THE CONSUMER HAS PICTURES OF THE AIR BAG. SHE WANTED SOMEONE TO REIMBURSE HER FOR THE CAR BECAUSE SHE LIVED IN LOW INCOME HOUSING. SHE SAID VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND THE JUNK DEALER CAME AND GOT IT. AND SHE DID NOT GET PAID FOR IT. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10133304

Incident

Aug 3, 2004

Mileage

90,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10115186

Incident

Mar 10, 2005

WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE HYDRO PLANED , AND THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, SMASHING INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER REFUSED MEDICAL ATTENTION ON THE SCENE, BUT WENT TO THE HOSPITAL LATER THAT DAY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10111174

Incident

Feb 8, 2005

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAGS. OWNER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND HIT A PARKED VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10107080

Incident

Oct 30, 2004

Mileage

110,000 mi

AFTER STRIKING A VEHICLE IN FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. HOWEVER, NO RESPONSE WAS RECEIVED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10094528

Incident

Aug 9, 2004

WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH ON A GRAVEL ROAD CONSUMER MADE AN MADE A RIGHT TURN AND VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROAD INTO A GUARD RAIL. THIS CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10071706

ON DECEMBER, 17TH, IN THE EVENING, MY HUSBAND WAS ON ROUTE 20, IN MARLBOROUGH, MA. HE HAD MADE A WRONG TURN AND WAS GOING 2 MPH, DOING A K-TURN, WHEN BOTH THE AIRBAGS IN HIS 1998 FORD ESCORT INFLATED. HE HAS A STANDARD SHIFT CAR. AT THE TIME OF THE FAULTY INFLATION, AS HE WAS STRUCK BY THE AIRBAG IN THE HEAD, HIS FEET CAME OFF THE PEDALS AND THE CAR STALLED, ROLLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HITTING A CURB. WE ARE VERY LUCKY THAT HE WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THESE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. HAD HE NOT MADE THE WRONG TURN, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY. AT A SPEED OF 65 MPH ON ROUTE 495, I DON'T BELIEVE HIS OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN SO GOOD, AFTER THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. HE SUFFERS STILL FROM NECK AND BACK PAIN FROM THE INCIDENT. THE IMPORTANT POINT TO NOTE HERE IS THAT HE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. THE AIRBAGS JUST DEPLOYED ON THEIR OWN, WHILE HE WAS DRIVING. WE CALLED FORD THE NEXT DAY TO REPORT THIS. THEY SAID THAT SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT US WITHIN 7-10 DAYS. TWO AND A HALF WEEKS WENT BY, AND NO ONE CALLED. MY HUSBAND CALLED FORD AGAIN. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. MY HUSBAND THEN CALLED OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER. A REGIONAL REP. WAS GOING TO BE AT THAT LOCATION THE FOLLOWING DAY. HE CALLED US, STATING THAT WITHIN A FEW DAYS FORD WOULD BE IN CONTACT WITH US. A FEW DAYS WENT BY, AND HE TOLD US THAT THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO, WE HAD TO FILE CERTAIN PAPERWORK FIRST BEFORE FORD WOULD TALK TO US. THE PAPERWORK ARRIVED THE NEXT DAY. IT REQUESTS SUCH THINGS AS "COMPLETE HISTORY OF OIL CHANGES AND ANY WORK PERFORMED ON THE CAR". IT IS A GENERIC FORM, NOT APPLICABLE TO FAULTY AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I AM WRITING TO YOU BECAUSE I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THEIR LACK OF CARING ABOUT CONSUMER PROTECTION. WHAT FORD SHOULD HAVE DONE, WAS TO IMMEDIATELY TAKE POSSESSION OF THE CAR FOR AS LONG AS THEY NEEDED TO FIND OUT WHY THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. FORD APPARENTLY HAS NO INTEREST IN ASSESSING THE REASON FOR THE FAULTY AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *CB

NHTSA ID

10054234

Incident

Dec 17, 2003

Mileage

104,300 mi

WHILE SWERVING TO AVOID HITTING AN ANIMAL REAR END FAILED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE COLLIDED INTO A TREE, THEN FLIPPED, AND LANDED ON ALL FOUR TIRES. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10053617

Incident

Nov 29, 2003

Mileage

55,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION YET NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10020322

Incident

May 26, 2000

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH IN A FRONTAL COLLISON THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY ON IMPACT, CAUSING INJURIES TO THE DRIVER UPON VEHICLE IMPACT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

NHTSA ID

8023341

Incident

Nov 18, 2002

CONSUMER STATES WHILE SHE WAS SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT, ANOTHER AUTO HIT HER FROM BEHIND, CAUSING THE BACK END OF THE AUTO TO COME IN THE FRONT SEAT. SHE STATES HER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SHE WAS TOLD THAT BY AN INVESTIGATOR THAT AN IMPACT OF THAT MAGNITUDE THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. SHE AND HER PASSENGER WERE INJURIED. TS

NHTSA ID

8021094

Incident

Aug 30, 2002

CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB

NHTSA ID

8021041

Incident

Oct 9, 2002

CONSUMER STATES INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 50 MPH. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 70 MPH. THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. MR

NHTSA ID

8020701

Incident

Aug 19, 2002

VEHICLE HIT A TREE AT 45 MPH AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER HIT HEAD ON WINDSHIELD AND BROKE ARM. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN.*AK

NHTSA ID

8018474

Incident

Sep 2, 2002

THIS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A 35 MPH COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE OF SIMILAR SIZE AND SUSTAINED MASSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE HOWEVER NEITHER AIRBAG IN THIS VEHICLE DEPLOYED.*AK

NHTSA ID

761051

Incident

Apr 20, 2002

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, HITTING A POLE AT 45 MPH, UPON IMPACT DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK THERE WAS ONE INJURY. *YD

NHTSA ID

8004386

Incident

Feb 20, 2002

WAS TRAVELING 35-40MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE TURNED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AND WAS HIT HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. NO INJURIES OR EMERGENCY ROOM TREATMENT. WENT TO DEALER LATER.*AK

NHTSA ID

887206

Incident

Mar 28, 2001

CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, AND WAS FORCED INTO A VEHICLE AHEAD OF HER. AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

883572

Incident

Mar 13, 2001

VEHICLE HIT POLE HEAD-ON AT 30 MPH, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, $ AMOUNT OF DAMAGE UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID

883037

Incident

Mar 11, 2001

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY A CHAIN REACTION MULTIPLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT OCCURRED, AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS ONLY OCCUPANT, AND SHE SUSTAINED MODERATE/SEVERE INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ID

881705

Incident

Feb 22, 2001

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45MPH ON DRY ROADS ANOTHER VEHICLE CUT IN FRONT TRYING NOT TO HIT VEHICLE. CONSUMER HIT TWO PARKED CARS INSTEAD. AIRBAGS IN FRONT DIDN'T DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER REFERRED CONSUEMR TO A FORD DEALER. VEHICLE HAS A FUEL INJECTION SWITCH THAT CUT VEHICLE OFF. VEHICLE STARTED BACK UP. *AK

NHTSA ID

881512

Incident

Feb 24, 2001