1997 Ford F-150 Airbags Problems

I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK THE MORNING BEFORE THANKSGIVING. I SHIFTED FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR AND THE BACK TIRES HIT A PATCH OF WATER AND I STARTED FISHTAILING. I WENT OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A PATCH OF OAK TREES. ONE HEAD ON. ON IMPACT, THE SEATBELT DID NOT RETRACT AND I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL, THE DASH BROKE APART AND THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN MOVED WITH ME AND I HIT THE WINDSHIELD. AFTER HITTING THE WINDSHIELD, THEN THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. WHEN THE DASH BROKE APART FROM THE STEERING COLUMN MOVING, IT CUT MY SHIN WHICH REQUIRED STITCHES. MY KNEE HIT AROUND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE RELEASE WHICH DROVE MY FEMUR INTO MY HIP FRACTURING IT IN 3 PLACES WHICH REQUIRED 3 TITANIUM PLATES AND SCREWS. I HAD AN OPEN FRACTURE ON MY ARM WHICH WAS THE HEAD OF MY RADIUS (ELBOW) BROKEN OFF WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH MORE TITANIUM PLATES AND SCREWS. I BROKE THE ORBIT OVER MY LEFT EYE AND SINUS CAVITIES BEHIND IT. I HAD STITCHES AND STAPLES IN MY FOREHEAD THAT WILL NOW LEAVE ME A SCAR FOR LIFE. I SPENT 15 DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL, I'VE MISSED A MONTH AND A HALF FROM WORK AND DON'T KNOW WHEN I CAN GO BACK, ACCUMULATED OVER$80,000.00 IN MEDICAL BILLS, AND I'M STILL IN A WHEELCHAIR. ALL OF THESE INJURIES ARE DUE TO FAULTY SEATBELTS AND AIRBAGS IN A FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW BY MY FATHER AND HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT SINCE IT WAS BOUGHT IN 1997. I WORK AS A RECEPTIONIST AND OFFICE MANAGER FOR A DOCTOR'S OFFICE. MY FACE IS THE FIRST ONE SEEN WHEN PATIENTS COME THROUGH THE DOOR. NOW, IT'S MANGLED AND SCARRED FOR LIFE.

NHTSA ID

11297409

Incident

Nov 27, 2019

Mileage

104,000 mi

I WAS IN A WRECK TRAVELING 25 MO MAKING A TURN TO HEAD WEST AND I COLLIDED WITH A SIMI AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL I WAS TOLD BUT EMTS THAT THE WERE SHOCK THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLY THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE.

NHTSA ID

11103487

Incident

Jun 16, 2018

Mileage

158,608 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN ON THE VEHICLE DID NOT SOUND AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,000.

NHTSA ID

10790607

Incident

Aug 3, 2015

Mileage

186,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED AT NIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 300,000. UPDATED 09/21/15*LJ UPDATED 11/27/2017*CN

NHTSA ID

10734452

Incident

Apr 29, 2015

Mileage

300,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN HE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO AVOID A CRASH AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WITH THE IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUFFERED FROM TWO FRACTURED VERTEBRATES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10568540

Incident

Feb 23, 2014

Mileage

180,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 8 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. NEITHER THE DRIVER'S SIDE NOR THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ID

10553471

Incident

Nov 22, 2013

Mileage

170,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT OPERATING WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. THE DEALER WAS CONTACT WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,000. UPDATED 12/5/12 *CN THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT, DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE.

NHTSA ID

10481576

Incident

Oct 12, 2012

Mileage

35 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN HE CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 12/16/11 *BF UPDATED 12/23/11

NHTSA ID

10434103

Incident

Sep 1, 2011

WHILE DRIVING THE TWO FRONT AIR BAGS UNINTENTIONALLY DEPLOYED. NO CRASH, NO SPEED BUMP. JUST NORMAL DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THEY WENT OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10328029

Incident

Apr 28, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH IN A RAINSTORM, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AFTER THE RAIN STOPPED. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE GEM MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND REINSTALLED THE GEM MODULE, AS WELL AS INSTALLED A NEW IGNITION SWITCH. THE WIPERS FAILED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE GEM MODULE HE INSTALLED FROM FORD WAS DEFECTIVE. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, INCLUDING THE AIR BAG LIGHT. THE MECHANIC CANNOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND DETERMINE IF THE AIR BAGS WORK. PRIOR TO THE GEM MODULE FAILURE, SEVERAL COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE. AT 30,000 MILES, THE ENGINE WAS REBUILT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 125,000.

NHTSA ID

10272802

Incident

May 7, 2009

Mileage

125,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH ON 15-501 HIGHWAY ON ROUTE TO UNC HOSPITAL. WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY TRUCK WENT TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL FOR NO REASON AND MY THEN 4 YR OLD AND I HAD A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED. WE WERE BOTH IN SEAT BELTS. SHE WAS BELTED IN HER CAR SEAT IN THE BACK AND I IN THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE UPSIDE DOWN THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED! WE WERE THOUGHT TO BE DEAD AT FIRST UNTIL MY DAUGHTER STARTED CRYING. WE WERE RUSHED TO UNC HOSPITAL IN CHAPEL HILL FOR CUTS AND CONTUSIONS. AT THAT TIME, I HAD NO MAJOR PAIN, BUT NOW, I CAN HARDLY WALK SOMETIMES BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE TRUCK LANDED IN THE EMBANKMENT UPSIDE DOWN HANGING TWISTED IN MY SEAT BELT .WE WERE LUCKY NOT TO HAVE DIED BUT NOW AFTER 3 YEARS I AM IN CONSTANT LEG, HIP AND BACK PAIN THAT I KNOW WAS DUE TO THIS ACCIDENT. NOW WHAT? MY LEGS GO NUMB ALL THE TIME AND I CANNOT EVEN BEND MY BACK HALF THE TIME DUE TO THIS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10161617

Incident

Apr 9, 2003

Mileage

67,000 mi

DT: ON JULY 2 2005 WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE THROTTLE CABLE BROKE. THE OWNER WAS COMING DOWN A TWO LANE HIGHWAY. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE ACCELERATOR WASN'T BEING PUSHED, THE CRUISE CONTROL WASN'T ON, AND THE VEHICLE WAS SPEEDING ON ITS OWN. THE CONSUMER ENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE, WHILE GOING 50-55 MPH. AFTER ENGAGING THE PARKING BRAKE, THE TRUCK TOOK ABOUT 3/4 OF A MILE TO COME A STOP. THE VEHICLE FINALLY HIT AN OAK TREE AND STOPPED AND NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE OWNER'S WIFE WAS INJURED WITH UPPER NECK AND BACK. INJURIES. THE OWNER''S DAUGHTER WAS BRUISED ON THE FACE. THE VEHICLE DIDN'T COME IN CONTACT WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLES. THERE WAS NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATOR STICKING BEFORE. FORD REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALLS ABOUT THIS. THE OWNER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE OWNER HAS TO REPLACE THE BRAKES AND THROTTLE CABLE. INSURANCE WILL PAY FOR REPAIRS TO THE BODY. ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE THE CRASH, THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE OXYGEN SENSOR. THAT WARNING LIGHT STAYED ON ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE REPAIR. AT THIS TIME OWNER IS WAITING FOR THE REPAIR WORK TO BE COMPLETED. OWNER STATED THAT DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A THROTTLE CABLE HOUSING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10129889

Incident

Jul 2, 2005

Mileage

137,000 mi

DT: I OWN A FORD F150 AND I WAS HIT, AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. I WAS HIT IN THE DRIVERS' SIDE FRONT FENDER SIDE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10124359

Incident

Mar 30, 2005

Mileage

83,000 mi

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AT ABOUT 25 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. OWNER WILL CONTACT MANUFACTURER.*AK

NHTSA ID

10111050

Incident

Jan 24, 2005

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH CONSUMER'S HIT A FENCE POLE TO AVOID HITTING A DEER. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10105161

Incident

Dec 8, 2004

Mileage

214,000 mi

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH AND WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*AK

NHTSA ID

10099796

Incident

Nov 10, 2004

Mileage

147,000 mi

1997 FORD F150 IN ACCIDENT, FRONT COLLISION WITH ROAD SIGN AT 65 MPH, THEN ROLLING OVER SEVERAL TIMES AND LANDING ON ITS TOP. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10062309

Incident

Sep 10, 2001

CONSUMER FELL ASLEEP WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. VEHICLE CROSSED OVER ONE LANE, BUMPER CAUGHT ON EMBANKMENT, AND ROLLED OVER STARTING WITH FRONT END. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED, DRIVER HIT HIS HEAD ON PASSENGER WINDOW. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10040733

Incident

Sep 20, 2003

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION, AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10029994

HOOD POPS UNLOCKED WHILE DRIVING.SEAT BELTS ON FRONT SEATS DO NOT RETRACT FULLY WHEN UNBUCKLED, HANG ON FLOOR BETWEEN SEAT AND DOOR. UPON OPENING OF DOOR, THE LOOSE BELT LOOP FALLS PAST THE DOOR SEAL AREA AND UPON DOOR CLOSURE BECOMES LODGED BETWEEN DOOR AND JAMB. WHEN VEHICLE RE-ENTRY IS MADE BY DRIVER OR PASSENGER, AND BELT IS PUT ON, A FALSE TENSION IS ACHIEVED BY DOOR JAMB SEAL. THIS LEAVES UP TO 10 TO 14 INCHES OF LOOSE BELT THAT FEELS LIKE IT IS ACTUALLY TENSIONED AS TO PROTECT THE OCCUPANT. THIS LOOSE BELT SLACK CONTINUES AS THE BELT EXTENDS AND RETRACTS IN NORMAL, NON INERTIA LOCKED MODE. ONLY UPON HEAVY BREAKING, OR FORWARD FORCE BY OCCUPANT DOES THE BELT SLIP PAST THE LOWER DOOR JAMB SEAL AND EXTENDS THE BELTS REACH. THIS CAN CAUSE A FATALITY FOR ONE OF THE FOLLOWING FOUR REASONS. FIRST, ON FRONTAL IMPACT, THE BELT ALLOWS THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER TO BE THRUST FORWARD AND EITHER COME INTO UNDUE CONTACT WITH THE DASH OR STEERING WHEEL. SECONDLY, THE FALSELY TENSIONED BELT ALLOWS THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER TO BE PROPELLED TOO CLOSE TO A DEPLOYING FRONT AIRBAG, CAUSING UNDUE FRONTAL CONTACT WITH AIRBAG WHICH CAN RESULT IN INCREASED INJURY OR DEATH. THIRDLY, ON PICKUP TRUCK MODELS EQUIPPED WITH KEY DEACTIVATED FRONT SEATS OCCUPIED BY CHILDREN, THE LOOSENING BELT CAN REACH THE YOUTH PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT RIGHT INTO WINDSHIELD. AND FOURTH, IN PASSENGER PICKUP TRUCK MODELS, WITH THE AIR BAG TURNED OFF BY KEY SWITCH, UNTENSIONED BELT DOES NOT RESTRAIN A BABY / CHILD CAR SEAT, LIKELY CAUSING THE SEAT TO BE RENDERED INEFFICTIVE AND POSSIBLY MORE HAZARDOUS IF IT WERE NOT USED AT ALL.HE BELT ASSEMBLIES MADE FOR FORD BY TRW. THIS CONDITION WAS EVIDENT WHEN VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN YEAR OLD , GOT PROGRESSSIVELY WORSE , FIRST INCIDENT FALL 1997. I WAS FIRST TITLED OWNER, BOUGHT DEMO. ELBOW INJURY IN 2003. I'M A FORMER MI. LIC.MASTER MECHANIC .I HAVE TESTED FOR THIS PROBLEM IN SIMILAR FORD VEHICLES ON USED CAR LOTS AND HAVE OBSERVED SAME EFFECT IN MANY FORD F-150'S. *AK

NHTSA ID

10025664

Incident

Apr 8, 2003

Mileage

98,000 mi

1. THE FRONT ENGINE COVER GASKET ON MY 1997 FORD F-150 WAS DEFECTIVE. THERE WAS A RECALL AT ONE TIME ON THIS PROBLEM BUT WAS CHECKED BY A FORD DEALER AND NOTHING WAS FOUND TO BE WRONG. APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS LATER IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. BECAUSE THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED FORD WOULD NOT REPLACE IT FOR FREE AND SO I HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED AT MY COST OF $600.00. 2. AIR BAGS AND SEAT BELT RESTRAINTS. MY WIFE HAD A WRECK IN THE SAME VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY OR DID THE SEAT BELTS LOCK UP LIKE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO. I TRIED TO GET FORD TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THAT WOULD HAPPEN AND THEY SAID THE INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD HAVE TO HANDLE IT. THE PROBLEM WAS STILL NOT SOLVED. ALSO THE ABS DID NOT WORK. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10018516

Incident

Oct 28, 2002

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 30MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE A SUDDEN STOP IN FRONT. AND THE CONSUMER HIT HIM FROM BEHIND AND THE DUAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

NHTSA ID

10001107

Incident

Dec 14, 2002

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 30MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE A SUDDEN STOP IN FRONT. AND THE CONSUMER HIT HIM FROM BEHIND AND THE DUAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

NHTSA ID

10001106

Incident

Dec 14, 2002

HAD JUST PULLED AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE CENTER OF F150 WITH LEFT FRONT FENDER. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES AND TREATED IN EMERGENCY ROOM. TS

NHTSA ID

8021590

Incident

Oct 11, 2002

CONSUMER STATES OF HAVING THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. MR

NHTSA ID

8021460