2001 Ford Focus Airbags Problems

The front dashboard and steering wheel airbags went off. if I was moving this could’ve ended even worse but luckily I was stopped. My hearing was affected. I was parked at a red light and my airbags went off. I did not hit anything nor was my car moving. Witnesses at a restaurant and auto repair shop say the same. My car had passed that years inspection and there was no signs of this happening. No lights, sounds, anything. It was very sudden.

NHTSA ID

11433112

Incident

Jul 2, 2020

THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG MALFUNCTIONED IN THAT IT DEPLOYED WITHOUT REASON. I WAS DRIVING (IN MOTION) STRAIGHT DOWN A CITY ROAD. IT MADE AN EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE THAT AFFECTED MY HEARING, EXPELLED A LOT OF WHITE POWDER THAT SMELLED BAD, AND TORE UP THE SIDE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WENT ON.

NHTSA ID

10865523

Incident

May 17, 2016

Mileage

156,300 mi

TAKATA AIRBAG DEPLOYED AFTER THE CAR HAD COME TO A STOP. ALI STOPPED TO AVOID HITTING A CAR THAT HAD SUDDENLY BRAKED IN FRONT OF HER. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE CAR IN FRONT HER AS ALI WAS ABLE TO STOP IN TIME, BUT THERE WAS MAJOR DAMAGE TO HER CAR. WHEN THE TAKATA AIRBAG DEPLOYED IT BURNT HER LEFT FOREARM/HAND AND INCURRED $107.00 IN MEDICAL EXPENSES. CALIBER COLLISION SAYS THAT TO REPAIR THE CAR IT WOULD COST ALI $7,639.37.

NHTSA ID

10822599

Incident

Jan 19, 2016

Mileage

68,607 mi

DRIVING FORD FOCUS SLOWLY IN SNOW,A JEEP SPUN OUT OF CONTROL HIT THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT OF CAR SPUN AROUND AND HIT US AGAIN FROM THE REAR.AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND IT MY PASSENGER FULL IN FACE. DAMAGED HER FACE WITH CHEMICAL BURNS AND CREATED A COROIDITAL TEAR IN HER EYE THAT IS PERMANENT AND PERMANENT VISION LOSS IN ONE EYE. THE IMPACT OF THE AIRBAG JARRED HER BRAIN AND SHE NOW HAS A BRAIN INJURY CALLED CHIARI MALFORMATION,

NHTSA ID

10778907

Incident

Dec 31, 2001

Mileage

20,000 mi

ON 5/2/15 DURING A COLLISION WHERE MY CLIENT STUCK ANOTHER DRIVER THAT FAILED TO YIELD AND RAN A STOP SIGN, THE AIRBAG INSIDE MY CLIENT'S 2001 FORD FOCUS DEPLOYED. DURING ITS DEPLOYMENT IT BURNED THE RIGHT VOLAR (INSIDE) FOREARM OF MY CLIENT, CAUSING A FULL THICKNESS BURN. SHE HAD TO UNDERGO SURGICAL TANGENTIAL EXCISION OF THE BURN AND SKIN GRAFTING, WHERE THEY HARVESTED THE SKIN FROM HER RIGHT THIGH TO HER RIGHT VOLAR FOREARM. THE AIRBAG IS DANGEROUS AS IT CAUSED FULL THICKNESS BURN TO HER SKIN, FOR WHICH SHE IS STILL RECOVERING.

NHTSA ID

10779719

Incident

May 2, 2015

Mileage

155,146 mi

STOPPED IN TRAFFIC FOR REDLIGHT, TRAFFIC STARTED TO MOVE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED AND I REAR ENDED HIM CAUSING AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY AND SMASH WINDSHIELD. WHEN I EXITED THE VEHICLE TO MY SURPRISE THERE WAS NO FRONT END DAMAGE ONLY A SCUFF MARK ON FRONT BUMPER WHERE MY CAR WENT UNDER THE 1991 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS THAT I HIT. RECEIVED A POWDER BURN TO MY LEFT HAND FROM AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. CAR THAT I HIT HAD NO DAMAGE. INSURANCE COMPANY THINKS THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE TO BE TOTALED BECAUSE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. AT HE TIME OF IMPACT I WAS TRAVELING BETWEEN 5 AND 10MPH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10496150

Incident

Feb 1, 2013

Mileage

139,600 mi

MY 16-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING STALL AND MOVING FORWARD TO EXIT THE PARKING AREA. SHE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 10 MPH WHEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. SHE WAS INJURED MOSTLY ON HER RIGHT SIDE FROM THE SEAT BELT AND ALSO BURNS FROM THE AIR BAG ON HER UPPER TORSO AND NECK. BRUISES ON HER LEGS AND VERY, VERY SORE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10481489

Incident

Oct 19, 2012

Mileage

151,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH INTO A PARKING SPACE THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO SHATTER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10456381

Incident

Apr 20, 2012

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, HOWEVER THEY DID NOT OFFERED ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 129,000.

NHTSA ID

10419779

Incident

Apr 11, 2011

Mileage

125,000 mi

IN JULY OF 2010 I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 FORD FOCUS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THE LADY INFRONT OF ME STOPPED, I HAD TURNED FOR A SECOND, WHEN I TURNED BACK I SAW THE AIRBAGS BLOW IN MY FACE. I WAS TRAVELING A MAXIMUM OF 10MPH THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE OTHER VEHICLE OR MINE (FROM THE ACCIDENT). THE DRIVER AIRBAG BURNED MY ARM, THE PASSENGER SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD, GUN POWDER COVERED THE ROOF LINING. THE PARTS MANAGER AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE AIRBAGS WHERE RATED 25-30MPH. I CONTACTED FORD IN AUGUST OF 2010, IN JANUARY OF 2011 THEY FINALLY REPLIED BY SAYING THAT "ALL EQUIPMENT FUNCTIONED PROPERLY." *TR

NHTSA ID

10404347

Incident

Jul 11, 2010

Mileage

35,500 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 FORD FOCUS AND FOR NO REASON THE PASSENGER SEAT SIDE AIR BAG WENT OFF. THE LOUD NOISE SCARED ME AND I ALMOST WRECK THE VEHICLE. MY EARS ARE STILL RINGING FROM THE LOUD BLAST FROM THE AIR BAG WENT OFF. I CHECKED AND FOUND THERE ARE SOME PENDING LAW SUITES FOR THIS SAME OCCURRENCE IN OTHER 2001 FORD FOCUS. I FEEL THE FORD MOTOR CO. NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GET SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10400647

Incident

May 12, 2011

Mileage

90,251 mi

I OWN A 2001 FORD FOCUS. I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON A ROAD NEAR MY HOUSE WHEN I ACCIDENTALLY BUMPED THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME. BOTH MY PASSENGER AND MY DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, SMASHING MY WINDSHIELD! THE OFFICER THAT REPORTED TO THE SCENE SAID THAT THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS GOING FAST ENOUGH FOR THEM TO DEPLOY BECAUSE I HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE TRAFFIC FOR A WHILE AND WE WERE MERELY ROLLING. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF MY CAR OR TO THE BACK OF THE OTHER PERSON'S CAR SO I FEEL THAT THE AIRBAGS PROBABLY SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE OFF. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THIS IS A DEFECT?? *TR

NHTSA ID

10373749

Incident

Dec 30, 2010

Mileage

145,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 16 MPH THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE GLASS FROM THE WINDOW SHATTERED ON THE OCCUPANTS IN THE FRONT SEAT; WHICH CAUSED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 116,000.

NHTSA ID

10285871

Incident

Sep 21, 2009

Mileage

116,000 mi

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 2001 FORD FOCUS SE WAGON APPROXIMATELY 45MPH WHEN SHE DESCRIBED STEERING LOCKED UP IN TURN THEN SHE HEARD TIRES SQUEALING AND VEHICLE JERKED HARD LEFT CAUSING HER TO GO OFF THE ROAD, HIT A ROCK WALL AND FLIPPED THE CAR END OVER END. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SHE LANDED UPSIDE DOWN BUT WAS ABLE TO EXIT VEHICLE THROUGH BROKEN WINDOW. SHE RECEIVED CUTS AND BRUISES AND WAS TAKEN TO EMERGENCY ROOM FOR X-RAYS WHERE THEY SAID SHE HAD NO SERIOUS INJURIES AND WAS RELEASED. ON SCENE INVESTIGATION BY POLICE AND TOW TRUCK OPERATED SUGGESTED BALL JOINT FAILURE OR OTHER STEERING/SUSPENSION FAILURE. CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10267203

Incident

Apr 24, 2009

Mileage

113,000 mi

WE WERE AT A COMPLETE STOP AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND HAS CAUSED SOME INJURY TO MY FACE AND MAY HAVE CAUSE SOME LOSS OF VISION IN MY RIGHT EYE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10229801

Incident

Jun 1, 2008

Mileage

8,200 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED. THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS UNOCCUPIED. THERE WAS NO IMPACT OR WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED DUE TO A CRASH. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 78,871. UPDATED 3/11/08 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO DAMAGE DONE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 03/11/08 *TR

NHTSA ID

10215631

Incident

Jan 16, 2008

Mileage

78,871 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STRUCK A CURB WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE INSURANCE CLAIM ADJUSTER ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT, THE INSURANCE AGENCY LABELED THE VEHICLE AS DESTROYED. FORD MOTOR COMPANY STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL IF ONE WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT WHILE DRIVING 30-40 MPH. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 94,000. UPDATED 02/12/08. *LJ

NHTSA ID

10214764

Incident

Jan 5, 2008

Mileage

94,000 mi

ON MY 2001 FORD FOCUS BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED DURING NORMAL CAR MOVEMENT. NO ANY ACCIDENTS HAPPENED BEFORE, NO VEHICLES OR CURBS INVOLVED, JUST DURING MOVEMENT, FORTUNATELY ON VERY LOW SPEED. BOTH BUMPERS HAS NO ANY TRACKS OF CONTACT WITH SOMETHING. (SIMILAR, LIKE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : PE02026). *TR

NHTSA ID

10214717

Incident

Jan 13, 2008

Mileage

95,925 mi

DEFECT REPORTED BY A PROFESSIONAL TOW COMPANY, THE INDIVIDUAL A CERTIFIED ASE AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN.(VERIFIABLE) SEAT-SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WHILE CRANKING VEHICLE. . FIRST OCCURRENCE: CRANKING VEHICLE ON ROADSIDE. DRIVER'S SEAT-SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYS. SECOND OCCURRENCE: FOLLOWING DAY, CRANKING VEHICLE WITH PASSENGER SEATED IN FRONT. PASSENGER SEAT-SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYS WHILE CRANKING MOTOR.NO COLLISION OR IMPACT INVOLVED NO INJURIES WORTHY OF DOCUMENTING. AIRBAG FAULTS ARE NON-DISPUTABLE UNACCEPTABLE. ANY UNWARRANTED AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT CAN COST LIVES, AND WARRANTS A FULL INVESTIGATION TOWARDS A RECALL FOR INSPECTION, AND/OR REPLACEMENT OF THE FAULT DESIGNED AIRBAG SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10208708

Incident

Nov 11, 2007

Mileage

92,001 mi

I PURCHASED A 2001 FORD FOCUS ON MY WAY TO WORK WHILE PULLING INTO MY PARKING SPACE THE CAR ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY THEN THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. I THEN PULLED ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKES WHICH DID NOT WORK TO IMMEDIATELY STOP THE CAR. I CRASHED HEAD ON INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF THE PARKING SPACE. ALSO, UPON IMPACT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT INFLATE. THE CAR WAS SUPPOSEDLY TO HAVE FRONT AND SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS AND ONE IN THE STEERING WHEN AND NOTHING HAPPENED. MY CHEST WENT STRAIGHT INTO THE STEERING WHEEL SO HARD THERE WAS A CIRCULAR IMPRINT AROUND MY CHEST AND STOMACH. AFTER PEOPLE CAME TO SEE ABOUT ME ONE MAN ASKED IF MY CAR WAS OFF. I SAID YES AND HE POINTED OUT THE CAR STILL LOOKED LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE. THE WHEELS WERE SPINNING FULL FORCE. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP I ONLY HAD IT FOR 3 DAYS AND NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP SAID SINCE THE CAR WAS IN A WRECK IT WAS WORTHLESS TO HIM AND THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO. HE EVEN THREATENED THAT HE WOULD CALL THE POLICE IF MY FAMILY AND MYSELF DID NOT LEAVE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10199801

Incident

Aug 20, 2003

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED IN AN ACCIDENT AND CAUSED BURNS TO THE CONTACT DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE AGENCY AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER. UPDATED 11/30/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10171661

Incident

Sep 10, 2006

Mileage

100,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WITH AN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE AIRBAG CAUGHT THE CONTACT'S SHIRT ON FIRE (INVESTIGATION #EA02017) CAUSING THIRD DEGREE BURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER AFTER THE ACCIDENT, HOWEVER THE INSURANCE COMPANY DECIDED THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND THE DEALER NEVER MADE ANY COMMENTS OR DETERMINATIONS. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. UPDATED 11/09/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10169515

Incident

Aug 25, 2006

Mileage

50,000 mi

2001 FORD FOCUS PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED ALTHOUGH SEAT WAS UNOCCUPIED. *TS ***NAR*** THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER IS PETITIONING THAT ALL VEHICLES SHOULD BE EQUIPPED WITH AN ON-OFF SWITCH TO DEACTIVATE THE AIRBAGS FROM DEPLOYING IF THE SEAT IS UNOCCUPIED. UPDATED 07/20/11

NHTSA ID

10151957

Incident

Feb 1, 2006

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. THIS INCIDENT CAUSED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. BOTH BUMPERS CRACKED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED THAT NO OTHER MECHANIC LOOK AT THE VEHICLE UNTIL THEY DETERMINE WHAT OCCURRED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10146131

Incident

Dec 19, 2005

Mileage

69,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH WHEN HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH HER HEAD, AND WHEN SHE DID SO, THE AIR BAGS THEN DEPLOYED. THE POINT OF IMPACT WAS THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES SINCE SHE WAS WEARING SEAT BELTS. A POLICE AND INSURANCE REPORTS WERE TAKEN. *AK.

NHTSA ID

10141279

Incident

Oct 28, 2005

Mileage

85,000 mi