2006 Ford Focus Airbags Problems

My sister was driving my 2006 Ford Focus along a highway. Out of nowhere, the airbag in the side of the driver's seat deployed. This was the only airbag that deployed. The airbag deployed into the side of my sister emitting a white smoke or powder substance. She saw black from the trauma of the airbag impact. She was able to then gain control of the vehicle as no other vehicles were around. She got into the emergency lane and slowly made her way to the offramp then into a gravel parking lot. She then called her daughter to pick her up, who then took her to the ER. She was not thinking clearly or she would have called an ambulance. My husband took off work and took our car dolly and towed the vehicle to our house. My sister was diagnosed with head trauma, concussion, and whiplash. She has since been to her primary doctor who is following her care now. My sister now has ongoing foggy head, headaches, slower reactions, pain going down her leg and arm and dizziness. We have made contact with Ford and made a complaint, giving a case number and told they would contact me with 15 business days. As of today, no one has contacted us, so my sister called Ford and basically had to file another complaint, given a second case number, then told her for me to file a report with my insurance company and take the vehicle to Ford to have the airbags inspected. I immediately called my insurance company and am waiting for the adjuster to call me today. I was informed due to the price of a new airbag and the year of my Focus, it will likely be totaled. I will have the car towed to Ted Russell Ford in Knoxville as soon as I am told how to proceed with the towing by the adjuster.

NHTSA ID

11723254

Incident

Feb 10, 2026

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYED ON AFTER CAR WAS PARKED AND THEN STARTED. ENGINE STARTED, AND THE AIR BAG SRS LIGHT CAME ON AS PART OF SELF TEST, WENT OFF FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS, CAME BACK ON THEN STAYED ON. CAR WAS NEVER IN A SIGNIFICANT ACCIDENT. ONLY ACCIDENT WAS SCRATCHED BUMPER FROM SIDESWIPE WHEN VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. CHECKED UNDER AND AROUND 2 FRONT SEATS FOR DEBRIS PER OWNER'S MANUAL. ALL OK WITH INSPECTION. LATCHED AND UNLATCHED SEAT BELTS (DR AND PASS), PULLED AND RETRACTED SEAT BELTS. NO CHANGE, AIR BAG LIGHT STILL ON.

NHTSA ID

11317983

Incident

Mar 12, 2020

Mileage

86,000 mi

" TAKATA RECALL " DON'T FEEL SAFETY AFTER GOT AIRBAG RECALL NOTICE.FEEL IN SHOCK SOMETHING COULD HAPPEN TO ME AND MY FAMILY.

NHTSA ID

11064273

Incident

Jan 21, 2018

CABIN FILTER - FILTER IS EXCLUDED IN THIS MODEL OF VEHICLE. ELECTRIC WINDOWS NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY . AIRBAG- WAS NEVER INSPECTED BY DEALER

NHTSA ID

11060915

Incident

Jan 1, 2006

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS NO MANUFACTURER AIR BAG RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10981717

Incident

Mar 1, 2017

PURCHASED NEW, HAVE HAD IN TO FORD DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES FOR AIR BAG LIGHT ON BOTH ON CLUSTER AND ON DASH. FORD DID WHAT AMOUNTED TO TEMP FIX 3 TIMES, I MOVED LATER PAID NEARLY $1OOO TO REPLACE PARTS. FIX LASTED FEW WEEKS. LIGHT OUT RIGHT NOW BUT ONE OR BOTH LIGHTS COME ON AND STAY ON ABOUT EVERY OTHER WEEK. FORD HAS BEEN USELESS AS TO PERMANENT FIX. HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH FORD F-250 BUT WITH ENGINE. MOVING OR STOPPED SOMEONE IN BOTH SEATS OR NOT IT KEEPS HAPPENING.

NHTSA ID

10944952

Incident

Jul 3, 2008

Mileage

4,300 mi

THE AIRBAG SAFETY LIGHT INDICATOR IS 'ON' ON THE DASH BOARD. I AM AFRAID OF A FRONT END ACCIDENT AND NOT HAVE THE AIRBAG WORK. ALSO, THE WIPERS SCRAPE OR SKIP ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. BOTH THE WINDSHIELD AND BLADES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE SKIPPING CONTINUES NO MATTER THE AMOUNT OF WATER ON THE WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA ID

10871202

Incident

Mar 1, 2013

Mileage

65,000 mi

THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE.

NHTSA ID

10825700

Incident

Feb 10, 2016

Mileage

199,700 mi

VEHICLE SLID ON BLACK ICE, UP AN EMBANKMENT AND INTO A UTILITY POLE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. OPERATOR WAS WEARING SEATBELT, STRUCK FOREHEAD ON STEERING WHEEL SUSTAINING A LACERATION THAT REQUIRED 20 STITCHES. OPERATOR WAS TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE, WHERE HE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY PUT ON A VENTILATOR BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE BLEEDING IN THE BRAIN. OPERATOR, THANKFULLY MADE A FULL RECOVERY, BUT WILL BE PERMANENTLY SCARRED.

NHTSA ID

10824965

Incident

Jan 8, 2016

Mileage

178,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 3/31/15*CN

NHTSA ID

10680016

Incident

Jan 30, 2013

Mileage

70,000 mi

THE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF ON THE CLUSTER BUT GOES OFF ON THE DASH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10663517

Incident

Dec 11, 2014

Mileage

125,000 mi

2006 FORD FOCUS WAS INVOLVED IN A TWO CAR ACCIDENT WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH. A LARGE PICKUP TRUCK PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF THE FORD FOCUS, AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED (NO ONE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT), BUT DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES OF THE LEFT EYE INCLUDING ABRASIONS, BURNS, BRUISING, AND SWELLING/INFLAMMATION AFTER HITTING A HARD SURFACE. DRIVER REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. IT IS SUSPECTED THAT THERE WAS A DELAYED DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG WHICH RESULTED IN THE INJURIES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10663325

Incident

Dec 6, 2014

Mileage

137,000 mi

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON AT ALL TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10660213

Incident

Nov 4, 2010

A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME HITTING THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE, THEN PUSHED INTO ONCOMING LANE (STOPPED CAR) THE WHOLE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS DESTROYED. MY CAR WAS TOTALED. THE ONLY AIR BAG TO GO OFF WAS THE DRIVERS AIR BAG (MINE.) I HAD MY SISTER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT & MY BROTHER IN THE BACK SEAT RIGHT SIDE. THE MAIN POINT OF CONTACT WAS THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE, MAINLY WHERE THE TIRE WAS. I STRONGLY FEEL AT LEAST THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE WENT OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10632649

Incident

Sep 12, 2014

I AM REPORTING ONLY THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT I HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING ON THIS CAR. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THE 4TH CLOCK SPRING IN UNDER 80000 MILES INSTALLED! I BELIEVE THE FIRST WAS REPLACED WITH UNDER 20,000 MILES ON THE CAR. THIS IS CONCERNING, BECAUSE OF THE SRS SYSTEM RELIANCE ON A RELIABLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION WITH THE CLOCK SPRING. A LETTER TO FORD HAS GONE WITHOUT RESPONSE. THIS IS AN OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE PART IN EITHER DESIGN OR MANUFACTURE. IN ALL OF THE TIME I HAVE BEEN DRIVING, WHICH IS 30+ YEARS, I HAVE NEVER NEEDED TO REPLACE A CLOCK SPRING ON ANY VEHICLE I EVER OWNED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10615512

Incident

Jul 1, 2014

Mileage

75,000 mi

1ST TIME, 08/21/2008, 35950, AIR BAG FAILURE OF DRIVERS SIDE, BILL SUMMERS FORD OF NORTH PLATTE FIXED. 2ND TIME APPROX. 09/2011AT 49000 MILES DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG FAILURE AND BILL SUMMERS FORD FIXED IT AGAIN 3RD TIME AT APPROXIMATELY 90,000 MILES DRIVERS AIR BAG WARNING IS ON AGAIN OF DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG FAILURE. I DON'T BELIEVE SAFETY FEATURES SUCH AS AIRBAGS SHOULD BE AN ONGOING MAINTENANCE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10575675

Incident

Mar 15, 2014

Mileage

90,400 mi

I CHOSE 'CRASH' ABOVE ONLY BECAUSE THERE WAS CONTACT BETWEEN TWO VEHICLES. AT A RED LIGHT, THE FOCUS ROLLED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT AT NO MORE THAN 3-5 MPH. AIR BAG DEPLOYED, SEAT BELTS LOCKED. ZERO DAMAGE TO EITHER VEHICLE, EXCEPT SMALL DENT TO THE LICENSE PLATE, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY BODY SHOP. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THEY ARE ALSO CONFUSED AS TO WHY IT DEPLOYED. ESTIMATE TO REPAIR IS $1800. IS THIS NORMAL? IS THIS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE 2006 FOCUS? *TR

NHTSA ID

10543805

Incident

Sep 15, 2013

Mileage

176,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THE AIR BAGS AND THAT THEY SHOULD ONLY HAVE DEPLOYED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS LATER CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 54,000.

NHTSA ID

10486458

Incident

Nov 21, 2012

Mileage

54,000 mi

ON SUNDAY JULY 15, 2012 I WAS IN AUTO ACCIDENT IN WHICH CAR ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES ON THE INTERSTATE SLIDE DOWN INTERSTATE AND LANDED UPSIDE DOWN I HAD TO CLIMB OUT THRU DRIVER SIDE WINDOW TO EXIT CAR. THE DRIVER NOR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN THE CAR. SUFFERED LIGAMENT DAMAGE IN NECK FROM SEAT BELT AND WHIPLASH BURN MARK ON LEFT ARM FROM SPARKS FLYING OFF THE CAR, AND BAD CONTUSIONS TO LUNGS FROM CHEST HITTING STEERING WHEEL. CONTACTING FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO FILE CLAIM NO RESPONSE FROM THEM EVEN THO THEY WERE SUBMITTED PHOTOS OF PROOF THAT AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY ETC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10479747

Incident

Jul 15, 2012

Mileage

127,185 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, SHE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A VEHICLE THAT WAS STOPPED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT BECAME LOOSE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 148,000.

NHTSA ID

10447022

Incident

Jan 27, 2012

Mileage

148,000 mi

I PURCHASED 2006 FORD FOCUS ZX3 IN MAY OF 2006. IT WAS A BRAND NEW CAR WITH ONLY 8 MILES ON IT. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR IT WAS VERY LOUD AND ROUGH. I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS NEW AND NEEDED SOME TIME TO BE DRIVEN. AFTER THREE AND HALF YEARS NOTHING HAS CHANGED. I CALLED FORD COMPANYAND WAS TOLD TO TAKE IT TO FORD DEALER. (I TOOK IT TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I ALSO STATED THAT IT STOPS SHIFTING INTO 4TH GEAR AND WILL NOT SHIFT UP IF I HAVE TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY. THE DEALER INFO: FORD BREDEMANN 2038 WAUKEGAN ROAD GLENVIEW, IL 60025 (847) 510-5585). I LEFT THE CAR FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND WHEN I CAME TO PICK IT UP I WAS TOLD THAT ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WERE ON GOOD CONDITION. THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE CHANGED LIKE TIRES..ETC.. HOWEVER, I HAVE HAD INSTANCES ON THE ROAD WHERE I ALMOST COULD HAVE ENDED UP KILLED JUST BECAUSE THE CAR WONT ACCELERATE. IT HAPPENED TO ME ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO. 2ND PROBLEM IS STEERING WHEEL. IT IS SO STIFF THAT ITS HARD TO TURN IT LEFT AND RIGHT. I FEEL LIKE IT IS SO UNSAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE THIS CAR..NOT JUST UNSAFE FOR ME BUT FOR OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD WAS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10437315

Incident

Oct 19, 2010

RE: 2006 FORD FOCUS ZX4 - IN MARCH 2011, AS I WAS DRIVING HOME UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAG THAT IS LOCATED IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER. I WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT, DID NOT HIT A POTHOLE, RUN OVER ANYTHING, OR STOP SUDDENLY. THE DEPLOYMENT CAUSED TEMPORARY HEARING LOSS IN MY LEFT EAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND BRUISING TO MY BACK/SHOULDER AREA FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG ALSO CRACKED A SECTION OF THE INSIDE OF MY CAR THAT HOUSES THE SEATBELT. WHEN THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, IT ALSO RIPPED APART THE UPHOLSTERY ON THE ENTIRE LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT, SINCE THAT'S WHERE IT WAS LOCATED. THE NOISE AND JOLT OF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYING CAUSED ME TO SWERVE ON THE ROAD, BUT LUCKILY I DID NOT GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. THE WARRANTY ON MY CAR IS EXPIRED AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG OR REPAIR THE DRIVER'S SEAT, SO NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10408793

Incident

Mar 18, 2011

Mileage

53,000 mi

I HAVE A 2006 FORD FOCUS WITH APROX 65,000 MILEAGE. RECENTLY, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON OCCASIONALLY, MORE OFTEN AND FOR MORE LENGTHY PERIODS MORE RECENTLY. IT SEEMS TO MATCH THE ISSUES OF NEW FORD PICKUP TRUCK RECALL IN WHICH AIRBAGS DEPLOY WITHOUT NOTICE OR CAUSE - RESULTING APPARENTLY FROM FRAYED/SHORTED SENSOR WIRES - PRECEDED BY ILLUMINATION OF AIRBAG DASHBOARD INDICATOR, AS OCCURS IN MY 2006 FORD FOCUS. IS THERE CAUSE FOR CONCERN WITH MY FAMILY'S USE OF THIS CAR? THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10395892

Incident

Apr 5, 2011

Mileage

65,000 mi

INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT. VEHICLE PULLED OUT INTO MY PATH OF TRAVEL AND I WAS FORCED TO HIT THEIR VEHICLE HEAD ON AT 50 MPH. AFTER THE INITIAL IMPACT I SPUN AROUND AND OUR VEHICLES HIT AGAIN ON THE REAR QUARTER PANELS. NO AIR BAGS IN MY VEHICLE EVER DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10373954

Incident

Dec 26, 2010

Mileage

80,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON I-75 AND FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER THE PASSENGER SIDE, SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG WENT OFF CAUSING THE CABIN TO FILL WITH SMOKE AND THE PASSENGER HAVE A SORE SHOULDER. WE WERE NOT IN A CRASH, DID NOT HIT A POT HOLE, ANIMAL, BUMP OR HAVE ANYTHING HAPPEN TO THE CAR. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SAID BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING AND TO TURN IT INTO INSURANCE. THE CAR HAS 69,500 MILES ON IT AND SHOULDN'T MATTER IF IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE BECAUSE AN AIRBAG SHOULD NEVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE GO OFF UNLESS YOUR IN A CRASH. INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER THE PROBLEM. CAR IS AT DEALERSHIP GETTING AN ESTIMATE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10361453

Incident

Oct 17, 2010

Mileage

69,500 mi