1993 Ford Taurus Airbags Problems

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MULTI CAR CRASH AT 30 MPH IN ICY CONDITIONS; HOWEVER THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY NUMEROUS OTHER VEHICLES AND THE VEHICLE WAS IMPACTED ON THE ENTIRE FRONT END, PASSENGER'S SIDE DOORS AND DRIVER'S SIDE REAR DOOR. INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED TO THE DRIVER TO THE CHEST FROM IMPACTING THE STEERING WHEEL AND KNEES HITTING THE DASH. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK, A COLLAPSED RIGHT LUNG AND SEVERAL BROKEN RIBS FROM IMPACTING THE DASH BOARD. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS. THE POLICE WERE ON THE SCENE AND MADE A WRITTEN REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND DEEMED TOTALED. UPDATED 03/280/6. *JB

NHTSA ID

10151291

Incident

Feb 11, 2006

Mileage

93,000 mi

HIT DIP (ROAD DEFECT) 04/26/05; DRIVER'S-SIDE AIRBAG (FROM STEERING WHEEL) DEPLOYED. THOUGHT CAR ABOUT TO CATCH ON FIRE (THAT AIRBAG POWDER WAS SMOKE); QUICKLY EXITED CAR, THEN REALIZED SITUATION. SUSTAINED AIRBAG BURNS - LOWER FACE/CHIN, ALL ACROSS CHEST/BREASTS; RIGHT HAND BRUISED, SWOLLEN BETWEEN 2ND & 3RD KNUCKLES. *NO* DAMAGE TO CAR, OTHER THAN AIRBAG DEPLOYING. MY OPINION REGARDING AIRBAGS SHIFTED 180 DEGREES; JUST WANT MY CAR'S AIRBAGS DISABLED, BUT TOLD THAT'S ILLEGAL (AT LEAST IN CA). SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DRIVE AFRAID OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT & INJURY OR EVEN DEATH, WITHOUT ANY SAY IN THE MATTER. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AIRBAGS DESIGNED TO PROTECT 220-LB. _MAN_ IN FRONT-END COLLISION, RE-ENGINEERED AFTER 1ST GENERATION TO DEPLOY WITH MORE FORCE BECAUSE _NON-SEAT-BELT-WEARERS_ INJURED. I _ALWAYS_ WEAR SEAT BELT IN CAR (CA LAW); SINCE RELATIVELY SHORT (5'5"), DIRECTLY IN LINE OF DRIVER'S-SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT); LIGHTWEIGHT (125 LBS.) -- NOWHERE NEAR 220 LBS. EXTREMELY LUCKY NO OTHER CARS AROUND WHEN INCIDENT OCCURRED; ELSE UNNECESSARY AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT: DEPLOYMENT (EXPLOSION) AND RESULTANT POWDER SHOCKED ME & OBSCURED VISION. PER MOTOR SPORTS DIGEST ([email protected]), FOR PROFESSIONAL/SKILLED RACE CAR DRIVERS: - "... SHOWROOM STOCK CLASSES ... USE THE SAME KIND OF CARS WE ALL DRIVE EVERY DAY, ONLY THEY _REMOVE_ THE AIR BAG FOR SAFETY!" AT RACING SPEEDS, WITH SAFETY PARAMOUNT -- YET RACERS REALIZE AIRBAGS ARE DANGEROUS. - "... IT['S] STRANGE WHY PEOPLE CAN'T REALIZE THAT WHAT CAN KILL A SMALL CHILD WILL AT LEAST INJURE AN ADULT!" [ I AGREE] - "... MECHANICS AND INSTALLERS ARE ALL WARNED OF THE DANGERS OF THE AIR BAG.... TOUCHING THE WRONG WIRE WHILE THEIR HEAD IS UNDER THE DASH CAN CAUSE PERMANENT HEARING LOSS AT THE VERY LEAST IF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYS." (LOCAL FORD DEALER REQUIRES $324.00 TO HOOK UP, RUN AIRBAG SIMULATOR BEFORE RE-INSTALLING AIRBAG (WHICH I DIDN'T WANT ANYWAY!) TO INSURE MECHANIC'S SAFETY.)

NHTSA ID

10122475

Incident

Apr 26, 2005

Mileage

136,200 mi

THE HORN NOR THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS WORKED IN THE STEERING WHEEL HUB. *PH CONSUMER FELT THAT THERE'S NO NEED TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT ONCE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SUCH AN INCONVENIENCE ON HIS BEHALF. AFTER TEN MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP OF VEHICLE PURCHASED FROM E-BAY, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO REPAIR FACILITY TO HAVE STEERING CONTROLS FIXED. MECHANIC CALLED CONSUMER AND WAS INFORMED THAT AIR BAG HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM STEERING WHEEL HUB AND REPLACED WITH FOAM TO SIMULATE THE SHAPE OF THE AIR BAG. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO HAVE AIR BAG INSTALLED INTO STEERING WHEEL HUB ALONG WITH THE REPAIRS ON HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL. CONSUMER NOW ASKING IF IT'S AGAINST FLORIDA OR FEDERAL LAW TO SELL A CAR WITH THE AIR BAG EITHER UNIONIZATION OR INOPERATIVE AND NOT INFORM THE BUYER. *LA

NHTSA ID

10062882

WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING AIRBAG LIGHT APPEARS ON DASHBOARD. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

8016798

Incident

May 1, 2002

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY CONSUMER NOTICED THAT CRUISE CONTROL/ HORN AND AIRBAG WERE NOT OPERABLE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

8014913

Incident

Jun 1, 2002

SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO DOWNTOWN FORD TO THE MANAGER - DAVE MCDANIAL - 916/442-6931 NO RESPONSE FROM DOWNTOWN FORD. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

NHTSA ID

749250

Incident

Jul 18, 2001

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, WHICH FAILED, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, AIR BAG DEPLOYED CAUSING INJURIES TO DRIVER, PASSENGER EXPERIENCED A BROKEN TAIL BONE AND STATES THAT THE SEAT BELT LEFT BRUISE MARKS ACROSS HER STOMACH WHICH STILL CAUSES PAIN, CONSUMER PURCHASED A 1995 TAURUS AND STATES THE ABS EXPERIENCES SAME PROBLEMS AS VEHICLE INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT, THE BRAKES LOCK AND THEN UNLOCK. (POLICE REPORT ATTACHED) *SLC

NHTSA ID

561809

Incident

Aug 20, 1999

IGNITION IS INOPERATIVE. KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION & DOESN'T LINE UP CORRECTLY. THIS MAKES IT VERY EASY TO STEALTHE VEHICLE. VEHICLE'S AIR BAG & HORN ARE NOT WORKING RELATING TO THIS. DEALER HAS NEVER TRIED TO FIND A REMEDY FOR THE PROBLEM.*AK CRUISE CONTROL FAILED AS WELL. STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS. *YH

NHTSA ID

872889

Incident

Sep 1, 1998

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE & DRIVER NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ACTING UP. WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN VEHICLE. HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED.*AK

NHTSA ID

865245

CONSUMER'S SON HAD AN ACCIDENT AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED. AUTOMOBILE WAS HIT 3 TIMES GOING 55 MPH, ONCE IN THE REAR AND TWICE IN THE FRONT. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

862394

Incident

May 16, 2000

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WHO, IN TURN, HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIRBAG DIDN'T GO OFF AT ALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

862109

Incident

May 17, 2000

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT BLINKS WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME. STOPS AND RESTARTS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. NO RECOGNIZABLE PATTERN.

NHTSA ID

717750

Incident

Sep 7, 1999

WHILE DRIVING 30-40 MPH HAD A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT, AND DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT WHO SUSTAINED INJURIES BECAUSE OF THE CRASH. MANUFACTURER NOR INSURANCE COMPANY HAVE INSPECTED VEHICLE. NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH AIRBAG SYSTEM. *AK VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ENGINE RELATED PROBLEMS, THE TIMING COVER GASKET WAS REPLACED AND THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED, AFTER THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED THERE WERE STILL CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE, THE HEATER HOSE WAS REPLACED, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO STALL, AND THE TENSIONER PULLEY AND BELT WERE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE TURBINE SHAFT SPEED SENSOR WAS REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ID

854996

Incident

Dec 20, 1999

IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER JAMMED WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING STARTED. NLM

NHTSA ID

547743

INTERMITTENTLY AIRBAG LIGHT WILL STAY ON . THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

840374

CONSUMER HAD AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH VEHICLE HYDROPLANED AND HIT A GRAVEL ENBANKMENT. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING DRIVER TO SUSTAIN SOME INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ID

837588

Incident

Dec 12, 1998

VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT ABOUT 20-30MPH, AND NEITHER DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED UNTIL VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO PARK. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN. *AK

NHTSA ID

836131

VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN JANUARY 1999, AND CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING POOR PERFORMANCE WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. VEHICLE IS AT DEALERSHIP AT THIS TIME. ALSO, AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED. WHENEVER ENGINE IS TURNED OFF CONSUMER NEEDS TO HAVE A JUMP START. *AK

NHTSA ID

836076

Incident

Jan 27, 1999

FAILURE OF AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY ON EITHER SIDE IN CAR , DRIVER OR PASSENGER, DURING COLLISION.

NHTSA ID

701205

Incident

Dec 6, 1998

CONSUMER SAYS THAT IN AN ACCIDENT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK SEAT BELT BROKE . *YH

NHTSA ID

829932

Incident

Sep 3, 1998

DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG IS NOT WORKING. QCAW

NHTSA ID

542424

Incident

Apr 1, 1998

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WILL AT INTERVALS ILLUMINATE, INDICATING MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

826156

DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG IS NON-FUNCTIONAL/FAILED.

NHTSA ID

536127

Incident

May 14, 1998

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER PASSED OUT, HIT POWER POLE, AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE PROPERLY. ALSO SHOULDER HARNESS FAILED TO HOLD DRIVER. DRIVER SUFFERED HEAD INJURIES/MASSIVE BRUISES AND A BROKEN LEFT ARM.

NHTSA ID

534754

Incident

Mar 6, 1997

DRIVER MADE LEFT TURN AND PASSED OUT, VEHICLE HIT POWER POLE. BOTH AIR BAGS ACTIVATED. HOWEVER, DRIVER SUFFERED BROKEN LEFT ARM/3 BROKEN RIBS, AND MASSIVE BRUISING ALL OVER UPPER TORSO AND SOME HEAD INJURIES.

NHTSA ID

534551

Incident

Mar 6, 1998