Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
45
Latest Mar 4, 2011
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 825 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
33
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
39
What this page shows
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Ford Taurus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 45 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming airbag
The 25 most recent of 45, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. DURING THE CRASH ALL OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BUT DURING DEPLOYMENT, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DETACHED FROM THE DASHBOARD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED BUT NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PARKING LOT WHERE THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
NHTSA ID
10386441
Incident
Mar 3, 2011
Mileage
150,000 mi
AirbagsOther / unspecified
Filed Nov 22, 2006
1996 FORD TAURUS SITTING IN THE CHURCH PARKING LOT AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. NO ONE WAS IN THE CAR EXCEPT OUR SMALL DOG. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE CAR INCLUDING BROKEN WINDSHIELD. FORD MOTOR COMPANY TELLS ME THAT THEY HAVE NO LIABILITY. *JB
NHTSA ID
10174046
Incident
Nov 17, 2006
Mileage
100,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 23, 2005
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOR 2 DAYS. WENT OUT BEFORE SCHEDULED SERVICE AT DEALER. NO DIAGNOSTIC CODE WAS RETURNED. DEALER ADVISED TO RETURN CAR IMMEDIATELY IF LIGHT WENT ON AGAIN. APPROXIMATELY A WEEK LATER LIGHT WENT ON AGAIN, CAR WAS RETURNED TO DEALER WITH LIGHT ON AND AN "UNKNOWN CODE" WAS RETURNED BY DIAGNOSTIC UNIT. APPROX 3 WEEKS LATER, WITHOUT WARNING, PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG DEPLOYED SPONTANEOUSLY. CAR FILLED WITH POWDER MAKING VISIBILITY IMPOSSIBLE, AND THE FORCE OF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT SHATTERED AND PUSHED OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD, SCATTERING SHARDS OF GLASS ALL OVER THE FRONT SEAT. *JB
NHTSA ID
10137461
Incident
Sep 12, 2005
Mileage
78,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 6, 2004
Crash reported
WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER DRIVER. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY, BUT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO SHATTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
NHTSA ID
10092342
Incident
Sep 15, 2004
Airbags
Filed Aug 18, 2003
Crash reported3 injuries reported
WAS REAR ENDED IN A FIVE CAR ACCIDENT,I HAD THE MIDDLE CAR . I WAS SLAMMED INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER CAR WHICH IN TURN HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, I KNOW THAT I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HARD ENOUGH TO DEPLOY THE BAGS BECAUSE THE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS IN HIS TRUNK. I CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE TO HIS CAR. THE POLICE WOULD NOT LET ME HAVE MY CAR BECAUSE MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
NHTSA ID
10033012
Incident
Aug 15, 2003
Mileage
80,123 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 24, 2003
Crash reported
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*JB
NHTSA ID
10009146
Incident
Feb 15, 2003
Airbags
Filed Feb 6, 2003
Crash reported1 injury reported
50 MPH CRASH HIT A MAILBOX AND TWO SIX INCH LOCUST TREES. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH OF THE SENSORS WERE PUSHED INTO THE RADIATOR
NHTSA ID
10005394
Incident
Feb 1, 2003
Airbags
Filed Jan 9, 2002
Crash reportedFire reported1 injury reported
WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE HEAD ON, CAUGHT ON FIRE, CAUSING INJURIES. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *YD
NHTSA ID
8001870
Incident
Dec 24, 2001
Airbags
Filed Oct 3, 2001
A NOISE SOUNDS LIKE A LARGE HUMMING SOUND, THAT GETS LOUDER WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT CERTAIN HIGH SPEEDS, COULD BE THE AIR BAG INSTALLATION APPEARS TO BE DEFECTIVE OR PUT IN WRONG.
NHTSA ID
9004733
Airbags
Filed Aug 23, 2001
Crash reported
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH HAD A FRONT IMPACT ON DRIVER'S SIDE, AND DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED, NO INJURIES.*AK
NHTSA ID
895056
Incident
Jul 19, 2001
Airbags
Filed Aug 14, 2001
Crash reported
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30MPH ON HIGHWAY AND NOTICED THAT AIRBAG LIGHT WAS BLINKING, AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING BOTH AIRBAGS WENT OFF. HE WAS FORCED INTO CONCRETE BARRIERS ON ROAD. VEHICLE HAD SMOKE INSIDE, AND WAS TOTALED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK
NHTSA ID
894294
Incident
Aug 6, 2001
Airbags
Filed Jun 26, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A 25-30 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING OCCUPANT OF PASSENGER SEAT TO RECEIVE INJUIRES TO EYES AND FACE. *AK AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND BLOW UP FAILING TO HOLD AIR KEEPING THE PASSENGER SAFE. *YH
NHTSA ID
891286
Incident
May 29, 2001
Airbags
Filed Mar 12, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported
WHILE TRAVELING 35-40MPH FELL ASLEEP AT WHEEL AND STRUCK A LIGHT POLE. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK
NHTSA ID
882775
Incident
Mar 8, 2001
Airbags
Filed Feb 28, 2001
Crash reported
WHEN DRIVING AT 40 MPH CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT FRONTAL DRIVER'S AIR BAG, AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
NHTSA ID
881704
Airbags
Filed Feb 20, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION AT 30 MPH. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING DRIVER TO BE FORCED INTO DASHBOARD. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
NHTSA ID
880765
Airbags
Filed Aug 16, 2000
Crash reported1 injury reported
VEHICLE HIT IN LEFT FRONT BY 40 TON DUMP TRUCK; PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED; DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.
NHTSA ID
728103
Incident
Aug 14, 2000
Airbags
Filed Aug 13, 2000
AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT KEPT BLINKING ON/OFF INTERMITTENTLY;. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ID
867659
Incident
Oct 1, 1999
Airbags
Filed Jan 27, 2000
AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON, INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG SYSTEM. PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING AFTER GETTING THE PROBLEM FIXED PREVIOUSLY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ID
855585
Incident
Jan 19, 1999
Airbags
Filed Jan 12, 2000
Crash reported1 injury reported
WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH OWNER HIT A DEER, AND DRIVER SIDE/PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. AIRBAGS BUSTED THE WINDSHIELD, AND DRIVER'S AIRBAG KNOCKED DRIVER OUT. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN BODYSHOP. *AK
NHTSA ID
854923
AirbagsSteering
Filed Dec 8, 1999
Crash reported
WHILE DRIVING OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO A SERVICE ROAD, MADE A LEFT HAND TURN AND TIRE ROD BROKE, VEHICLE VEERED OFF TO THE RIGHT AND HIT A CONCRETE POWER LINE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY ON EITHER SIDE. CONTACTED THE LOCAL MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE. CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK
NHTSA ID
853879
Incident
Sep 3, 1999
Airbags
Filed Nov 9, 1999
Crash reported2 injuries reported
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 30MPH, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY,RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
NHTSA ID
852731
Incident
Nov 3, 1999
Airbags
Filed Oct 5, 1999
Crash reported1 injury reported
VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS DURING COLLISION BREAKING WINDSHIELD RESULTING IN CONSUMER BEING CUT. MJS
NHTSA ID
548889
Incident
Oct 31, 1998
Airbags
Filed Sep 3, 1999
Crash reported1 injury reported
DRIVER HIT ANOTHE RVEHICLE HEAD-ON WITH A 25 MPH INPACT ,DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURIES. *AK
NHTSA ID
846761
Airbags
Filed Jul 12, 1999
AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. NLM
NHTSA ID
547212
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Apr 29, 1999
Crash reported1 injury reported
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN GOING FROM PARK TO DRIVE GEAR, RESULTING IN COLLISION WITH HOME, VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG CAUSING INJURY TO CHEST, NOSE AND LEGS (BRUISES). MJS
NHTSA ID
545289
Incident
Apr 20, 1999
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own