2000 Ford Taurus Airbags Problems

Someone pulled out in front of me as I was slowing down to make a left turn. I T-boned their vehicle while going 35mph, resulting in a total loss for my 2000 Ford Taurus. (This was in 2018 so it was not a new car). My driver steering wheel airbag DID NOT deploy. I was wearing my seat belt. I still have chest pains when I sneeze and cough, even 4 years later (in November 2022, at time of writing), and in the last year (2021) received a cortisone shot in my left shoulder. I was offered a neck brace in the ambulance and was prescribed an arm sling in the hospital. I was diagnosed with whiplash. I believe I was given pain medication. Someone from the NHTSA in Indiana contacted me and we spoke briefly about it that week, so this may have been previously reported to this agency. I only found out this week that the 2000 Ford Taurus had a history of airbag issues, which is why I bring this up now. I think the car has already been scrapped, so no chance of examination unfortunately. As above, my safety was in jeopardy. Had I been going faster, I could have died. (Apparently someone DID die from a faulty Taurus front airbag.) I, to this day, have chest pain down to my elbows when I sneeze or cough. My doctor says it's a musculoskeletal strain. Ford has not issued recalls for airbags. The vehicle was declared totaled on scene by the police officer and then towed by a towing service. The towing service said the undeployed airbag was "a ticking time bomb" and really unsafe to attempt to repair. I sent pictures to the at-fault driver's insurance, so it was also inspected by insurance. I do not remember any seeing warning messages. I would have checked any unfamiliar warnings or dash lights. Side note: For number of injured, I think I was the only one to take an ambulance. At-fault driver first hesitated to call 911, but eventually did. There were two people in his car, including himself: driver, and passenger in front seat.

NHTSA ID

11494852

Incident

Nov 17, 2018

JUNE 2018 PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON A CITY STREET BY MY GRANDDAUGHTER, NO THERE NO SIGNS OF A COLLISION. IT WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC.

NHTSA ID

11220843

Incident

Jun 25, 2018

Mileage

91,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE UNSAFE AIRBAGS AND THEY SEEMED TO FEEL AS IF IT WAS NO BIG DEAL AND TOLD ME THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX MY AIRBAGS.

NHTSA ID

11040129

Incident

Oct 26, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A PATCH OF SAND AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS IT TRAVELED AND CRASHED DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 241,074. *TR

NHTSA ID

10508702

Incident

Apr 3, 2013

Mileage

241,074 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THEIR VEHICLE, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A FENCE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON IMPACT. THE CONTACT AND A PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 129,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MAUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. UPDATED 08/14/2012 *JS

NHTSA ID

10464055

Incident

May 29, 2012

Mileage

129,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. HER VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 89,000.

NHTSA ID

10265709

Incident

Apr 14, 2008

Mileage

89,000 mi

MY MOTHER HAD A HORRIFYING EXPERIENCE AND A ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING MY 2000 FORD TAURUS. AS SHE WAS PUTTING CAR IN DRIVE, WHEN LEAVING RESTAURANT THE CAR SUDDENLY WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND SPED UP ON ITS OWN AND EVEN WHILE SHE HAD HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR CAR WOULD NOT STOP, THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK AND SHE WAS TERRIFIED AS SHE WAS HEADING HEAD ON TO THE RESTAURANTS BRICK BUILDING WHERE SHE ENDED UP CRASHING INTO AND PEOPLE INSIDE RESTAURANT SAID THEY WERE HURT AS WELL AS MY CAR GOT BADLY DAMAGED AND THE BUILDING. MY MOTHER AND THE PEOPLE INSIDE ARE LUCKY TO BE ALIVE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE GAS PEDAL AND BRAKES THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DEADLY ACCIDENT. MY MOTHER IS BRUISED AND STILL VERY SORE FROM THE ACCIDENT AND THE IMPACT WAS SO HARD WHEN SHE CRASHED INTO THE BRICK BUILDING THAT BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. PLEASE SOMEONE NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS BECAUSE THIS I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS HAS HAPPEN TO OTHERS WHO OWN 2000 FORD TAURUS. I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID THEY HAD A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE IN 2002 AND THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED BUT HERE IT IS 2009 AND IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN SO SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT WITH THESE CARS AND IT SHOULDN'T HAVE TO TAKE SOMEONE TO DIE BEFORE FORD REALIZES THAT THIS PROBLEM IS STILL HAPPENING AND THEY NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM. AND IF FORD SAID THEY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM IN 2002 THEN WHY IS IT STILL HAPPENING??????????? PLEASE DO SOMETHING BEFORE ITS TO LATE. I WAS REALLY UPSET AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT 2000 FORD TAURUS OWNERS WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THERE CAR AND THIS WAS AFTER THE 2002 RECALL WHEN FORD CLAIM THEY FIXED IT. I WISH I KNEW THIS BEFORE I BROUGHT THE CAR OR EVEN LET MY MOTHER DRIVE IT BECAUSE I WOULD NEVER HAVE PUT HER LIFE OR OTHERS IN JEOPARDY LIKE THAT. TOW TRUCK HAD TO PULL MY CAR FROM BUILDING AND THEN IT HAD TO BE TOWED AWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10259407

Incident

Feb 17, 2009

Mileage

142,000 mi

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT FOR OVER A YEAR. I HAVE MET OTHER TAURUS OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10244616

Incident

Dec 27, 2006

Mileage

58,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO INJURE HER FACE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. SHE DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 95,000.

NHTSA ID

10244536

Incident

Jul 15, 2008

Mileage

95,000 mi

I HAVE A 2000 FORD TAURUS THAT I PURCHASED FROM A PRIVATE OWNER ABOUT A MONTH AGO. WHEN DAY I WAS DRIVING IT I STARTED TO HEAR A CLATTERING NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY DASH BOARD. I OPENED UP THE GLOVE BOX BEHIND IS THE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT, ABOVE THIS TOWARD THE BACK IS A CONNECTION THAT LOOKS LIKE A THIN ROD THAT HAS A PLASTIC CONNECTOR. I FELT THE ROD SO I COULD FIND OUT WERE IT WENT TO, IT SEEMS TO GO INTO THE FIRE WALL. THE PLASTIC FITTING IS REAL LOOSE SO I DO NOT KNOW TWO THING`S. 1) WILL IT BEING LIKE THIS WILL IT DEPLOY FOR KNOW REASON? 2) IS THIS PART OF THE AIR BAG AND IF IT IS WOULD IT MAKE THIS KIND OF NOISE LIKE A CLATTER SINCE IT IS LOOSE? I HAVE KIDS AND A WIFE AND I DO NOT WANT THEM TO GET HURT BUY THE BAG DEPLOYING OR ANYBODY ELSE GETTING HURT. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THIS PLEASE TELL ME THAT THE NHTSA WILL FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID

10211610

Incident

Nov 15, 2007

I HIT A CAR HEAD ON GOING ABOUT 25 MPH AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MINOR INJURIES INCLUDE BRUISING, SCRATCHES, AND MINOR NECK PAIN/WHIPLASH. NO PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED YET. *JB

NHTSA ID

10201632

Incident

Aug 30, 2007

I WAS DRIVING OUT OF AN UNDERGROUND PARKING RAMP, WENT OVER A SPEED BUMP, AND HEARD A LOUD CRASH TYPE OF SOUND. I WENT TO SEE AN AUTO MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE FRONT COIL SPRING ON MY 2000 FORD TAURUS WAS FRACTURED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10185304

Incident

Mar 13, 2007

AIR BAG NON-DEPLOYMENT DURING HIGH IMPACT FRONTAL COLLISION, AND RESULTING SERIOUS BODILY INJURY. NM

NHTSA ID

10177651

Incident

Jul 13, 2006

2000 FORD TAURUS - SWERVED TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE; DROVE OVER CURB. PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED (DRIVERS SIDE DID NOT). DEALER SAID TO CONTACT FORD (OUT OF WARRANTY) - FORD NOT WILLING TO REPAIR. CONCERN DUE TO NON-DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG AND SAFETY OF DRIVING VEHICLE IN FUTURE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10176927

Incident

Dec 21, 2006

Mileage

110,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONT COLLISION AT 40 MPH. THERE WAS PRIOR BRAKING. THE SEATBELTS WERE WORN, AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKING AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS.

NHTSA ID

10149952

Incident

Jan 29, 2006

Mileage

102,000 mi

I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON 09/25/2005. I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND THERE WAS A 1996 FORD F-150 IN FRONT ON ME. I WAS DRIVING A 2000 FORD TAURUS. FROM BEHIND AT APPROXIMATELY 60-70 MPH CAME A 1996 FORD TAURUS THAT SLAMMED INTO THE BACK OF ME. MY CAR WAS FORCED INTO THE F-150. MY CAR WAS TOTALED IN FRONT AND BACK. THE DRIVER OF THE 1996 TAURUS WAS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF CRYSTAL METH & ALCOHOL. HE WAS ARRESTED. HIS AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN THE 1996 TAURUS. IN MY 2000 FORD TAURUS NEITHER MY DRIVER'S NOR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. I WAS THROWN INTO MY STEERING WHEEL AND MY NECK JERKED. I AM 5 MONTHS PREGNANT. I WAS TAKEN AWAY BY AMBULANCE. THEY WERE ABLE TO DO AN ULTRASOUND ON THE BABY, BUT THEY COULD NOT GIVE X-RAYS BECAUSE I AM PREGNANT. SO I HAVE BEEN IN PAIN TAKING EXTRA STRENGTH TYLENOL. I HAVE OBTAINED A LAWYER, BECAUSE I FEEL THAT MY AIRBAGS ARE DEFECTIVE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10137964

Incident

Sep 25, 2005

DT: 2000 FORD TAURUS. THE CAR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON THE JULY 4,2005. WHILE DRIVING AT 25-30 MPH AN ONCOMING VEHICLE TURNED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AND IT SWERVED TO MISS THE CAR AND HIT A LAMP POST HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE BODY SHOP SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND THEY SAID IT COULD HAVE BEEN THAT THE IMPACT WAS NOT HARD ENOUGH OR THE CAR WAS NOT HIT THE RIGHT SPOT TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAGS. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10132086

Incident

Jul 4, 2005

Mileage

36,800 mi

WE HAD THIS VEHICLE CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMING ON/STAYING ON/FLASHING. ON ONE OCCASION THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED, AFTER THAT IT WAS CLEANED, DUE TO CORROSION AT THE CONNECTION. MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT ON 8/16/05 WHERE THE CAR WAS HIT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT END AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES PER HOUR, THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MY WIFE SUSTAINED WHIPLASH FROM THE ACCIDENT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10134419

Incident

Aug 16, 2005

Mileage

69,275 mi

DT: CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WHILE GOING 47 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NIETHER OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10126839

Incident

Jun 10, 2005

Mileage

79,000 mi

DT: 2000, FORD TAURUS, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYED ON CONSTANTLY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10124460

Incident

May 15, 2005

Mileage

50,950 mi

DT: THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. THEY DEPLOYED AFTER IMPACTING, AND CONSUMER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE IMPACT WAS ON THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. THE ACCIDENT HAD BEEN OVER FOR 6 SECONDS BEFORE THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THEN THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND THREW THE CONSUMER BACKWARDS. THIS WAS THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG THAT WAS LATE IN DEPLOYMENT, BUT PASSENGER'S AIR BAG CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK *SB

NHTSA ID

10121663

Incident

May 19, 2005

Mileage

91,000 mi

DT: AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON . TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND HAD IT FIXED. NOW THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AGAIN. HAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO DEALER. AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, AND THEN STARTED BLINKING ON AND OFF. THEN IT STAYED ON.*AK

NHTSA ID

10121305

Incident

May 18, 2005

Mileage

92,589 mi

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING MY CAR THAT WE PAID FOR IN CASH, GOING ABOUT 30MPH ON A SLIPPERY ROAD AND SPUN OUT AND HIT AN ELECTRIC POLE, DRIVERS SIDE HIT AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. AFTER WE ALREADY GOT RID OF THE CAR, THEN SOMEONE TOLD ME ABOUT CONTACTING FORD. WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY INSURANCE ON IT YET. THE INSURANCE GUY WAS COMING OUT THAT NIGHT. SO THIS WAS A TOTAL LOSS. IT HAPPENED ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND I AM STILL WITHOUT A VEHICLE. SOMEONE TO CONTACT ME WOULD BE NICE ABOUT A POSSIBLE LAWSUIT.

NHTSA ID

10118593

Incident

Mar 10, 2005

VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON THE ROAD WHILE ALL OF SUDDEN THE PASSENGER CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYED ON ITS OWN. DEALER WAS CONTACTED BY OWNER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT AIR BAG WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.*AK WHILE TRAVELING 25MPH CONSUMER HEARD A POP SOUND FOLLOWED BY SMOKE AND A FOUL ODOR. CONSUMER FOUND THE SEAMS HAD POPPED OPENED FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND THE AIR BAG WAS EXPOSED. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TT

NHTSA ID

10109535

Incident

Jan 26, 2005

Mileage

49,949 mi

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA ID

10108775

Incident

Jan 19, 2005