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.
13
Latest Feb 25, 2019
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.
14%
of 93 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.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2
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 2002 Ford Thunderbird submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 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
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Feb 25, 2019
Crash reported1 injury reported
MY DAUGHTER WAS IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT ON 09 -06 -2016 IN A 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD CONVERTIBLE. THE AIR BAG DID NOT SUFFICIENTLY DEPLOY & SHE WAS SEVERELY INJURED AS A RESULT. SHE WAS ON INTERSTATE 95N NEAR MANNING, SC WHEN A SEMI TRUCK DID NOT SEE HER & CAME INTO HER LANE GRAZING THE CAR. SHE HAD TO GO OFF THE ROAD OR THE TRUCK WOULD HAVE CRUSHED HER. THE THUNDERBIRD ROLLED OVER & SHE WAS SEVERELY INJURED.
NHTSA ID
11182303
Incident
Sep 6, 2016
Mileage
50 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 1, 2018
MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND I WANT TO KNOW IF I HAVE A TAKATA AIRBAG. IF SO HOW TO I GET IT FIXED?
NHTSA ID
11144677
Incident
May 14, 2018
Airbags
Filed May 21, 2018
AIR BAG NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND FORD HAS NO REPAIR PARTS AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. *JS
NHTSA ID
11097139
Incident
Apr 12, 2018
Mileage
56,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 23, 2018
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON INSTRUMENT PANEL AND OWNER'S MANUAL INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO DEALER. DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAULTY AIR BAG THAT SHOULD BE REPLACED. FORD MOTOR CO. SAID SERVICE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AND DEALER DID NOT REPAIR THE AIR BAG. I WAS ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WITH NO IDEA IF THE AIR BAG WOULD FUNCTION IN A CRASH. IS THE VEHICLE SAFE TO DRIVE AND SHOULD FORD MOTOR CO. HAVE DONE MORE TO ASSURE THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE?
NHTSA ID
11089780
Incident
Apr 20, 2018
Mileage
56,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 10, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. LOU FUSZ FORD IN CHESTERFIELD, MISSOURI WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 800.
NHTSA ID
11061933
Incident
Apr 1, 2003
Mileage
800 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 1, 2013
AIR BAG LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF. WAS TOLD BY DEALER CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE CLOCKSPRING. MORE THAN LIKELY THIS CAUSE AIR BAG NOT TO BE DEPLOYED IF NEEDED. . I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND FORD SHOULD ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. FROM OTHER SOURCES ON LINE THIS APPEARS TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. FORD REFUSES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AND LEAVES IT UP TO THE OWNER TO HAVE REPAIRED $700.00. *TR
NHTSA ID
10522704
Incident
Jul 1, 2013
Mileage
69,130 mi
AirbagsDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed May 9, 2012
CLOCK SPRING ,ON BOTH OF MY 02 TBIRDS,VIN# [XXX] [XXX] I THINK THIS IS A VERY POOR PART INSTALLED IN MY BIRDS,SINCE I PAID TOP DOLLAR FOR THESE CARS,$4000.00 OVER LIST PRICE EACH AT THE DEALER AUTOWAY FOR IN BRADENTON FLORIDA. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ID
10457933
Incident
May 1, 2012
Airbags
Filed Aug 2, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAD BEEN ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENATL PANEL FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG HAD A HIGH RESISTANCE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000. UPDATED 09/19/11 *BF UPDATED 2/22/12 *CN
NHTSA ID
10416705
Incident
Jun 2, 2011
Mileage
90,000 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Aug 2, 2011
HAD THE VEHICLE TUNED-UP. AFTER A FEW DRIVEN MILES THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYS LIT. THE PROBLEM "DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG HIGH RESISTANCE" CAUSES "A POOR CONNECTION WHERE THE CLOCKSPRING CONNECT INTO THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS." COST TO REPLACE/REPAIR $681. THIS IS A DEFECT SAFETY PRODUCT. FORD REFUSED TO PAY STATING, "THERE IS NO EXTENDED COVERAGE OR RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE." THERE ARE NOT "SUFFICIENT CONSUMER COMPLAINTS" REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT DEALING WITH A SAFETY ISSUE WITH FORD REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE AS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. *KB
NHTSA ID
10416703
Incident
Aug 1, 2011
Mileage
92,578 mi
AirbagsDriver assistanceEngine+2 more
Filed Aug 5, 2009
THE MOST RECENT PROBLEM STARTED IN JUNE 2009 WHEN THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON AND WOULDN'T GO OFF (IS IT WORKING OR NOT? SAFETY ISSUE?) THEN WITHIN A MATTER OF WEEKS EVERYTHING ON THE STEERING COLUMN CONTROLS QUIT WORKING OR WENT BERSERK. THE CRUISE CONTROLS SUDDENLY WENT HAYWIRE ACCELERATING WHEN ANY BUTTON WAS PUSHED NOW THEY DON'T WORK AT ALL (SAFETY ISSUE). A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME, I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND LAID ON THE HORN AND NOTHING!!! A TERRIBLE CRASH WAS MISSED BY LITERALLY INCHES( SAFETY ISSUE)...30 MINUTES LATER THE HORN WORKED. THE NEXT DAY I TRIED ABOUT 30 TIMES AND I GOT IT TO BEEP TWICE. THE RADIO/CD CONTROLS SOMETIMES WORK AND SOMETIMES DON'T. CHANGE FROM RADIO TO CD AND SUDDENLY THE VOLUME IS BLASTING (SHOCKED ENOUGH FOR IT TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE). I WAS TOLD OVER THE PHONE IT IS A CLOCK SPRING ISSUE AND THE ESTIMATE WAS $450!!!!! IN ADDITION MY 2002 THUNDERBIRD WAS PURCHASED JAN 2,2003. IT WAS ONE OF THE LAST CARS OFF OF THE LINE BEFORE THE 2002 MODEL SWITCH TO 2003. I HAVE HAD THE SAME COIL ON PLUG ISSUES THAT WERE RECALLED ON 2003'S, YET DEALER WOULD DO NOTHING FOR ME.IT STARTED ONLY 2,000 MLS OUT OF INITIAL WARRANTY. I HAVE REPLACED 3 OF THE COILS/GASKET COVER AND NOW THE 4TH COIL IS BAD WITH GASKET LEAKING. THE DESIGN IS UNCHANGED FROM 2002 TO 2003, WHY NOT FIX MINE? TWICE I HAVE LOST POWER WHEN ACCELERATING AND THE CAR HESITATED OR STALLED IN MIDDLE OF DRIVING. IF YOU DON'T CONSIDER THAT A SAFETY ISSUE THEN TRY PULLING OUT IN ATLANTA TRAFFIC AND SEE WHAT YOU THINK. IN ADDITION NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE AUTO DOOR LATCH WON'T WORK. THIS IS BY FAR THE WORST CAR I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. I HAD PURCHASED THREE PRIOR FORD VEHICLES AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP AND THEY WOULD DO NOTHING FOR ME. I NEVER HAD THE FIRST COMPLAINT ON ANY OTHER FORD VEHICLES.... NOW THE DEALER HAS GONE OUT OF BUSINESS...... PLEASE I AM BEGGING YOU SEE IF YOU CAN GET THESE ISSUES FIXED I HAVE POURED ENOUGH MONEY INTO THIS CAR AND IT ISN'T FAIR! *TR
NHTSA ID
10279466
Incident
Jun 1, 2009
Mileage
26,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 13, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 55,861.
NHTSA ID
10276539
Incident
Jul 10, 2009
Mileage
55,861 mi
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Feb 16, 2005
Crash reported
WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES ABRUPTLY THE VEHICLE KEPT GOING AND HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB *NM
NHTSA ID
10105416
Incident
Dec 13, 2004
Mileage
26,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 27, 2002
1 death reported
VEHICLE DRIFTED OFF THE ROAD AND HIT AN OBJECT AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER DIED FROM CHEST INJURIES. *MR *JB
NHTSA ID
8019718
Incident
Sep 25, 2002
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