NHTSA Investigation EA01012

INADVERTENT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT

ON APRIL 9, 2003, ODI RECEIVED FROM FORD AN OWNER LETTER AND DEALER NOTICE, BOTH DATED MARCH 2003.THE OWNER LETTER STATES THAT FORD WILL CONDUCT A PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN OF CERTAIN MY 1999-2000 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SIDE AIR BAGS (ALL MY 1999 VEHICLES AND MY 2000 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO 3/1/00; TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 42,000 VEHICLES).THE LETTER STATES THAT THE SIDE AIR BAGS IN THESE VEHICLES CAN DEPLOY IN CERTAIN TYPES OF UNDERBODY IMPACTS FROM PIECES OF GRAVEL OR DEBRIS.THE LETTER STATES THAT OWNERS WHO OPERATE THEIR VEHICLES IN SUCH DRIVING CONDITIONS SHOULD TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO A DEALER TO HAVE RECALIBRATED CRASH SENSORS INSTALLED AT NO COST.THE RECALIBRATED SENSOR REDUCES THE POSSIBILITY OF INADVERTENT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.SEE NHTSA'S SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN NO. 03V-144 FOR MORE INFORMATION.THE ACTION TAKEN BY FORD APPEARS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

An investigation is a separate record from a recall and from a manufacturer communication. A manufacturer campaign to repair a safety defect or a failure to meet a federal safety standard.