2003 Mercury Mountaineer Airbags Problems

MY 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER HAS A SOLID AIR BAG LIGHT ON. IT HAS A CODE OF 33, WHEN YOU TURN THE CAR ON, THE LIGHT GOES ON AND BLINKS 3 TIMES THEN 3 MORE TIMES. THIS INDICATES A CODE 33. FORD HAS A TECHNICAL LETTER ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE LETTER STATES THERE IS A KIT FOR THIS PROBLEM. 1L2Z-78610E22-AAA IS THE KIT FOR A MEDIUM DARK PARCHMENT KIT. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM AS IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT. FORD WANTS TO CHARGE $281.00 FOR THE PART. OUTRAGEOUS. I WOULD BE FORCED TO PAY OR NOT GET MY STATE VEHICLE TEST PASSED. DEFECTIVE PART SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER SAFETY RECALL ! SEE INFORMATION : 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER BUILD DATE 09/02 VIN===[XXX] BELOW IS A COPY OF A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING YOUR CONCERN. YOU CAN BUY THE KITS THROUGH ANY FORD DEALER, THAT'S ABOUT THE ONLY PLACE TO GET THEM. YOU'LL FIND THE BUILD DATE ON THE VIN TAG ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR. FORD:2002-2003 EXPLORER MERCURY:2002-2003 MOUNTAINEER ISSUE: SOME 2002-2003 4DR EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEER VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) B2292 AND LIGHT FLASHING CODE (LFC) 33 (DRIVER SEAT PRETENSIONER FAULT), OR LFC 34 (PASSENGER SEAT PRETENSIONER FAULT). THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY INTERMITTENT PRETENSIONER CONNECTION AT EITHER SEAT BELT BUCKLE. ACTION: INSTALL PRETENSIONER KIT FOR AFFECTED SIDE(S) BY BUILD DATE/COLOR. REFER TO THE FOLLOWING SERVICE INFORMATION FOR DETAILS. SERVICE INFORMATION OBTAIN CORRECT SERVICE KIT AND REFER TO INSTRUCTION SHEET INCLUDED WITH KIT FOR INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. 2002 MODEL YEAR THROUGH 3/3/02 BUILD DATES MEDIUM DARK PARCHMENT 1L2Z-78610E22-AAA 2002/2003 MODEL YEARS 3/4/02 THROUGH 1/17/03 MEDIUM DARK PARCHMENT 1L2Z-78610E22-BAA [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10925937

Incident

Aug 1, 2015

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 15 MPH, THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION, BUT THEY COULDN'T AFFORD TO GO. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,610.

NHTSA ID

10863398

Incident

Apr 28, 2016

Mileage

79,610 mi

FAULTY AIRBAGS: ON NOVEMBER 3, 2015 AT APPROXIMATELY 0540, THE SIDE CURTAIN (BOTH DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE) AIRBAGS EXPLODED IN MY 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER WITHOUT CAUSE WHILE I WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH ON A MAJOR/BUSY STATE HIGHWAY. THE EXPLOSION OF THE AIRBAGS HIT ME ON MY LEFT SIDE CAUSING NECK STRAIN AND TEMPORARY HEARING LOSS TO THE LEFT EAR. I WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT IN THE VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE TO SHOULDER OF ROAD (I DON'T REMEMBER HOW I GOT THERE), LUCKILY NO CARS WERE AROUND ME AT THE TIME. THE EXPLOSION ALSO CAUSED THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW TO FALL FROM ITS CASTERS AND WAS UNABLE TO CLOSE WINDOW (AND THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WINDOW NO LONGER WORKS). THE AIR IN THE CURTAINS WOULD NOT DISSIPATE AND I REMEMBER NOT BEING ABLE TO BREATH WELL. THERE WAS A CHEMICAL IN THE AIR AND DO TO THE CURTAINS, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. LATER IN THE DAY I TOOK CAR TO REYNOLDS FORD AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS NOT COVERED BY FORD. I ALSO WENT TO MY PCP AND WAS TREATED WITH PREDNISONE AND EAR WASH FOR LEFT EAR HEARING LOSS. LATER, HAD DRIVERS WINDOW REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID

10811019

Incident

Nov 3, 2015

Mileage

200,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 TO 30 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LACERATIONS TO THE LEFT CHEEK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND FLASHED A CODE THIRTEEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10721708

Incident

May 26, 2015

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWN A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH FRONTAL SIDE AIR BAGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID

10660466

Incident

Nov 17, 2014

Mileage

110,000 mi

2003 MERCURY MOUTAINEER'S CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH**CC FORD WAS CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO COVER ANY REPAIR EXPENSES BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD OVER 50000 MILES ON IT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10181644

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ON A COUNTRY ROAD, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE ALERTED. UPDATED 12/28/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10171842

Incident

Oct 18, 2006

Mileage

82,000 mi

DT: AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOR 16 MONTHS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY THIS HAPPENED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10126709

Incident

Oct 4, 2003

Mileage

16,000 mi

TO THIS DATE THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS ARE PRESENT: GAS GAUGE STICKS, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF, DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR RATTLES AND KNOCKS, DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW TAPS, DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW GRINDS WHILE MOVING UP AND DOWN, CLOCK AND RADIO DO NOT LIGHT UP OR WORK WHEN START VEHICLE, SUN ROOF RATTLES AND KNOCKS, WIND GETS CAUGHT BETWEEN ROOF AND HEADLINER WHICH CREATES A LOUD VIBRATION, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW ALSO RATTLES AND KNOCKS, THERE IS A LOUD RHYTHMIC CHIRP TOWARD REAR OF VEHICLE, HEATING AND COOLING CONTROLS SQUEAL WHEN TURNING ON OR SWITCHING VENT SETTINGS, DRIVER'S SEAT FEELS ROUGH WHEN MOVING ON SEAT TRACK, THE 3RD STEERING WHEEL STILL HAS DEFECT UNDER THE LEATHER WHICH PROTRUDES, DRIVER'S SIDE LEATHER SEAT WAS DAMAGED AFTER BEING AT THE DEALERSHIP, 2ND ROW MIDDLE SEAT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO LOCK IN FOLDED POSITION, FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL DOES NOT STAY WITHIN SETTING, THE VEHICLE VIBRATES AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL AT A SLOW SPEED, THE THIRD ROW CUP HOLDER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOES NOT STAY DOWN IN THE FITTING, THERE IS A STRONG EXHAUST SMELL IN THE CABIN WHEN ENGINE IS IN HARD ACCELERATION, ENGINE STARTS TO STALL WHILE DRIVING. STEERING WHEEL WAS DEFECTIVE BY BEING MALFORMED CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO BE INEFFECTIVE. THE SECOND STEERING WHEEL WAS ALSO ILL FITTED CAUSING SHARP PROTRUDING PARTS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE FOLLOWING: BODY WORK TO DEFECTIVE PAINT ON ROOF, FRONT HOOD, AND DRIVER'S SIDE FENDER. THE DEALERSHIP DAMAGED PAINT IN TWO AREAS AND ONLY PROVIDED TOUCH UP PAINT. REPLACED NOISY REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR, REAR HATCH GLASS BECAUSE DEFROST WOULD NOT WORK, REAR HATCH HINGES, DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT TRACK. SUSPENSION PROBLEMS WITH VIBRATION AND PITCHING. VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD UPON ACCELERATION. *LA

NHTSA ID

10043237

Incident

Nov 13, 2002