Front Air Bag problems of the 1997 Ford Escort - part 1

Tl-the contact owns a 1997 Ford Escort. As a passenger in the vehicle been driven 5 mph in a driveway both frontal air bags deployed. She stated the driver was knocked unconscionus and the other passenger had a injury to the face. The vehicle crashed into a tree and a branch hit the windshield. The vehicle has not been taken to a dealer or mechanic. The failure and current mileage was 81,152. Vwb.

While driving at 60 mph both frontal air bags deployed inadvertently. Consumer drove vehicle to dealer. While talking to a manufacturer's representative via phone vehicle caught on fire less then 15 minutes while parked. The fire appeared to have started under the hood on the passenger's side. The local fire department arrived to extinguish the fire. The cause of the fire was determined to be electrical.

While driving and stopping at a stop sign air bag deployed. Vehicle started to smoke, and the heater coil went out. There was anti freeze all over the floor of the vehicle, and the air bag busted the front windshield. Ford will not do anything to help the consumer.

The air bag deployed inadvertently.

While driving 10 mph both frontal air bags deployed inadvertently. This caused the driver to sustain minor injuries. Vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the air bag module needed to be replaced.

Dealership and manufacturer wont honoring the NHTSA recall 02v323000. Certain passenger vehicles, the integrated air bag monitor (iabm) can be contaminated with water or other liquids and could experience internal electrical short.

Airbag deployed after recall repairs by Ford (notification and verification of notice and repair are in our possession) resulting in burns to passenger on forearms (due to inflation of bag), broken windshield and dash is messed up. No accident ocurred or object hit. Car was moving at 15 mph (max) at deployment. Ford declares "no" responsibility due to excess mileage (84,440). I didn't realize there is a "mileage limitation" on safety!.

While driving 35 mph the vehicle in front of the consumer suddenly came to a complete stop. As a result the driver rear ended the vehicle. The consumer stated that neither of the frontal air bags deployed which resulted in some injuries. The consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer.

When the consumer applied the brakes to avoid hitting a dog, the air bag deployed. The vehicle filled with smoke and the air bag hit the consumer in the chest and bruised other areas.

The vehicle was hit in the passenger side door, which casued the frontal air bags deploy. According to the owners the manual the air bags were not suppose to deploy unless there was severe impact to the front of the vehicle.

While driving 30 mph the consumers vehicle slid on ice and collided with another car. Neither the front driver nor passenger air bags deployed.

Frontal air bags deployed without warning while driving.

Consumer was involved in a frontal collision, the air bags deployed, however the air bags damaged the front windshield and side window.

While parked horn went off on its own. Owner had taken fuse out to stop horn from blowing. Spoke to dealer & informed small plastic piece had worn away between horn & air bag module. It needed to be replaced. Seems to be a very common problem and was obviously a hazard (could possibly prematurely activate or fail to activate the airbag). No solution for this problem has been address by the manufature to my knowledge! outside temperature is not a factor at all, occurs on hot, cold or rainy days.

I was burned on my right hand (3 fingers and thumb) due to both air bags had deployed. No one was in the passenger seat.

Consumer states that while driving on highway at approximately 70mph, the front driver's air bag deployed without warning. Ts.

While driving at 20 mph front air bags deployed without consumer hitting anything. There was no prior warnings. Contacted dealer.

While driving 67 mph on smooth surface consumer smelled sulphur, then both airbags deployed.

On April 17 my 1997 Ford Escort was involved with flying road debris on the interstate. A piece of tire was thrown by the vehicle ahead of me into my bumper cover. What would have started out as a minor scratch in the bumper turned into a broken windshield and two blown airbags, which assisted in no way. They caused burns on the arms and created a driving hazard on the road in which I ended up in the median trying to take evasive action. I feel these airbags should not have exploded in this incident. No contact was made with another vehicle to create such conditions for the airbags to deploy. The airbag deployment was too sensitive. Could you please investigate whether other incidents of this nature have occurred? has any type of recall been warranted with premature airbag deployment? potential for injuries were tremendous in this incident. I appreciate any assistance in this matter.

While driving about 35 mph both air bags suddenly deployed without a prior warning, nor hitting anything.

While parked with no passengers both air bags deployed without reason. Dealer has been contacted.

While driving 5 mph both airbags deployed, no crash. Please provide additional information.

Onsumer was driving on the street and making a left turn when a bus veered into her vehicle, and hit vehicle from the back. Consumer lost control of vehicle, and ran into a utility pole,and neither driver's nor passenger's airbags deployed.

While driving at 35mph the airbags deployed. Vehicle was not involved in a collision. Manufacturer and dealer have been notified.

Vehicle was at a stop light all of a sudden both air bags deployed. Dealer notified, and informed consumer that it was caused was by water intruding on circuit board module located under driver seat. Repairs were made, but water still kept entering. Consumer believed the problem was due to a/c condensation. Dealer notified and refused to correct problem, knowing this can cause the air bags to deploy again. Seeking NHTSA help inthis matter.

While stopping on a red light the air bags deployed without a reason.

Vehicle experienced no deployment of air bag when impacted in the front and rear of the car. (attorney for consumer). Nlm.

Vehicle was involved in an accident in which vehicle rolled into a ditch while coming to a stop at approx. 25 mph in heavy rain condition. Upon impact, both air bags deployed and bursted. Driver received chemical burns to his fingers, and passenger received chemical burns to one of his eyes and face. Dealer/manufacturer notified. Seeking help from NHTSA in this matter.

Consumer was driving approximately 45mph when a deer jumped over gaurdrail head-on in front vehicle. Air bags deployed, the passenger side damaged consumers eye.

On Nov. 24,1998 vehicle experienced collision that causing violent deployment of airbag, resulting in injury to drivers left hand.

Air bags deployed for no reason. When the car came to a stop, it bumped the car in front of it. Ford says this was the cause for the deployment. It was not!.

Consumer was driving vehicle on highway at 60 mph when noticed a burning smell coming from inside, passenger's side of vehicle. Pulled vehicle over to see what was burning, nothing could be found. Passenger got back into car, while driver was still looking under the hood. Less then 30 seconds after passenger got into the vehicle, both air bags deployed. Passenger received chemical burns and cuts on face. Also, air bags cracked front windshield. Dealer notified.

While driving the vehicle hit the curb and both air bags deployed which caused the windshield to crack.

Driver's air bag deployed during a rearend collision, burning occupant's hands and injuring the fingers.

Vehicle hit a bump going about 28 mph and the vehicle's airbags exploded . The explosion caused the windshield to shatter and the panel to burst. Ther is no damage to the vehicle. Manufacturer will repair the vehicle only if insurance company determines that there is a manufacturer's defect .