Side/window Air Bag problems of the 2003 Ford Focus

On Feb 11, 2015 I was driving to go to the vet. I had not been down that road in about 6 months. I came upon an area that was a very bad chunk of road. . . Patches over patches and very bumpy. Then all of a sudden my car tilted to the right and there was a loud bang. It took me a couple seconds to realize what had happened. My airbag on the passenger side (side airbag) had deployed. Scared me! I had no idea why it had gone off. But the car seemed to be driving ok still so I continued to the vet about 1-2 miles away. I wondered if a deer had hit the side of my car but when I got to the vet and checked my car, there was no damage to the side of my car. Since then I have read on the internet that others have had their airbags deploy when hitting a pothole. The next day I went back and took pictures of that area and a video. This was by a guardrail with a huge drop off on the side. I am lucky I didn't lose control of my car when the airbag exploded right next to me and possibly go through the guardrail and off of that steep drop off. Things could have been much worse. It was a very frightening situation and thank god, nobody was in that seat. I know exactly where it was on that road because when I looked over I saw a big white circle (didn't know what it was at first. . . Thought my window had broken) and I saw the end of the guard rail where it angles down at the end. I was not speeding, or on the phone. Just driving down a county road and had $1700 worth of damage done to my car. I only have pl/pd on that car so my insurance won't cover it.

Was traveling at 65mph on the highway when driver side side airbag deployed for no reason. There was no impact. Dealership has been contacted. At this time there has been no resolution.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Focus wagon. While driving 55 mph the passenger side air bag suddenly deployed. There was no crash or road hazard that caused the deployment and none of the warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to drive to his residence without incident. The contact did not notify the dealer or manufacturer. The failure and current mileages were 49,000.

The right side door air bag deployed inadvertently while driving. No injuries reported. Vehicle was towed to the dealer, and mechanic determined that the problem could not be duplicated.

While my 2003 Ford Focus was being vacuum at the carwash, the side passenger airbag of my 2003 Ford Focus deployed. My car was parked and there was no impact. I had my car towed from the carwash to the dealership where I purchased my car. Their service department has not given me a solid reason as to why the airbag deployed. Their theories have ranged from damage to the undercarriage, the force of the vacuum at the carwash, to the possibility that I ran over a tire.

On December 20, 2004 I was driving home from work in my Ford Focus zts. The roads were very icy, and near my home, I slid on a patch of ice, went over a small bank, and hit 2 trees in someone's yard. While I was sliding I was headed to hit one tree head on, but I was able to steer away to where I hit both trees at exactly the same time, but only from the side. However, neither my front nor side air bags deployed. The impact of the crash was enough to total my car, even though I was only going 25 m. P. H. It was brand new, only 20,000 miles. My mechanic said that the air bags should definitely have deployed.

Traveling east-bound on I-10. Forced onto left shoulder by another vehicle. While attempting to move back onto the freeway was hit square on the drivers door by a pickup truck traveling in the same direction. Vehicle rolled 3-4 times before coming to stop. None of the front or side airbags deployed in the 2003 Ford Focus. The car only had 5000 miles on it.

While driving at 65 mph consumer heard a loud bang after a tractor trailer passed on the left side. Vehicle began to fill with smoke, and the consumer felt a sharp pain in the shoulder. Driver's side air bag deployed. Consumer claimed that the vehicle never made contact with the tractor trailer.

Consumer stated while driving, the passenger side air bag deployed. She stated she was the only one in the vehicle, so no one was injured. She stated there was no warning.

While driving at 25 mph, the side air bags inadvertently deployed. The driver sustained injuries as a result. The vehicle was towed to the dealership for investigation. Please provide any further information.

Vehicle was involved in a frontal collision while driving at 25/30 mph. Upon impact, neither passenger's side nor driver's side air bags deployed. Passenger sustained injures.