Side/window Air Bag Problems of Ford Focus - part 1

My two sons were turning left when they were t-boned by another vehicle. My sons vehicle was struck in the right rear. The side air bags went off but not the two fronts. Also their seat belts did not tighten. Bc of this both sons suffered tbi's, one very severe and is still recovering. The other required brain surgery. I am so upset that their seat belt did not tighten. I bought a newer Ford thinking it was going to be safe. Please someone fix this defect. I had no idea that this could ever happen. They were hit from the other person going 45 mph so it should have tightened. Sad momma. Lives changed forever. :( [xxx] parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2012 Ford Focus 🔎.

Husband was driving approx. 35 mph with his mother in the passenger seat down a country road. Driver side and passenger side airbags deployed with no accident. Passenger side airbag or cover broke windshield. Husband hit brakes.

See all problems of the 2002 Ford Focus 🔎.

While driving 70 on the turnpike the driver side side airbag deployed out of the seat without any type of impact or accident causing it to do so. The deployment caused numerous injuries. There are no signs of any damage to the vehicle that would have caused the airbag to deploy. Responding officers/deputies did not file a police report because there was no accident. The Ford collision center cannot find the reason for deployment and the sensor box is being shipped to Ford for investigation. The car remains I repaired.

See all problems of the 2007 Ford Focus 🔎.

Side airbag, contained inside my seat on my left side as I drove, inflated suddenly and violently and unprompted by any collision event. The vehicle was in motion at the time, travelling 50 mph in a straight line in the center lane on an otherwise empty road.

Dashboard light indicates problem with passenger side airbag. Company diagnostic indicates that a faulty sensor in seat buckle will prevent passenger side air bag from deploying upon impact. Car blogs indicate this has been a safety concern in Ford cars since 2003, yet Ford refuses to address this life-threatening defect.

I have a 2002 Ford Focus zx5, my driver¿s side air bag deployed while driving down the street at a speed of 35 mph with absolutely no impact to the car. Due to it deploying and going off it had hit my left shoulder and caused me to swerve to the right, if it wasn't for the fact that I was already in the right hand lane I would've crashed into another vehicle and caused a serious accident as this also happened in the middle of "rush hour traffic". I have read on other websites where 2004 and 2006's same air bags have deployed for no reason w/o any kind of impact. The noise was so loud in my left ear that I could not hear out of it for over 45mins, I can only imagine what that would've done to my infant if they would've been in the car at that time. I feel this is a serious matter as I am 5months pregnant and if the front air bag would've gone off it could've caused much more injury to me and my unborn child. Please investigate and consider having this model put on the recall list.

The contact owned a 2009 Ford Focus. While driving 30 mph, an oncoming vehicle crashed into the contact's vehicle head-on. The driver side air bag deployed. The contact sustained neck and chest injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. A police report was filed and the vehicle was towed to a collision depot. The failure mileage was 12,500.

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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.

See all problems of the 2003 Ford Focus 🔎.

2006 Ford Focus was involved in a two car accident while traveling at 50 mph. A large pickup truck pulled out in front of the Ford Focus, and the front passenger side of the car was severely damaged. As a result of the impact, the driver side air bag deployed (no one was in the passenger seat), but driver sustained severe injuries of the left eye including abrasions, burns, bruising, and swelling/inflammation after hitting a hard surface. Driver required medical attention. It is suspected that there was a delayed deployment of the air bag which resulted in the injuries.

See all problems of the 2006 Ford Focus 🔎.

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while traveling 30 mph, the driver side air bag deployed and caused the contact to crash into the side of a bridge. The contact mentioned that it felt as if the brakes failed as well. The contact sustained minor injuries and a police report was filed. The vehicle was deemed destroyed. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was unknown.

See all problems of the 2014 Ford Focus 🔎.

In the news reports show of how at high temperatures these airbags implode for no reason. At 90f traveling 30 mph up the hill the side airbags exploded w/out the vehicle hitting anything. Car was taken to the local Ford dealer. The local dealer had called Ford corp. Ford motor CO didn't want to take responsibility for the repairs as this should be at least covered under lemon regulation or at most $100 deductible from my Ford esp extended plan. They made a lot of excuses&neglected to fix it. They remained indifferent. I myself tried to call Ford's customer service manager for the west territory. The person would not fix the concern nor give authorization to the loca Ford dealer. I left several voicemails at 321-435-1206 with no responses. There has been a lot of complaints. . Read more...

Hit in rear while stopped in traffic. Our vehicle was pushed into car in front of us. Front air bags did not go off - side air bags did.

1st time, 08/21/2008, 35950, air bag failure of drivers side, bill summers Ford of north platte fixed. 2nd time approx. 09/2011at 49000 miles drivers side air bag failure and bill summers Ford fixed it again 3rd time at approximately 90,000 miles drivers air bag warning is on again of drivers side air bag failure. I don't believe safety features such as airbags should be an ongoing maintainnce problem.

Driving along hit a pothole and heard a load bang thought it was just the suspension bottoming out, looked to my left and noticed that side airbag had deployed, filling the car with noxious fumes and hitting my shoulder.

See all problems of the 2004 Ford Focus 🔎.

My husband and I were driving on a highway at about 65mph outside of cleveland, ohio when the passenger side air bag deployed without cause. We were shocked, but my husband was thankfully able to keep control of the car. The road was totally clear there was no reason for this to happen. We went to a nearby police station and the officer stated that there was no evidence of any kind of accident at all, and that this was a manufacturing defect in their opinion. My arm and back have been sore and we have not heard from the Ford dealer how they plan to take care of this. I am afraid that the other airbags are defective as well. If this happened on the driver side it could cause a serious accident.

The contact owns a 2000 Ford Focus. While driving approximately 43 mph, the front passenger side air bag deployed inadvertently. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The contact's insurance company was made aware of the failure and advised that an inspector would be sent to inspect the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 143,000.

See all problems of the 2000 Ford Focus 🔎.

Driving to work, the car in front of me stopped quickly, our cars barely touched each other, less than 3 mph, no out side damage was done to either vehicle. Both of my air bags deployed, the passenger air bag busted the windshield. The driver side air bag burnt my right air and has caused nerve damage in the area.

On Sunday July 15, 2012 I was in auto accident in which car rolled over three times on the interstate slide down interstate and landed upside down I had to climb out thru driver side window to exit car. The driver nor passenger side airbags deployed in the car. Suffered ligament damage in neck from seat belt and whiplash burn mark on left arm from sparks flying off the car, and bad contusions to lungs from chest hitting steering wheel. Contacting Ford motor company to file claim no response from them even tho they were submitted photos of proof that airbags didn't deploy etc.

Tl- the contact owns a 2007 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while traveling 65 mph, the front driver's side airbag erroneously deployed. The vehicle was able to be driven to the contact's residence and was later taken to an authorized dealer where the failure could not be replicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was 65,000 and the current mileage was 85,000. Kmj.

While my mother was driving, the front passenger side airbag deployed. It smashed the windshield and glasses were flying all over her. Soon after she came to a complete stop, she smelled a fume odor and thinking the car is catching fire. She rushed to open the door to get out. On her way out the driver side airbag deployed hitting her right shoulder. We contacted Ford motor company for faulty airbags issue but they rejected responsibility and told us to contact our insurance. Our insurance refused our claim stating it was the manufacture who should be liable. Please help us. Thank you.

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.

I was driving my 2001 Ford Focus and for no reason the paqssenger seat side air bag went off. The loud noise scared me and I almost wreck the vehicle. My ears are still rinnging from the loud blast from the air bag went off. I checked and found there are some pending law suites for this same occurrance in other 2001 Ford Focus. I feel the Ford motor CO. Needs to look into this problem before someone get seriosly hurt or killed.

See all problems of the 2001 Ford Focus 🔎.

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact was traveling approximately 35 mph when a vehicle crashed into the rear drivers side of the vehicle causing the contact to crash into a parked vehicle. The contact stated the side air bags deployed but did not cover the pillars on the side of the windows causing severe injuries to the passenger. The vehicle was towed a body shop. A police report was filed. The passenger of the vehicle was taken to the hospital by ambulance. The doctors confirmed that the passenger had sustained a broken neck, a broken collar bone, five broken ribs, a collapsed lung, and internal bleeding in her brain. The vehicle was destroyed. The approximate failure mileage 240.

I was driving down a city street when my driver side airbag deployed for no reason. I did not go over a bump and was not hit by another vehicle to justify the airbag deploying. I immediately pulled over and got out of my car.

The contact owns a 2007 Ford Focus. While driving approximately 30 mph the drivers side air bag deployed inadvertently. The contact stated that there was not a crash. The dealer was contacted and stated that the warranty did not cover the repairs and the contact would receive a return call. The contact had not received a call back. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 104,000.

2006 Ford Focus zx4 - in March 2011, as I was driving home under normal driving conditions, the driver-side airbag that is located in the driver's seat deployed for no reason whatsoever. I was not in an accident, did not hit a pothole, run over anything, or stop suddenly. The deployment caused temporary hearing loss in my left ear for several days and bruising to my back/shoulder area for several days. The deployment of the airbag also cracked a section of the inside of my car that houses the seatbelt. When the airbag delployed, it also ripped apart the upolstery on the entire left side of the driver's seat, since that's where it was located. The noise and jolt of the airbag deploying caused me to swerve on the road, but luckily I did not get into an accident. The warranty on my car is expired and I cannot afford to replace the airbag or repair the driver's seat, so no action has been taken.

The contact owns a 2007 Ford Focus. While driving approximately 65 mph the drivers side side air bag deployed. The contact stated that he was able to continue driving after the air bag deployed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technicians had not diagnosed the failure. The manufacturer stated that the repairs were not covered under the warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 30,500. Updated 05/03/lj Ford authoried the dealer to replace the driver side air bag, sensor and module.

On 2/26/2011 at approximatly 1900 hrs. I was at nellis air force base in las vegas nevada I had to pull over in a safe area to look for my id as I got out of the car with the car in park and emergency brake on I proceeded to lift the handle in front of the seat that allowes it to be moved forward so I can look under the seat for my id,I couldn't see it so I proceeded to do the same with the passanger seat and it wasen't there so again I was on the drivers side and again pulling up the handle and my right side of my face and ear was within an inch of the side air bag when it explodedand nocked me up against the drivers door frame and the airbag powder was all over me and for 30 seconds I couldn't see or hear. My face was on fire with acid burns all over my face and my right ear. I was seen at the er and was treated which included a cat scan of my hear to see if there was any internal trama and that was negative however I had developed tmj because of the impact to my jaw and migrain headaches which have not subsided to this day. All reports and pictures id taken were sent through e-mail to Ford claims dept. I was sent the paper work to fill out and send it back to them,in March 2011 I have to got to a dealer to have the chip red and it cost to have that done was $103. 48. It states that the dtc b1231 restraint system was sufficient impact to warrent a deployment yet indicates that no collision occured. So then now the modual needs to be taken out by the dealer which I went to Ford and they refused to help, so that evening went to another Ford and they helped it took them January 2012 to coordinate with Ford to take out the modgual, I just found out a week ago June 14th. That bosh is just now taking a look at that product that was sent to them in January 2012. 16 months later nothing else has been done and I don't know what else I can do. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2005 Ford Focus 🔎.

While driving on a busy 3 lane expressway in the center lane at 60 miles per hour, the left curtain airbag deployed and I wasn"t involved in an accident. My arm felt like someone hit me with a baseball bat. But luckily I was able to maintain control and not cause a pile up. My wife was in the car with me and was very thankful that I was driving because she said she probably wouldn't have reacted the same way. She had just purchased this 2007 Ford Focus less then a week ago, with a clean car fax!!!! now I'm reading that this has happened to alot of people. I have been a fireman for nearly 25 years and I've seen what airbags can do to people when they work properly. And if its true that Ford is ignoring these claims, someone one with some federal pull should do something about this.

Side airbag on 2007 Ford Focus deployed spontaneously while vehicle was being driven at highway speeds on an interstate route. According to a local Ford dealership," rcm received crash data," though there was no impact.

The contact owns a 2009 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph, the contact crashed into another vehicle. During the crash, the front passenger side air bag deployed but the front driver side did not. The contact sustained a fractured neck, back and rib. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was unavailable.

I own a 2001 Ford Focus. I was in stop and go traffic on a road near my house when I accidentally bumped the person in front of me. Both my passenger and my driver's side airbags deployed, smashing my windshield! the officer that reported to the scene said that there was no way I was going fast enough for them to deploy because I had been sitting in the traffic for a while and we were merely rolling. There was no damage to the front of my car or to the back of the other person's car so I feel that the airbags probably should not have gone off. Is it possible that this is a defect??.

I was driving on I-75 and for no reason whatsoever the passenger side, side impact airbag went off causing the cabin to fill with smoke and the passenger have a sore shoulder. We were not in a crash, did not hit a pot hole, animal, bump or have anything happen to the car. The cruise control was on at the time of the incident. I called Ford customer service and they said because it was out of warranty they couldn't do anything and to turn it into insurance. The car has 69,500 miles on it and shouldn't matter if it is not under warranty anymore because an airbag should never under any circumstance go off unless your in a crash. Insurance will not cover the problem. Car is at dealership getting an estimate.

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.

Driving on highway, 2007 Ford Focus side air bag deployed for no reason.