Air Bag Problems of Mercury Tracer

Two weeks ago my car (a 1997 Mercury Tracer) was involved in an car accident in kingman, (4 hours north west of phoenix). The cause of the accident was the fault of the air bags suddenly deploying without cause, causing extensive damage to my car. I then notified my insurance company and it was towed to a repair shop here in kingman. Later the next day while the repair shop was doing their investigation into the cause, the car burst into flames from the air bag compartment. A couple days later the insurance company notified me that there was a recall from Ford motor company of which I was never notified. Then confirming that to me that my car was in fact totaled, and they wished to remove the car from the repair shop. Earlier last week I sent an email to Ford motors telling of my disgust of the company because I was never notified on such a serious issue. On Friday 11/14 I received a call from Ford motors customer service asking for more information about the accident. At this time I am waiting for a response back from, what I assume, is their legal department.

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While driving down at speed of 65-70 mph, the car ceased to accelorate. I pulled over to the side of the road, once the car was completely stopped it would no longer crank. Today when I went to clean it out (happened at night)I saw that a hole was burned through the bottom of the passenger side dash board. Also I noticed that there was smoke/fire residue on the windshield coming from the defrost vents. Before any of this happened the airbag ligts were coming on and there was a burnt plastic smell and a scent of ammonia smell coming from god-knows-where. When I looked under the hood everything looked normal. I have been unable to go to work for 2 days now. Please tell me if there is anything that I can do. Thanking you in advance for your assistance.

We bought a 1999 Mercury Tracer used car on 04/2000, later the steering wheel started vibrating badly, this vibration can be felt thru out the car. The car has been in for repair 8 times. The service manager now says that this vibration is normal. When we took it back sat in the car and said that he would not drive that car vibrating like that and he would not expect us to. . I asked if it was safe to drive, he said he could not answer that. My concern is, with this severe vibration is the steering column going to disconnect or lockup and cause severe bodily harm. If this problem is "normal" then why isn't the consumer warned about this in their advertisements. From reading other NHTSA reports I see that other individuals have had steering problems due to lockup and breakage after reporting unusual vibrations in the steering column and engine. Tha last month my car broke down completed. I took to the midas and the manager said me the was all motor mounts and two front axxels, then I fixed did he told me it was everithing. And then I tooked because I'm still have the same problem then I tooked back to midas they checked for the four time then he told me the was the trasmission problem. I'm stiil have a problem.

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Consumer received a recall letter in the mail but dealer still stated the vehicle was over warranty and refused to repair the vehicle (recall#02v323000 airbag).

Horn blows non stop until fuse is pulled. Brought to dealer and was told entire airbag had to be replaced.

Horn blows continuously. Pulled fuse to stop. Told by dealer service department need to replace entire airbag assembly to rectify.

The air bag unit failed prior to recall notification. The consumer requested reimbursement. Mr scc.

Horn went off without prior warning, and airbaglight came on dashboard. Airbag deployed. Dealership is aware of problem.

The horn continuously blew, consumer had to disconnect the fuse to stop the horn from blowing. The dealership indicated the there was a short in the air bag monitor. 8jb.

Consumer was inside of store when he heard horn going off. Consumer took vehicle to dealership. Mechanic told consumer that horn assembly was attached to airbag, and that airbag modular unit had to be replaced as one unit. Consumer stated that just by touching on horn lightly it would go off.

No summary listed for above vehicle.

False deploymen/violent deployment of airbag during a minor accident. Caused burn injuries to the thumb and chin.

1997 Mercury Tracer has a defective horn and air bag. The horn and the air bag interfered with one another which caused the horn to randomly go off and periodically blew a fuse, and disable the horn and the air bag, two dealership's and a independent mechanic stated it was a manufacturing defect.