2006 Ford Freestar Air Bags & Restraints Problems

I purchased a 2006 Ford Freestyle which currently has an open safety recall for 3rd Row Seat Latch Striker Corrosion Repair. I took the vehicle to a Ford dealership to have the recall repaired. The dealership confirmed the recall but days later informed me that the necessary parts are no longer available and that they are unable to complete the repair. This creates a serious safety concern because the recall involves corrosion of the 3rd row seat latch striker, which can affect proper seat latching and passenger safety in the event of a crash. I attempted to escalate this issue by contacting Ford corporate customer support. However, I have not received any resolution. I have been given the runaround between Ford corporate and the dealership. The dealership referred me to Ford customer support, and Ford customer support continues to refer me back to the dealership without providing any solution. I also have written communication from the dealership service department stating that their Special Service Support Center would not be able to assist and advising me to contact Ford customer support. Despite following these instructions, no assistance or remedy has been provided. As a result, the safety recall remains unresolved, and I am unable to complete required vehicle inspection/registration. I am left with a vehicle that has a known safety defect with no available repair and no clear resolution from the manufacturer. I am requesting immediate assistance and a definitive resolution to this safety issue.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE THIRD ROW SEAT BELT LATCH WAS CORRODED AND THE BUCKLE NO LONGER LATCHED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 128,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V081000 (SEATS) AND STATED THAT THERE WAS EXTENSIVE RUST TO THE POINT OF CORROSION ON THE BOLTS, REAR WHEEL WELLS AND THE SEATBELT ANCHORS AREA. THE RUST WAS ALSO COMING INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE ON THE REAR FLOORBOARD. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REMEDY THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO UNLATCH. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE SEAT WAS FOLDED DOWN AND THE SEAT BELT TIGHTENED, LEAVING NO SLACK IN THE WEBBING TO ALLOW IT TO RETURN TO THE UPRIGHT POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000. *TR

WHOLE AIRBAG AREA HAS A THICK STICKY FEELING OVER THE COVER. WON'T CLEAN OFF. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FREESTAR. APPROXIMATELY THIRTY SECONDS AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE NECESSARY PARTS WERE ON A NATIONAL BACK ORDER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,100 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,913. UPDATED 03/10/11 *BF UPDATED 1/4/11 *CN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHICH INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN CLOCK SPRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,098 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,168.

SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT CONTINUALLY STAYS LIT WHEN ENGINE IS TURNED IDLING WHILE STATIONARY AND WHILE IN MOTION. ON CITY STREETS, HIGHWAYS, TURNING, BRAKING ,DEC .CONTINUOUS SINCE 2010.

REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT DAMAGED THROUGH UNKNOWN CAUSE. THIS SEATBELT WAS SPECIFICALLY ONLY USED FOR USE WITH CHILD BOOSTER SEAT. NOW THE SEATBELT IS CUT AND CLEARLY UNSAFE FOR ANYONE'S USE. *TR

WE RENTED A FORD FREESTAR FROM A LOCAL RENTAL COMPANY. TODAY, MY 10 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, WHO IS 59 INCHES TALL AND WEIGHS 71 LBS., WAS SITTING IN THE MIDDLE ROW BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT. SHE WAS APPROPRIATELY RESTRAINED IN THE LAP-SHOULDER BELT ONLY. I HAD TO STOP SUDDENLY. WHILE I WOULD CHARACTERIZE IT AS AN ABRUPT STOP, IT WAS NOT SEVERE AND THERE WAS NO IMPACT. I HEARD A "BREAKING" SOUND. MY DAUGHTER EXCLAIMED THAT HER SEAT BELT HAD BROKEN. I PULLED OVER TO INSPECT IT; AND FOUND THAT THE UPPER SHOULDER BELT ANCHOR HAD BECOME DETACHED (UNBOLTED) FROM THE VEHICLE. I COULD NOT FIND EVIDENCE OF BREAKAGE. THE BOLT SEEMS TO HAVE SIMPLY COME OUT. OF COURSE, THIS FAILURE CREATED CONSIDERABLE SLACK IN THE SHOULDER BELT WHICH I BELIEVE WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXCEED NHTSA'S HEAD EXCURSION LIMITS. THE FREESTAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN OCTOBER, 2005. BY THE WAY, NO ONE WAS HURT AND I PLAN TO CONTACT FORD TOMORROW. I AM A CERTIFIED CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY INSTRUCTOR AND FORMER CHILD SAFETY SEAT DESIGN ENGINEER. *NM

DT: CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2005 WHILE GOING 25 MPH. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAG COVER OVER THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE CAME OUT ABOUT AND QUARTER OF AN INCH; HOWEVER, THE ACTUAL AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IT WAS A SIDE IMPACT AND PASSENGERS SIDE IT WAS A HEAD ON IMPACT. *AK