2005 Ford Freestyle Air Bags & Restraints Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, A TRACTOR TRAILER CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY THE FOLLOWING DAY, WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE QUARTER PANEL OF A 2006 DODGE RAM. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE SHOULDER AND BACK AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS PROVIDED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WAS NO FIRE DUE TO THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER WEBB FORD 9809 INDIANAPOLIS BLVD, HIGHLAND, IN 46322 (219) 924-3400. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO PROVIDED CASE NUMBER CAS-21715175 AND REFERRED TO THE LOCAL DEALER HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

I WAS DRIVING MY INFANT SON HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL AFTER CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY. IT WAS A LIGHT DRIZZLE FOLLOWING A PERIOD OF HEAVY RAIN. THE ROADS WERE WET BUT THERE WAS NO STANDING WATER. CARS WERE BRAKING IN FRONT OF ME TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN. I APPLIED MY BRAKES, THE PEDAL WAS UP, BUT THERE WERE NO BRAKES. THE VEHICLE DID NOT EVEN BEGIN TO STOP. I PUSHED THEM AGAIN AND AGAIN AND THERE WAS STILL NO BRAKING OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING A REAR END COLLISION WITH THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHO REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM. NOTE: THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED! I HAD TO TAKE MY INFANT BACK TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE TO HAVE HIM CHECKED OUT BECAUSE OF THE PRIOR SURGERY. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE CAR DID NOT THROW ANY CODES AND THAT THERE WAS NO WAY TO TEST THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND NO WAY TO PROVE THAT THEY FAILED. I AM A VERY CAUTIOUS DRIVER, ALWAYS LEAVE PLENTY OF SPACE TO STOP BETWEEN ME AND THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT OR MOVING VIOLATION, AND YET THE RESPONSE THAT I RECEIVED FROM THE DEALERSHIP WAS "WELL THE FRONT ENDS ARE MADE TO COLLAPSE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT".. THAT IS NOT THE ISSUE. THE ACCIDENT SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE STOPPED. THERE WAS MORE THAN ENOUGH SPACE TO STOP, I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES, AND DID SO MULTIPLE TIMES TO TRY TO GET THEM TO WORK (SO OBVIOUSLY I HAD PLENTY OF SPACE TO STOP) AND YET THE CAR WOULD NOT EVEN SLOW DOWN. A VEHICLE SHOULD STOP WHEN YOU APPLY THE BRAKES, ANTI-LOCK MODE OR NOT! SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AND ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN MY INFANT SON!!!!! *TR

THE MIDDLE BENCH SEATS CENTER SEAT BELT RETRACTED IN WHILE THE SEAT WAS FOLDED DOWN, LOCKED, AND WON'T ALLOW THE SEAT TO COME BACK UP. THE ONLY WAY I WAS ABLE TO GET THE SEAT BACK IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION WAS TO UNBOLTED THE SEATBELT, LET THE LOSE END RETRACT INTO THE MECHANISM UNTIL IT RELEASED ALLOWING THE END TO BE BOLTED BACK AGAIN. I'M ON THE THIRD TIME OF UNBOLTED AND BOLTING A LOUSILY (IN MY OPINION) DESIGNED SEATBELT SYSTEM. *TR

SECOND ROW BENCH WON'T RECLINE BACK UPRIGHT BECAUSE SEAT BELT MECHANISM STUCK AND PREVENTING UPRIGHT POSITION. DIFFICULT TO FASTEN CHILD'S SEAT BELT NEXT TO THE BENCH THAT WON'T GO UPRIGHT - VERY UNSAFE. CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAID THERE ISN'T ANY RECALL FOR SEAT BELT AND/OR SECOND ROW'S ALREADY KNOWN PROBLEM. THEY SAID TO PAY FOR THESE EXACT PROBLEMS OTHERS HAVE ALREADY POSTED ON MANY WEBSITES. *TR

2ND ROW, TWO SEAT BENCH. I WAS VACUUMING THE CAR. I FOLDED THE BENCH DOWN TO VACUUM UNDER IT AND WHEN I TRIED TO RETURN IT TO THE UP POSITION THE SEAT WOULD NOT UNFOLD. I REALIZED THE SEAT BELT WAS LOCKED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO GET IT FIXED THINKING ITS A SAFETY ISSUE AND WOULD BE FREE OF CHARGE, BUT IT WASN'T FREE. THEY FIXED IT FOR FREE AFTER DEBATING WITH THEM ABOUT THIS ISSUE. NOW ITS 11.14.2011 AND THE SEAT BELT IS LOCKED AGAIN WITH THE CHAIR IN DOWN POSITION. *TR

CRASH @ APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES PER HOUR. T-BONED A CAR THAT PULLED IN FRONT OF MY CAR AT A STOP LIGHT. MY CAR WAS TOTALED. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF. I FEEL THAT MY INJURIES..OF WHIPLASH AND ANOTHER PASSENGERS WOULD HAVE BEEN LESS OR NON EXISTENT IF MY AIR BAGS WENT OFF. IS THIS NEW AIR BAG REQUIREMENTS REALLY HELPING? OR IS IT JUST TRYING TO SAVE INSURANCE COMPANIES FROM TOTALING CARS THAT AIR BAGS DEPLOY? CAR WILL BE SIGNED OFF BY TOMORROW AND INSURANCE COMPANY WILL OWN THE CAR. DOES ANYONE CARE TO LOOK AT THIS CAR AND SEE IF IT FAILED?

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTYLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WOULD NOT RELEASE THE LOCK. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER BECAME STUCK IN THE SEAT AND WAS UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A SAFETY HAZARD IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE WITH THE FIRST TIME OCCURRING IN APRIL OF 2006. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, BUT STATED THAT OTHER CONSUMERS WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO REPAIR THE FAILURE BY REPLACING THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE SEAT BELT IS ALSO LOCKING UP AGAIN. FORD STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAS CURRENTLY NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,450 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NO PARTICULAR SPEED, THE AIR BAG LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE INSTRUMENT GAUGES FELL TO ZERO. THIS LASTED FOR A FEW SECONDS, BUT OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. UPDATED 10/06/06.*JB

I WAS DRIVING EASTBOUND AT 35 MPH. A WESTBOUND CAR LOST CONTROL AND CROSSED THE MEDIAN. I STRUCK THE CAR T-BONE AT 35 MPH. IT WAS A DIRECT FRONTAL COLLISION TO MY CAR. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE EXAMINED.