1993 Ford Taurus Air Bags & Restraints Problems

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MULTI CAR CRASH AT 30 MPH IN ICY CONDITIONS; HOWEVER THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY NUMEROUS OTHER VEHICLES AND THE VEHICLE WAS IMPACTED ON THE ENTIRE FRONT END, PASSENGER'S SIDE DOORS AND DRIVER'S SIDE REAR DOOR. INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED TO THE DRIVER TO THE CHEST FROM IMPACTING THE STEERING WHEEL AND KNEES HITTING THE DASH. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK, A COLLAPSED RIGHT LUNG AND SEVERAL BROKEN RIBS FROM IMPACTING THE DASH BOARD. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS. THE POLICE WERE ON THE SCENE AND MADE A WRITTEN REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND DEEMED TOTALED. UPDATED 03/280/6. *JB

HIT DIP (ROAD DEFECT) 04/26/05; DRIVER'S-SIDE AIRBAG (FROM STEERING WHEEL) DEPLOYED. THOUGHT CAR ABOUT TO CATCH ON FIRE (THAT AIRBAG POWDER WAS SMOKE); QUICKLY EXITED CAR, THEN REALIZED SITUATION. SUSTAINED AIRBAG BURNS - LOWER FACE/CHIN, ALL ACROSS CHEST/BREASTS; RIGHT HAND BRUISED, SWOLLEN BETWEEN 2ND & 3RD KNUCKLES. *NO* DAMAGE TO CAR, OTHER THAN AIRBAG DEPLOYING. MY OPINION REGARDING AIRBAGS SHIFTED 180 DEGREES; JUST WANT MY CAR'S AIRBAGS DISABLED, BUT TOLD THAT'S ILLEGAL (AT LEAST IN CA). SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DRIVE AFRAID OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT & INJURY OR EVEN DEATH, WITHOUT ANY SAY IN THE MATTER. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AIRBAGS DESIGNED TO PROTECT 220-LB. _MAN_ IN FRONT-END COLLISION, RE-ENGINEERED AFTER 1ST GENERATION TO DEPLOY WITH MORE FORCE BECAUSE _NON-SEAT-BELT-WEARERS_ INJURED. I _ALWAYS_ WEAR SEAT BELT IN CAR (CA LAW); SINCE RELATIVELY SHORT (5'5"), DIRECTLY IN LINE OF DRIVER'S-SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT); LIGHTWEIGHT (125 LBS.) -- NOWHERE NEAR 220 LBS. EXTREMELY LUCKY NO OTHER CARS AROUND WHEN INCIDENT OCCURRED; ELSE UNNECESSARY AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT: DEPLOYMENT (EXPLOSION) AND RESULTANT POWDER SHOCKED ME & OBSCURED VISION. PER MOTOR SPORTS DIGEST (MSD@STIC.NET), FOR PROFESSIONAL/SKILLED RACE CAR DRIVERS: - "... SHOWROOM STOCK CLASSES ... USE THE SAME KIND OF CARS WE ALL DRIVE EVERY DAY, ONLY THEY _REMOVE_ THE AIR BAG FOR SAFETY!" AT RACING SPEEDS, WITH SAFETY PARAMOUNT -- YET RACERS REALIZE AIRBAGS ARE DANGEROUS. - "... IT['S] STRANGE WHY PEOPLE CAN'T REALIZE THAT WHAT CAN KILL A SMALL CHILD WILL AT LEAST INJURE AN ADULT!" [ I AGREE] - "... MECHANICS AND INSTALLERS ARE ALL WARNED OF THE DANGERS OF THE AIR BAG.... TOUCHING THE WRONG WIRE WHILE THEIR HEAD IS UNDER THE DASH CAN CAUSE PERMANENT HEARING LOSS AT THE VERY LEAST IF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYS." (LOCAL FORD DEALER REQUIRES $324.00 TO HOOK UP, RUN AIRBAG SIMULATOR BEFORE RE-INSTALLING AIRBAG (WHICH I DIDN'T WANT ANYWAY!) TO INSURE MECHANIC'S SAFETY.)

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY CONSUMER NOTICED THAT CRUISE CONTROL/ HORN AND AIRBAG WERE NOT OPERABLE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING AIRBAG LIGHT APPEARS ON DASHBOARD. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO DOWNTOWN FORD TO THE MANAGER - DAVE MCDANIAL - 916/442-6931 NO RESPONSE FROM DOWNTOWN FORD. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WHO, IN TURN, HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIRBAG DIDN'T GO OFF AT ALL. *AK

CONSUMER'S SON HAD AN ACCIDENT AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED. AUTOMOBILE WAS HIT 3 TIMES GOING 55 MPH, ONCE IN THE REAR AND TWICE IN THE FRONT. *AK *ML

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT BLINKS WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME. STOPS AND RESTARTS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. NO RECOGNIZABLE PATTERN.

CONSUMER HAD AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH VEHICLE HYDROPLANED AND HIT A GRAVEL ENBANKMENT. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING DRIVER TO SUSTAIN SOME INJURIES. *AK

FAILURE OF AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY ON EITHER SIDE IN CAR , DRIVER OR PASSENGER, DURING COLLISION.

THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATBELT BUCKLES DO NOT BUCKLE AT ALL, , WHICH WILL NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER SAYS THAT IN AN ACCIDENT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK SEAT BELT BROKE . *YH

THE MIDDLE REAR LAP SEATBELT BUCKLE ASSEMLY DOES NOT LOCK IN THE SEATBELT PROPERLY WHICH WONT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH SEAT BELT BUCKLES. TWO OUT OF SIX OF SEAT BELT BUCKLES BROKE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK

WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED AND CLOSED THE SAFETY BELT DOES NOT ROLL BACK, AND THE DOOR CATCHES IT. THE DEALER STATES THAT IT WORKS PROPERLY, BUT IT TAKES TOO LONG TO ROLL IN. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG IS NON-FUNCTIONAL/FAILED.

DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG IS NOT WORKING. QCAW

DRIVER MADE LEFT TURN AND PASSED OUT, VEHICLE HIT POWER POLE. BOTH AIR BAGS ACTIVATED. HOWEVER, DRIVER SUFFERED BROKEN LEFT ARM/3 BROKEN RIBS, AND MASSIVE BRUISING ALL OVER UPPER TORSO AND SOME HEAD INJURIES.

DURING REAR IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DETACHED FROM BELT BUCKLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 2 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING INJURIES. PLEASE GIVE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK