NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Air Bags complaints
51 reportsClear category filter97,000 miles · Nov 18, 2014
Air BagsCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK A CURB. THE DRIVER DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLV…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FOCUS. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK A CURB. THE DRIVER DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH IN MARCH OF 2007. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000. UPDATED 2/10/15*CN UPDATED 9/6/2017*CN
NHTSA ODI #10658836
Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2014
Air BagsStructureWheelsCrash
ON THE DATE OF MY ACCIDENT, I WAS HEADED FOR WORK, I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65 M.P.H WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON HER BRAKES. I COULDN'T AVOID THE SITUATION, I RAN INTO THE BACK OF HER.. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10652696
160,000 miles · Nov 4, 2014
Air Bags
THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHEN AN ADULT SITS IN PASSENGER SEAT AND SECURES SEAT BELT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10652588
55,000 miles · Oct 29, 2014
Air BagsCrash
I WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT WHERE I REAR-ENDED AN XTERRA SUV. I WAS TRAVELING BELOW THE ALLOWED SPEED LIMIT OF 35MPH, DUE TO WATER ON THE ROAD FROM A PREVIOUS RAINFALL. THE FRONT OF MY CAR WENT UNDERNEATH THE XTERRA. MY AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED. SINCE THAT TIME AND REPAIR TO MY VEHICLE, I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE RUSTY ECK FORD DE…
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I WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT WHERE I REAR-ENDED AN XTERRA SUV. I WAS TRAVELING BELOW THE ALLOWED SPEED LIMIT OF 35MPH, DUE TO WATER ON THE ROAD FROM A PREVIOUS RAINFALL. THE FRONT OF MY CAR WENT UNDERNEATH THE XTERRA. MY AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED. SINCE THAT TIME AND REPAIR TO MY VEHICLE, I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE RUSTY ECK FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY STATED THEY RESET MY AIRBAG LIGHT. THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AGAIN FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND HAS NOT TURNED ITSELF OFF. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT IF I SHOULD BE IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT, MY AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. ALSO, I BELIEVE THEIR MAY BE A DEFECT IN THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10650954
101,000 miles · Oct 27, 2014
Air Bags
THE CLOCK SPRING AND OTHER CIRCUITRY WAS REPAIRED AND REPLACED AT 50000 MILES BY MANTILLA FORD OF WEST HAVEN, CT AT 50,000 MILES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE OF MAJOR IMPORTANCE. THE REPAIR WAS DONE UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON. I COMMUNICATED WITH FORD MOTOR CO. AT THEIR HEADQUARTERS BY EMAIL LAST WEEK AND THEY DID…
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THE CLOCK SPRING AND OTHER CIRCUITRY WAS REPAIRED AND REPLACED AT 50000 MILES BY MANTILLA FORD OF WEST HAVEN, CT AT 50,000 MILES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE OF MAJOR IMPORTANCE. THE REPAIR WAS DONE UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON. I COMMUNICATED WITH FORD MOTOR CO. AT THEIR HEADQUARTERS BY EMAIL LAST WEEK AND THEY DID NOT RESPOND SO I CALLED THEM THIS MORNING THE SO CALLED REPAIR THAT WAS DONE WAS NOT EFFECTIVE. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AGAIN. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BROKEN DOWN, HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND NEVER BEEN TOWED. TOLD FORD THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR WHAT I PERCEIVE AS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WHICH COULD KILL ME. THE HAVE REFUSED TO CONSIDER COVERING THE REPAIR WHICH BRANFORD FORD OF BRANFORD ,CT ESTIMATES TO BE $502.00 I INTEND COMMUNICATE WITH THE LEGAL DEPT AT FORD HEADQUARTERS FOR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10650400
72,000 miles · Oct 26, 2014
Air Bags
THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. FORD SAYS IT'S NOT PART OF THE TAKATA RECALL BUT I WANT TO BE SURE. I DON'T WANT TO DIE FROM IT EXPLODING AND I WANT IT CHECKED TO BE SURE. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED SO I HAVE NO IDEA IF IT MAY HAVE BEEN REPLACED BEFORE. I DON'T TRUST THE DEALERSHIP HERE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10650152
60,000 miles · Sep 27, 2014
Air BagsCrash
DAUGHTER WAS HIT ON FRONT DRIVER SIDE BY SOMEBODY RUNNING A RED LIGHT AND PUSHING HER CAR INTO A METAL POLE AND EMBANKMENT THAT BENT THE PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL AND CAUSED FLUID TO GUSH FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR PLUS, NOT TO MENTION THAT SHE IS 6 MONTHS PREGNANT AND AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10639577
Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2014
Air Bags
AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND GOING OFF WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT. I HAVE HEARD SEVERAL OTHER FORD FOCUS OWNERS (DIFFERENT YEARS) HAVE HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO THEM. FORD SAID THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF A PROBLEM. HAVEN'T HAD IT FIXED. KEEP WATCHING FOR ANY RECALLS BUT HAVEN'T HAD ANY YET. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10626844
115,000 miles · Jun 27, 2013
Air BagsPower TrainSteeringCrashInjury
BEGINNING LAST YEAR, THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHEN I WAS DECELERATING AND THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR WOULD BEGIN TO VIBRATE AND THE STEERING WOULD BECOME DIFFICULT TO HANDLE. TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, ASKED ME TO MAKE NOTE OF ROAD CONDITIONS, ETC. TIRES REPL…
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BEGINNING LAST YEAR, THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHEN I WAS DECELERATING AND THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR WOULD BEGIN TO VIBRATE AND THE STEERING WOULD BECOME DIFFICULT TO HANDLE. TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, ASKED ME TO MAKE NOTE OF ROAD CONDITIONS, ETC. TIRES REPLACED SOMETIME IN THE PAST YEAR. ALIGNMENT PERFORMED WITHIN PAST TWO MONTHS. TIRES ARE WEARING IN DIAGONAL PAIRS ODDLY. BLEW FUSE WHICH OPERATED THE AUTOMATIC SAFETY LOCKS, CRUISE CONTROL AND THE LOCKING CONTROL ON TAKING THE CAR OUT OF PARK. CALLED FORD DEALERSHIP, WAS TOLD TO POP SMALL PIECE OF PLASTIC OFF THE SHIFTER DECK AND STICK A SCREW DRIVER IN TO BE ABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. WAS ALSO TOLD THIS COULD BE A BIG PROBLEM AND TO BRING IT IN. AFTER CHARGING ME $130.00 TO "DIAGNOSE" THE PROBLEM, THEY THEN CHARGED ME $10 TO REPLACE THE FUSE, COULD FIND NO REASON FOR IT TO HAVE BLOWN. THEN TOLD ME MY TRANSMISSION FLUID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TOO MANY DOLLARS LATER, I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP. TWO WEEKS LATER, FUSE BLEW AGAIN. TOOK TO INDEPENDENT GARAGE,$ 0.95 FOR THE FUSE AND $30 TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT WHY IT WAS BLOWING OUT, UNSUCCESSFULLY. THE SHIMMY IN THE FRONT END WAS GETTING WORSE AND I WAS DEBATING DEALERSHIP OR INDEPENDENT, DECISION WAS REMOVED FROM MY HANDS WHEN THE FRONT OF THE CAR BEGAN SWERVING TOWARD TRAFFIC IN RUSH HOUR AT 45MPH ON MONDAY NIGHT 6/24/13. SUDDENLY, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND I MANAGED TO WRENCH THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND HIT A CURB INSTEAD OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. FRIEND BEHIND ME WITNESSED INCIDENT AND SAID THE CAR LOOKED LIKE IT JUMPED SIDEWAYS. BOTH RIGHT TIRES OFF RIMS, SHREDDED, UNKNOWN FURTHER DAMAGE AT THIS POINT AS THE SHOP HASN'T HAD A CHANCE TO MAKE AN ASSESSMENT. MY INSURANCE COMPANY IS ALREADY CONSIDERING TOTALING THE CAR OUT. IT HAS 128000 MILES OR SO. I FEEL LIKE I HAVE SIDEWAYS WHIPLASH. NO AIRBAG DEPL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10522001
45,000 miles · Jul 31, 2012
Air BagsSeats
I OWN A 2005 FOCUS ZX4 WHOM HAS BEEN SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES FOR ENGINE MOUNTS, ALTERNATOR, HEADLIGHTS/TAIL LIGHTS, STEREO, AND NOW PASSENGER FRONT SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR. I WAS TOLD BACK IN 2009 THAT THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR WAS NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THE STEREO WAS!!! SO EVERYTIME I HAVE AN ADULT IN …
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I OWN A 2005 FOCUS ZX4 WHOM HAS BEEN SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES FOR ENGINE MOUNTS, ALTERNATOR, HEADLIGHTS/TAIL LIGHTS, STEREO, AND NOW PASSENGER FRONT SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR. I WAS TOLD BACK IN 2009 THAT THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR WAS NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THE STEREO WAS!!! SO EVERYTIME I HAVE AN ADULT IN THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE SEAT MALFUNCTIONS; A SAFETY FEATURE TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY SAFE IS NOT COVERED AND NOW I SEE ANOTHER CAR MANUFACTURER RECALLING THE SAME THING BUT FORD IS NOT WILLING TO FIX. I CALLED FORD HEADQUARTERS AND NO HELP OR CARE TO DO SO... THIS WILL BE MY LAST FORD I PURCHASE AFTER YEARS OF GROWING UP WITH FORDS. YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD CARE ABOUT THEIR CONSUMERS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10468405
Official recalls
1Feb 1, 2005
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH FOUR OR FIVE DOORS AND ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A BUILD-UP OF CORROSION AT THE PAWL PIVOT AREA OF THE REAR DOOR LATCH CAN CAUSE A BINDING CONDITION OF THE PAWL THAT MAY AFFECT PROPER ENGAGEMENT OF THE PAWL INTO THE CATCH. THE OCCUPANT MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY OPENING OR CLOSING A REAR DOOR, AND EVENTUALLY THE REAR DOOR MAY NOT LATCH PROPERLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF NOT LATCHED PROPERLY, THE DOOR MAY OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. IF AN OCCUPANT FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE, PERSONAL INJURIES COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL HAVE A LOWER ROCKER SEAL ADDED TO THE DOOR AND HAVE THE REAR DOOR LATCHES EVALUATED FREE OF CHARGE. A LATCH THAT PASSES THE EVALUATION WILL BE LUBRICATED TO PREVENT FUTURE CORROSION. A LATCH THAT DOES NOT PASS THE EVALUATION WILL BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, A STICKER WILL BE AFFIXED TO THE REAR DOORS ADVISING THE OWNERS TO USE THE RECOMMENDED LUBRICANT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 9, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1AQ10001 · Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
Opened Nov 18, 2010 · Closed Dec 28, 2015
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other
On November 18, 2010, NHTSA's Recall Management Division (RMD) opened an audit query (AQ10-001) to investigate recall remedy completion by rental car companies on safety recall campaigns.It was expected to provide the agency an indication of how completely and how quickly rental car fleets perform necessary recall-related remedies on the vehicles owned and then rented/leased for use on the roadways.RMD queried three (3) major motor vehicle manufacturers (Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors) and requested data regarding completion figures for fifteen (15) discreet safety recalls.Analysis of this data demonstrated that rental car recalls completion was neither complete nor consistent.The rental car companies representing the largest market share in the industry were then queried as to their respective policies for the rental, lease, and sale of vehicles with open recalls.The data and responses from the manufacturers and the rental car companies can be found in the document repository by accessing the ?Associated Documents link above.In December 2015, Congress enacted the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.One section of the Act prohibits rental car companies from renting, leasing, or selling motor vehicles subject to open safety recalls.With the passage of the FAST Act and its prohibition, there is no continuing need for the agency to investigate rental car recall completions.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The agency reserves the right to open any future investigations, including audits of individual recalls, or groups of recalls, or rental car companies, to examine more closely safety recalls performance and completion issues in this area.