NHTSA Complaint #10106257 — 2001 FORD WINDSTAR

DRIVING ON US 60 AND LOOP 101 WHEN THE SIDE AIR BAG LOCATED IN DRIVERS LEFT SIDE OF SEAT EXPLODED. THERE HAD BEEN SOME WOOD PALLET DEBRIS APPROXIMATELY SCATTERED ON THE ROAD 100 HUNDRED YARDS BEHIND THE POINT OF THE AIR BAG ACTIVATION. ANALYSIS FROM THE FORD DEALERSHIP SHOWS THAT SOME SMALL OBJECT IMPACTED ONTO THE FRAME UNDERNEATH THE CENTER POST ABOUT 6 INCHES UP ON THE FRAME POST. I THINK THAT THIS AREA IS OF IMPACT IS UNPROTECTED FROM SMALL OBJECTS DETONATING THE AIR BAG IN A NON EMERGENCY CONDITION. (EXAMPLE) GRAVEL ROADS ANY SMALL ROCK COULD TRIGGER THE AIR BAG. THIS CONDITION MAY HAPPEN ON ANY ROAD FROM OBJECTS TOO SMALL TO BE OBSERVED. THE ONLY DAMAGE NOTED IS SOME PAINT SCRAPED FROM FRAME. DEALER PUT THE CAR ON HOIST AND THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY TO SEE THE IMPACT AREA. IT IS ACTUALLY ABOUT 6 INCHES ABOVE THE BOTTOM OF CAR FRAME. MECHANIC SAID THE AREA WAS 6 INCHES FROM THE SENSOR. I AM NOW DEALING WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO GET THE AIR BAG AND SEAT REPLACED. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. I DO HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE AREA IMPACTED BUT FEEL THE SENSOR IS NOT ADEQUATELY PROTECTED FROM FALSE EXPLOSIONS. *NM