NHTSA Complaint #10148477 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

MY FIANCE, PARENTS AND I WERE DRIVING HOME FROM DINNER AND GOT CAUGHT IN A SNOW STORM. KNOWING HOW BAD THE ROADS NEAR ME CAN GET I SLOWED DOWN TO 15 MPH WHEN I SAW THE ROADS WERE GETTING COVERED. WE CAME AROUND A CORNER AND CAUGHT A PATCH OF ICE AND THE CAR SLID INTO A CURB. UPON IMPACT OF THE CURB, BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND THE WINDSHIELD WAS SMASHED (FROM THE AIRBAG. WHEN WE EXITED THE VEHICLE WE EXPECTED TO SEE MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE CAR. WE WENT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR TO FIND THAT THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE WAS PUSHED BACK 3-6 INCHES AND THE FRONT RIGHT FENDER WAS SLIGHTLY BENT. ALL DAMAGE WAS FROM THE TIRE. I NEVER EXPECTED THAT MUCH DAMAGE FROM A 15 MPH COLLISION WITH A CURB. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BUMPER WHERE THE AIRBAG CRASH SENSORS ARE LOCATED. COST TO FIX TIRE AND FENDER = $1,200. COST TO FIX AIRBAGS/WINDSHIELD/DASH DAMAGE FROM AIRBAGS = $4,000. WITH LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK