NHTSA Complaint #10168862 — 2005 FORD THUNDERBIRD

ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2006 WHILE TRAVELING ON AN 8-LANE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG ON MY 2005 FORD THUNDERBIRD DEPLOYED WITH A VERY LOUD NOISE AND CONSIDERABLE FORCE. THERE WAS NO IMPACT OR ACCIDENT INVOLVED WITH THIS INCIDENT. THE AIR BAG SIMPLY DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. FORTUNATELY, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE CONTROLLED AND PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY SAFELY. THE CAR WAS THEN TAKEN TO DARLING FORD IN BANGOR MAINE ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2005 WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED AND FOUND TO HAVE NO SIGNS OF ANY RECENT IMPACT EITHER ON THE EXTERIOR OR THE UNDERBODY. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW ON FEBRUARY 14TH 2005 AND HAS GONE APPROXIMATELY 16,000 MILES. THIS IS WELL WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE DEALER TOLD US THE CAR WOULD LIKELY HAVE TO BE INSPECTED BY FORD PERSONNEL TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE AND TO AUTHORIZE ANY REPAIRS. THE DEALER LATER CONTACTED US ON SEPTEMBER 18TH WHO TOLD HIM THAT FORD HAD DECIDED NOT TO COVER ANY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS INCIDENT EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF ANY IMPACT. THIS DECISION WAS MADE WITHOUT ANY FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE. THIS INCIDENT WAS CLEARLY A FAULT OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM, AND SINCE WE CANNOT FIND ANY EXCLUSION OF THE FORD WARRANTY REGARDING THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WE ARE SEEKING AUTHORIZATION FOR REPAIRS TO THIS VEHICLE. IT IS VERY FORTUNATE NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED DUE TO THE FAULTY OPERATION OF THIS DEVICE. FURTHER, THE DEALER TELLS US THAT THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE SIDE AIR BAG NOW DISABLES ALL OF THE AIR BAGS LEAVING THE DRIVER AND ANY PASSENGERS IN A VERY VULNERABLE SITUATION. *JB