NHTSA Complaint #10256312 — 1999 FORD TAURUS

ON FEBRUARY 10TH, 2008, MY FRONT WINDSHIELD SUDDENLY SHATTERED, LEAVING A HOLE IN IT'S CENTER AND "CRACKLING" THE REMAINING PART OF THE WINDOW, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO SEE THROUGH IT. I IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES (THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME) CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK VIOLENTLY TO THE RIGHT 90 DEGREES AND SLAM HEAD FIRST INTO AN ELECTRICAL UTILITY BOX. THE CAR CONTINUED TO SPIN AROUND WHICH DROVE IT OVER AN ISLAND IN THE CENTER OF THE ROAD AND INTO A ROAD SIGN AND WHILE STILL SPINNING, SMASHED INTO A UTILITY POLE NEXT TO THE UTILITY BOX. DURING THIS ENTIRE INCIDENT, I COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD AND WAS NOT AWARE WHAT THE CAR WAS HITTING OR WHAT DIRECTION IT WAS MOVING. WHEN THE CAR HIT THE UTILITY BOX, I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH. AFTER REBOUNDING FROM THE UTILITY BOX INTO THE CENTER ISLAND AND SPINNING TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE I HIT THE UTILITY POLE, THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO REST. DURING THE SPINNING AND HITTING AND BOUNCING (A LIGHT WORD FOR WHAT WAS HAPPENING) THE SHOULDER HARNESS ON MY 1999 FORD TAURUS SE FAILED TO HOLD ME SECURELY AGAINST MY SEAT AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. IT HAS NOW BEEN 49 WEEKS SINCE THIS HAPPENED AND AFTER MANY COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN MYSELF AND ANTELOPE VALLEY FORD IN LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA, WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN MARCH 2005 AS A PRE-OWNED VEHICLE WITH 52,000 MILES ON IT, AND CORRESPONDENCE WITH FORD MOTOR CO. IN DEARBORNE, MICHIGAN, TO WHOM I SENT ALL REQUESTED DOCUMENTS AND COPIES OF LETTERS TO AV FORD RE: THE 4 TIMES I TRIED TO GET THEM TO FIX AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM CAUSING IT TO PULL RIGHT, ESPECIALLY WHEN BRAKING. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER "CAR WILL ALWAYS PULL TO RIGHT DUE TO FRONT WHEEL DRIVE TORQUE". I ASKED FOR MY $5,000.00 DOWN PAYMENT AND RELEASE FROM THE CONTRACT. I WAS IGNORED. FORD MOTOR CO. SAID NOT ENOUGH IMPACT FOR AIRBAGS. THE CAR HAS BEEN REPAIRED. I NOW KNOW THE COMPUTER MODULE FOR AIRBAG USE WAS NEVER SET, BUT NO DASH WARNING LIGHT. *TR