NHTSA Complaint #10263951 — 2007 FORD FOCUS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR WOULD CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER REMOVED THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE MECHANISM. THE REPAIRS WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. LESS THAN A YEAR LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AGAIN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURES. A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED; HOWEVER, NO ERROR CODES WERE PRODUCED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS, THE STEERING WHEEL FELT AS IF IT WOULD POP OFF. THE DEALER FOUND A DEFECT WITH THE STEERING COLUMN AND HAD THE COMPONENT REPLACED. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE FORD DEALER STATED THAT THERE MAY BE AN ISSUE WITH THE AIR BAGS FOR A PLETHORA OF REASONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE DOES NOT FEEL SAFE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. HE WAS VERY LEARY OF OPERATING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO THE FACT OF NOT HAVING A FUNCTIONING AIR BAG IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE AIR BAGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,786.