NHTSA Complaint #10410665 — 2005 FORD F-150

AFTER DRIVING THROUGH A SHALLOW (LESS THAN 6 INCHES DEEP) PUDDLE, MY AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON MY DASHBOARD, ACCOMPANIED BY A WARNING CHIME. THE FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAULTY FRONT IMPACT SENSOR, WHICH SHORTED OUT. THE SHORTED SENSOR, IN TURN, SHORTED OUT THE ENTIRE RESTRAINT SYSTEM MODULE (THE "BRAIN BOX" ). AFTER INVESTIGATING ON THE INTERNET, I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. IT SEEMS THAT THE LOCATION OF THE FRONT IMPACT SENSOR, PLACED ON THE HOOD LATCH SUPPORT, MAKES THE SENSOR SUSCEPTIBLE TO WATER INFILTRATION. CORROSION THEN CAUSES THE SENSOR TO FAIL. FURTHERMORE, WITH THE FREEZE-THAW CYCLE IN MICHIGAN, WATER THAT IS ALLOWED TO ENTER THE SENSOR CAN EVENTUALLY CRACK THE HOUSING, ALLOWING EVEN MORE MOISTURE TO GET INSIDE. THE FACT THAT THE ENTIRE RESTRAINT SYSTEM MODULE WAS DESTROYED BY THE SHORT IN ONE IMPACT SENSOR IS QUITE DISCONCERTING. THE SYSTEM SHOULD BE ENGINEERED TO PREVENT SUCH CATASTROPHIC ELECTRICAL DAMAGE. IT APPEARS THAT THE SENSOR DESIGN AND PLACEMENT WAS POORLY ENGINEERED FOR VEHICLES IN THE NORTHERN CLIMATE WHERE THE FREEZE-THAW CYCLE AND ROAD SALT ARE PRESENT. *TR