NHTSA Complaint #10429920 — 2003 FORD F-150

SEPT 17TH 2011. SAT. NIGHT ABOUT 10:00PM I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 FORD F-150 TRUCK EAST. I WAS GOING ABOUT 45-50MPH ON A STRAIGHT COUNTRY ROAD WHEN A LOUD SOUND WENT OFF AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND THE TRUCK CAME TO A SCREECHING STOP. I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE TRUCK ON THE ROAD AS IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I AND A PASSENGER WERE WEARING SEATBELTS AND WERE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE TRUCK. IT WAS FULL OF SMOKE AND THE HORN WAS BLARING , WE OPENED THE HOOD AND DISABLED THE HORN PUT ON THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS. THE TRUCK WOULD NOT MOVE. COULDN'T GET IT IN OR OUT OF GEAR, ITS A STANDARD. I CALLED MY INSURANCE CO. AND WE HAD MY TRUCK TOWED FROM THERE TO A FRIENDS HOUSE. BOTH OF US WERE PRETTY SHAKENED AND HAD HURT NECKS AND BACKS AND I HURT MY HAND. MY FRIEND GOT HURT THE WORST AND IS STILL SEEING DOCTORS FOR HIS NECK INJURIES. I AM OKAY BUT SORE AND HAVEN'T GONE TO THE DOCTORS. MY INSURANCE WON'T COVER THE DAMAGE IT CAUSED INSIDE THE CAB OR HAVE AIRBAGS RE-INSTALLED. I HAVE FULL COVERAGE! THE AIR BAGS JUST DEPLOYED ON THEIR OWN. OUT OF THE BLUE. GIVES ME A WHOLE NEW PERSPECTIVE ABOUT AIR BAGS,THEY MAY SAVE YOUR LIVE OR TAKE YOUR LIFE! THEY ARE SCARY, SMELL BAD, RUIN YOUR CAR AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH A BRAIN BEFORE THE TRUCK WILL RUN. THE TRUCK IS STILL DISABLED TODAY. I FEEL IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE AIRBAG SENSORS OR THE AIRBAGS THEMSELVES! AND IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY EITHER MY INSURANCE OR THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY. IT'S A SAFETY FEATURE AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY ONE OF THE TWO! I HAD THE TRUCK FOR 4 YEARS AND NOTHING HAD EVER HAPPENED LIKE THAT BEFORE. ITS NEVER BEEN HIT IN THE FRONT AND I WAS JUST DRIVING ALONG. ON A STRAIGHT ROAD AND BOOM. THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND THE TRUCK CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP. IT WAS TRAUMATIZING TO SAY THE LEAST! *KB