NHTSA Complaint #10502500 — 2012 FORD FUSION

2012 FORD FUSION INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. SEVERE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE ON PASSENGER SIDE. THE FRONT SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK AND THE FRONT PASSENGER AND THE DRIVER WERE THROWN IN THE CABIN. IN ADDITION, ACCORDING TO BODY REPAIR SHOP AND INSURANCE ADJUSTERS, IMPACT WAS AT THE LOCATION OF THE SENSOR FOR SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS. HOWEVER, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IN FACT, BRACKET FOR AIR BAG SENSOR WAS BROKEN, BUT IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED WHETHER THE BRACKET WAS BROKEN PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT OR UPON IMPACT. REAR PASSENGER RECEIVED A SEVERE HEAD INJURY. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS INSTRUCTED ME TO TAKE VEHICLE IN TO A DEALER AND HAVE THE RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE ("RCM") REPLACED AND TO SEND THE ORIGINAL TO THE COMPANY FOR ANALYSIS. THEY ARE PAYING FOR THIS. FURTHER RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR FORD FIESTAS RELATED TO THE PROGRAMMING OF THE RCM AND ITS FAILURE TO DEPLOY AIRBAGS THAT COULD LEAD TO INJURIES TO A REAR PASSENGER. THIS SOUNDS VERY SIMILAR, AND MAY WARRANT AN INVESTIGATION TO SEE IF THAT RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO OTHER FORD VEHICLES. UNFORTUNATELY, ONE WOULD ONLY KNOW OF THE FAILURE IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. *TR UPDATED 3/27/13 *CN UPDATED 05/09/2013 *JS