NHTSA Complaint #10524291 — 2003 FORD EXPLORER

TRAVELING NORTH BOUND ON HIGHWAY 99 IN CHICO CA, BETWEEN EXITS 385 AND 386, THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THIS WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A CONSTRUCTION ZONE BUT THERE WAS LITTLE IN THE WAY OF DEBRIS ON THE ROAD OR BUMPS TO HAVE CAUSED THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. MY HEAD WAS VIOLENTLY THROWN TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE VEHICLE BUT I MANAGED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND SO THERE WAS NO SUBSEQUENT ACCIDENT. I NOTED THE LITTLE ORANGE LIGHT GLOWING ON THE DASH TELLING ME THE AIR BAGS HAD DEPLOYED. I SUFFERED FROM A SORE / STIFF NECK AND A RECURRENCE OF MAJOR TENDONITIS SYMPTOMS IN MY LEFT EAR. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER COULD NOT ISOLATE THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE UN-COMMANDED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND THE MATTER IS STILL WITH OUR AUTO INSURANCE COMPANY. *TR