NHTSA Complaint #10559497 — 2009 FORD FUSION

DEER STRIKE FONT END TRAVELING ABOUT 40 MPH,, 9 YEAR OLD IN PASSENGER SEAT, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AS REQUIRED , SHE WAS TOO LIGHT., DAMAGE TO FRONT END BUMPER, HOOD, AND GRILL. UPON REPAIR I NOTICED THAT THE DASH BOARD JUST BELOW THE PASSENGER AIR BAG HAD BEEN BUCKLED AND PULLED AWAY FROM THE AIR BAG COVER.THE BODY SHOP TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO WAY TO REPAIR THIS EXCEPT REPLACE THE ENTIRE DASH BOARD AND THEN THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THAT IT JUST WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. BODY TECH TOLD ME THAT REPAIR MAY INTERFERE WITH THE OPERATION OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYING AS WELL AS LEAVING IT ALONE. THIS IS A KNOWN DESIGN ISSUE WITH FORD FUSIONS AND THERE ARE NO SERVICE BULLETINS OR RECALLS. INSURANCE WOULD NOT COVER REPAIR SINCE IT WAS CAUSED BY HEAT ON THE DASH AND THERE WAS NOTHING TO GLUE THE DASH BACK ON. GOOGLE'D THE ISSUE AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON LINE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. ANYTHING THAT HAS A POTENTIAL OF AIR BAG OPERATION IS A CRITICAL SAFETY CONCERN. *TR