NHTSA Complaint #11062222 — 2017 FORD EXPLORER

MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON ICY ROADS ON DECEMBER 5. SHE WAS DRIVING OUR 2017 FORD EXPLORER WHICH WE HAD PURCHASED ON MAY 31, 2017. SHE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT ON A COUNTRY HIGHWAY AND HEADED NORTH. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND SHE HAD JUST GOTTEN THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WHEN A VEHICLE THAT WAS HEADING SOUTH, LOST CONTROL AND HIT HER HEAD-ON. THE ATTACHED PICTURE SHOWS THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE SUSTAINED ON THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. BEYOND THIS DAMAGE, THE IMPACT WAS STRONG ENOUGH THAT A MOTOR MOUNT MOUNTING PIN WAS SHEARED CLEAN OFF THE MOTOR AS WAS THE COVER ON THE TIMING BELT. THE REBAR IN FRONT OF THE RADIATOR WAS SNAPPED COMPLETELY IN HALF. ALL THIS DAMAGE...AND THE AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS SUFFICIENT DAMAGE THAT THIS $50,000+ VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. I'VE CONTACTED THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN SIOUX FALLS, SD WHERE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. AS SOON AS I MENTIONED AIRBAGS, THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT ADDRESS OR COMMENT ON ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS I RAISED ABOUT THE VEHICLE SAFETY FEATURES. I'VE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY DIRECT. SAME STORY. AS SOON AS THE SUBJECT OF AIRBAGS WAS LOCKED FIRMLY IN THE MIND OF THE LADY I WAS TALKING WITH, SHE PROCEEDED WITH ABOUT TEN MINUTES OF QUESTIONS. AFTER SPENDING PROBABLY 20 MINUTES ON THE PHONE WITH THIS LADY, ALL I GOT WAS, "YOU NOW HAVE A CASE NUMBER IN OUR SYSTEM." WHEN I ASKED ABOUT GETTING ANY FOLLOWUP CORRESPONDENCE, I WAS TOLD, "ALL FUTURE CORRESPONDENCE WILL BE BETWEEN THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY." AND, I'VE HEARD NOTHING SINCE. BECAUSE MY WIFE WAS NOT AT FAULT IN THIS ACCIDENT, WE ARE DEALING WITH THE OTHER DRIVER'S INSURANCE COMPANY (FARM BUREAU) AND GETTING TREATED LIKE WE WERE THE PERPETRATORS INSTEAD OF THE VICTIMS.