NHTSA Complaint #11320574 — 2018 FORD FOCUS

OUR FOCUS WAS HIT BY A CAR. THE VEHICLE HIT THE FOCUS PRIMARILY IN THE AREA OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THE DOOR WAS PUSHED IN/CRUMPLED APPROXIMATELY 18-20 INCHES OVERALL, INTRUDING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE WINDOW SHATTERED. THE DAMAGE TO THE FENDER WAS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO DISTORT THE FRONT BUMPER. THE "PAN" OR AREA IMMEDIATELY BELOW THE DOOR WAS BENT APPROXIMATELY 6 TO 8 INCHES TOWARD THE MIDLINE OF THE CAR. THE FORCE OF THE ACCIDENT SPUN' THE FOCUS APPROXIMATELY 180 DEGREES RESULTING IN THE FOCUS COLLIDING WITH A GUARDRAIL. THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT WITH THE GUARDRAIL BENT/DISTORTED THE BODY OF THE CAR AND CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER AND BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE EXTENT AND EXPENSE OF REPAIRING THE DAMAGES NECESSITATED THE CAR BE CONSIDERED "TOTALED" BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE REASON FOR MY COMPLAINT/REGISTRATION OF CONCERN IS NEITHER THE FRONT OR SIDEWALL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED DESPITE THE SEVERITY OF THE ACCIDENT. PART OF THE DECISION TO PURCHASE THE FOCUS WAS BASED ON THE SAFETY FEATURES INCLUDING THE AIRBAGS. IN HINDSIGHT, HAD WE KNOWN OF THE AIRBAG'S PROPENSITY TO FAIL TO DEPLOY DURING AN ACCIDENT OF THIS SEVERITY, OUR BUYING DECISION WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT. THE AIRBAG'S FAILURE TO DEPLOY SHOULD BE EXAMINED FOR ADEQUACY OF PURPOSE FOR WHICH THEY WERE DESIGNED.