NHTSA Complaint #11350230 — 2018 FORD FOCUS

MY DAUGHTER DRIVING HER 2018 FORD FOCUS HATCHBACK WAS INVOLVED IN A HIGH IMPACT FRONT END COLLISON AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AT IMPACT. THE FOCUS HIT A SUV WHO SUDDENLY MADE A COMPLETE STOP FOR NO REASON ON 40 MPH ROAD. THE IMPACT WAS A DIRECT HIT TO THE FOCUS'S FRONT BUMPER FLUSH WITH SUV'S BACK BUMPER. THE DRIVER'S SIDE KNEE AIRBAG WAS THE ONLY AIRBAG TO DEPLOY AND THE MY DAUGHTER (DRIVER) WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL, SUFFERED MULTIPLE COMPRESSION FRACTURES OF THE SPINE, INJURIES TO MULTIPLE INTERVERTEBRAL DISCS, AN APPARENT KNEE LIGAMENT INJURY, AND OTHER SUPERFICIAL BRUISES, CUTS, AND SCRAPS TO THE HIPS, LEGS, SHOULDER, CHEST, AND ARMS. THE HOOD ENDED UP BENT IN HALF LIKE AN "A" FRAME, THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED, MOST OF THE FRONT END WAS PUSHED INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND THE STEERING WHEELING HOUSING WAS CRACKED. THE FORD FOCUS IS A TOTAL LOSS. DURING EXTRACTION OF THE DRIVER, THE FIRE AND RESCUE CUT POWER TO THE VEHICLE TO PREVENT THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG FROM DEPLOYING. THEY REMARKED TO THE DRIVER THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AND SIDE AIRBAGS SHOULD'VE DEPLOYED WITH THE AMOUNT OF IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE AND INJURIES SUSTAINED BY THE DRIVER. MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL 3 DAYS AND IS AWAITING A BACK BRACE AND KNEE BRACE AND APPOINTMENTS WITH A NEUROSURGEON, ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON, PHYSICAL THERAPIST, AND PAIN MANAGEMENT. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A WARNING LIGHT FOR FAULTY AIR BAG AND THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 30500 ON IT AND WAS STILL UNDER THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT IS PENDING RELEASE AT THIS TIME.