NHTSA Complaint #747049 — 2000 FORD TAURUS

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON MAY 24, 2001. DRIVER CALLED FORD DEALER. THEY SAID IT WAS A FAULTY SENSOR AND TO BRING IT IN. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT IN THE GARAGE. ON MAY 26 DRIVER'S SON NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG HAD DEPLOYED. TOOK VEHICLE TO HILLARD'S FORD TLEPHOPNE NUMBER 817-370-5200. ON JUNE 1 THE SERVICE DESK AT THE DEALER CALLED AND SAID THEY WERE CONTACTING FORD TO HAVE SOMEONE CHECK IT OUT. ON JUNE 4, 2001 FORD SAID THAT THE CONTROL MODULE INDICATED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A CRASH. THE HEAD OF SERIVCE AT HILLARD'S SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG. HE SAID THAT HE COULDN'T FIX IT WITHOUG FORD'S APPROVAL. HILLARD'S MANAGER SAID HE SUSPECTED A FAULTY SENSOR. PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE SAID THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND THAT IT WAS AN INTERNAL FORD PROBLEM AND THEY WOULD NOT PAY THE CLAIM. ON JUNE 19TH THE SERIVCE MANAGE AT HILLARD CALLED AND SAID THE OWNER WOULD NEED TO SIGN A RELEASE TO REMOVE THE CONTROL MODULE SO THEY COULD SEND IT TO FORD FOR AN EVALUATION. HE SAID FORD WOULD PAY IF THEY WERE AT FAULT. PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE SAID THEY WOULD NOT PAY UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. *AK