NHTSA Complaint #757711 — 1995 FORD WINDSTAR

I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 20 MPH ON A CITY STREET COVERED WITH ABOUT ONE [1] INCH OF WET SNOW. THE STREET CURVED SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT, I STARTED TO MAKE THE TURN BUT THE VAN BEGAN TO SLIDE STRAIGHT AHEAD. I SLID FOR ABOUT 20 FEET BEFORE BUMPING THE CURB ON MY RIGHT SIDE. THE VAN THEN WENT OVER THE CURB , WENT ABOUT ANOTHER 10 FEET AND STRUCK A NARROW [6-INCH] UTILITY POLE HEAD ON.I WAS HOLDING THE STEERING WHEEL WITH BOTH HANDS PREPARING FOR THE SLIGHT IMPACT.I WAS QUITE SHOCKED WHEN BOTH AIR BAGS EXPLODED. MY HANDS WERE BRUISED SLIGHTLY BUT NOTHING SERIOUS. THE VAN WAS NOT DAMAGED EXCEPT FOR A SMALL[2-INCH] SPLIT IN THE TOP, NOT FRONT OF THE PLASTIC BUMPER. I DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP, MULLINAX FORD, IMMEDIATELY. THEY LOOKED AT THE VAN AND COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS A COLLISION THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THEY CALLED FORD MOTOR CO. AT MY REQUEST TO SEE IF THEY WOULD REPLACE THE AIR BAGS FOR ME AT NO COST. FORD RESPONDED BY STATING THAT AS LONG AS THERE WAS A COLLISION THEY NOT REPLACE THEM AT NO COST. I LATER MADE A CALL TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND RECIEVED THE SAME RESULTS. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED, AND FEEL THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO HAVE BORN THE EXPENSE [$1500.] OF REPLACING THE AIR BAGS.I DON'T KNOW ALL OF THE FACTS CONCERNING AIR BAGS BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THEY SHOULD DEPLOYED AT THAT SPEED.PLEASE INFORM ME OF ANY RECOURSE THAT I MAY HAVE. THANK YOU, [XXX].*AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).