1997 FORD ESCORT Air Bagsfrontalsensorcontrol Module Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD ESCORT. THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG BURNING ODOR WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART WOULD BE ORDERED AND REPLACED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V323000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE). THE CONTACT SMELLED THE ODOR AGAIN THE FOLLOWING DAY AND THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CHRYSLER DEALER. CHRYSLER NOTIFIED FORD AND INFORMED THEM THAT THE AIR BAG MONITOR BURNED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. FORD STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT RELATED TO THE AIR BAG MONITOR. FORD ALSO ADVISED CHRYSLER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THEM, BUT ANY ADDITIONAL DAMAGE WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER FILED A REPORT AND STATED THAT IT WOULD BE SENT TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND A RESPONSE WOULD BE RECEIVED IN WRITING. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 146,808.

I AM THE SERVICE MANAGER AT C.H.URNESS MOTOR CO IN THE DALLES,OR, I PURCHASED A 1997 FORD ESCORT FOR MY DAUGHTER ON 06/02/2007,THEN ON 06/04/2007,THE CAR HAD A FIRE UNDER THE DASH,UPON INSPECTION WE FOUND AN OPEN RECALL "02S44"FOR THIS EXACT FAILURE,I CONTACTED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER(RAY SCHULTENS FORD AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT HELP ME BECAUSE THE AIRBAG MODULE WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE!. I THEN CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. CUSTOMER RELATIONS(CASE # 1433871927).ON 07/23/07 I RECEIVED A LETTER STATING "FORD MOTOR CO. WAS UNABLE TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE AT THIS TIME"THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP TOLD ME OVER THE PHONE THAT I SHOULD MAKE THE DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR AT "BUY IT BACK,AFTER ALL YOU WORK FOR THEM"THIS CAR HAS AN UNREPAIRED RECALL AND IS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED DUE TO NO PARTS AVAILABLE,WHAT IS MY NEXT STEP IN THIS PROCESS? *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE, NHTSA # 02V323000, CONCERNING THE AIR BAG SENSOR. HOWEVER, THE RECALL REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THE WINDOWS FOGGING UP AND OPENED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. WHILE INSIDE LOOKING AT THE GAUGES THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THIS PINNED THE TECHNICIAN BETWEEN THE SEAT AND STEERING WHEEL. THE DEPLOYMENT CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. UPON INSPECTION, THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM INDICATED IN THE RECALL. THERE WAS WATER ACCUMULATED IN THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR. *NM UPDATED 3/1/2006 - THE CONSUMER STILL HAS THE DEFECTIVE PARTS IN HER POSSESSION. *NM

THE CONSUMER DOES NOT WANT THE AIR BAGS IN HER VEHICLE BECAUSE SHE HAS TO SIT CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND THERE WAS A RECENT RECALL REGARDING THE AIR BAGS. *JB

AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER HAD THE PROBLEM BEFORE. CONTACTED THE FORD DEALER, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK

LAST MAY 23RD 2003 I HAD THE MY CAR RECALLED FOR THE RECALL #02V323000. THIS WEEK MY AIR BAG MONITOR LIGHT WAS BLINKING. DIAGNOSTIC CODE 52. THE INTEGRATED AIRBAG MONITOR(IABM) FAILED. ONLY ONE YEAR LATER, THE IABM FAILS, AND THE RECALL DOESN'T COVER THE IABM, BUT JUST A SHIELD AND GREASE. SHOULDN'T THE RECALL COVER THE FAILING INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR.*AK

CONSUMER DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE HIS VEHICLE FOR TWO-THREE DAYS TO HAVE RECALL WORK PERFORMED. *PH (RECALL #023V23000) *JB

RECALL #02V323000 - FORD ESCORT. LAST MAY 2003 I HAD THE MY CAR RECALLED FOR THE ABOVE. THIS WEEK MY AIR BAG MONITOR LIGHT WAS BLINKING - BLINK CODE 5-2. THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR(IABM) FAILED - BLINK CODE 5-2. WITHIN 12 MONTHS AND 12,000 MILES OF THE RECALL MY IABM FAILS, AND THE RECALL DOESN'T COVER THE IABM, BUT JUST A SHIELD AND GREASE. SHOULDN'T THE RECALL COVER THE FAILING INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR. *JB

AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, AND VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT WATER GOT INTO THE AIR BAG SYSTEM, AND DAMAGED IT AND WIRING HARNESS. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS UNDER RECALL 02V323000, BUT THE DAMAGED PARTS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. CONSUMER INDICATED HE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V323000 WHEN I RECEIVED THE LETTER FROM FORD IT SAID THAT THE RECALL WAS FOR THE AIR BAG MODULE. IT DID NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT JUST PUTTING A PLASTIC COVERING OVER THE MODULE. THE MODULE IN MY CAR WAS ALREADY SHORTED OUT AND IS NO GOOD. I MADE A COMPLAINT ABOUT HIS IN EARLY 2002. I SPOKE WITH AN NHTSA INVESTIGATOR ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND MONTHS LATER IS WHEN THE RECALL HAPPENED. BUT IT NOT EVEN A RECALL FOR A FIX TO THE PROBLEM I ALREADY HAD. KEEPING THE WATER OUT OF A BAD MODULE IS NOT HELPING ME AT ALL. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE MODULE WOULD BE REPLACED. HOW CAN THE DEALER SEE THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE IS SHORTED OUT AND JUST PUT A PLASTIC COVERING ON IT AND GIVE IT BACK TO US WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT STILL ON?...

PRIOR TO HAVING RECALL# 02V323000 PERFORMED FOR THE AIR BAG MONITOR, WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE FLAMES STARTED COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. THE FIRE BURNED THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD AND IT'S COMPONENTS. *JB

MY 1997 ESCORT NOT ONLY HAD DEFECTIVE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT BUT CAUGHT ON FIRE. MY VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. HOW RARE IS THIS OCCURANCE? FORD IS ONLY WILLING TO GIVE ME THE TRADE IN VALUE FOR MY VEHICLE NOT THE REPLACEMENT COST. SEEMS LIKE THE CONSUMER IS THE LOSER AGAIN. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS RECALL. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED WHEN THE BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE DASH WAS ALREADY ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS SO SEVERE IT SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD AND MELTED THE ENTIRE DASH. *LA

THE DEALER AND VARIOUS FORD OFFICERS WERE UNWILLING TO PERFORM RECALL 02S44. *PH *NLM *JB

I PURCHASED A NEW 1997 FORD ESCORT IN SEPTEMBER 1996. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT A WEEK THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WAS LOSING BRAKE FLUID. THIS HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE BRAKE FITTING WAS MISSING SOME THREADS. DEALER FIXED PROBLEM. THIS PAST JANUARY I GOT A LETTER FROM FORD ABOUT THE RECALL FOR THE AIR BAG MONITOR/SENSOR PROBLEM AND HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE THAT PROBLEM CORRECTED. NOW THE CAR HAS A SLOW COOLANT LEAK. I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING. THE CAR ONLY HAS ABOUT 62,850 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED. IT WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $800.00 - $1000.00 TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET. I FEEL THIS HEAD GASKET FAILURE IS PREMATURE...

CONSUMER REQUESTING RESTITUTION FOR A HOUSE FIRE THAT WAS CAUSED BY A VEHICLE FIRE.*MR *TS. PRIOR TO THE FIRE THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE ALTERNATOR AND THE BRAKES SQUEAKING. *JB

THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A FOLLOW UP TO A LETTER WHICH WAS SENT REGARDING A VEHICLE FIRE. *MR *TS *JB

EXPLOSION SOUND HEARD UNDER DASHBOARD OF VEHICLE, CONSUMER SUSPECTED PROBLEMS WITH AIR BAGS. *MR THE EXPLOSION WAS HEARD ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALER STATED WAS NOT AUTHORIZED TO OPEN THE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT. FIVE YEARS LATER, CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE AIR BAGS. *TT *JB

AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 02V323000 CONCERNING INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR CONTAMINATION. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS ON 6/17/2003. WHEN THE OWNER RECEIVED THE VEHICLE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST HAS TO BE DONE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. CONSUMER REQUESTED A CALL FROM THE INVESTIGATING OFFICER.*AK

CONSUMER HAD RECALL 02V323000 REMEDIED IN 03/03. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND THE CONSUMER WAS VERY CONCERNED FOR HER SAFETY. *AK THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON FOR TWO DAYS. THE DEALER STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNLESS IT HAD COME BACK ON. *SCC THE POWER WINDOW FAILED TO ROLL DOWN.*JB

THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR RECALL REPAIRS ON THE AIR BAG MODULE ON 5/5/2003 TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REFUSED TO DO THE REPAIRS WITHOUT AN EXPLANATION. ON 5/8/2003 THE AIR BAG MODULE SHORT CIRCUITED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE EXPLODED. RECALL # 02V323000. *JB

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE 02V323000 WHICH WAS REMEDIED ON 4-6-03, HOWEVER ON 4-7-03, WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS A "BURNING" SMELL AND SMOKE COMING THE FROM DASHBOARD AREA. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND WHEN HE RETURNED FOR VEHICLE THE NEXT DAY, IT CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO A COOLANT LEAK ONTO THE AIRBAG FRONTAL CONTROL MODULE. *JB

THE HORN FAILED TO OPERATE, THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE AIR BAG SENOR CONTROL MODULE. *JB

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD, THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE ISSUE. *JB

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE AIR BAG SENSOR CONTROL MODULE, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE.*JB

THE AIR BAG EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AS A RESULT OF THE WATER CONTAMINATION TO THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR. CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED RECALL 02V323000 REGARDING THAT SPECIFIC DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR AIR BAG EVEN THOUGH IT MAY DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING. MANUFACTURER ADVISED THEY WILL ONLY INSTALL THE SHIELD TO PROTECT MONITOR FROM LIQUID CONTAMINATION. DEALER WOULD REPLACE PARTS AND LABOR FREE OF CHARGE.*JB

THE AIR BAG EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AS A RESULT OF THE WATER CONTAMINATION TO THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR. CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED RECALL 02 V 3 23000 REGARDING THAT SPECIFIC DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR AIR BAG EVEN THOUGH IT MAY DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING. MANUFACTURER ADVISED THEY WILL ONLY INSTALL THE SHIELD TO PROTECT MONITOR FROM LIQUID CONTAMINATION. 8JB

THE AIR BAG EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AS A RESULT OF WATER CONTAMINATION TO THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR. CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED RECALL 0 2 V 32 3000 REGARDING THAT SPECIFIC DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR AIR BAG EVEN THOUGH IT MAY DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING. MANUFACTURER ADVISED THEY WILL ONLY INSTALL THE SHIELD TO PROTECT MONITOR FROM LIQUID CONTAMINATION. *JB

CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PARTS TO PERFORM THE RECALL REGARDING THE AIR BAG SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE WERE ON BACK ORDER. RECALL # 02V323000. *JB

CONSUMER WAS INFORMED NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE REGARDING THE RECALL FOR THE AIR BAG SENSOR CONTROL MODULE. RECALL #02V323000.*JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG MODULE, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE.*JB