1997 Ford Explorer air bags problems

“TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING AROUND A CURVE, AND THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE ICY AND SNOWY. THE DRIVER HIT AN EMBANKMENT HEAD ON AND THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. THERE WERE TWO OTHER PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE THAT WERE NOT INJURED. IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THE DRIVER WAS WEARING THE SEAT BELT. ONE OF THE PASSENGERS REMOVED THE SEAT BELT AND THE OTHER PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT WAS NOT ON SO THAT THEY COULD GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS UNCLEAR WHETHER THE PASSENGER REMOVED THE SEAT BELT FROM THE DRIVER AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW SHOP WHERE IT REMAINED. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. THE TOW SHOP PLANNED TO SELL PARTS OF THE VEHICLE. ITWAS UNKNOWN WHETHER THERE WERE PICTURES TAKEN OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD A POLICE REPORT THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER SAID THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A RECALL FOR THE AIRBAGS IN THE PAST. *AK”

“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20MPH A VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THIS WAS A SIDE AND FRONTAL IMPACT AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. UPON INSPECTION THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SEPARATED THREE MILLILITERS AS IF THE AIR BAG WAS GOING TO DEPLOY. THE AIRBAG WARNING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WERE ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.”

“ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC LAST MONTH WHICH STATED CLOCKSPRING HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK”

“CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY AND A BEAR WAS IN THE LANE, SHE HIT THE BEAR AND DUAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T GO OFF. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK *JB”

“VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 40 TO 50MPH, WHEN IT WAS REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. VEHICLE COMPLETELY ROLLED OVER, AND LANDED UPSIDE DOWN. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT DEALER. NONE OF AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE FOUR INJURIES.*AK”

“I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN FEBRUARY THAT WAS NOT MY FAULT. THE OTHER DRIVER FAILED TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND CAME INTO THE INTERSECTION AS I WAS COMING FROM THROUGH IT. I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT AND THE AIRBAG DID DEPLOY, CAUSING THE MAJORITY OF MY INJURIES. I HAD SEVERAL LACERATIONS ON MY CHEEKS, CHIN AND MOUTH. MY UPPER LIP WAS SPLIT OPEN AND I SUSTAINED A SERIOUS INJURY TO MY JAW. ALL OF THESE INJURIES WERE CAUSED WHEN MY HEAD WENT FORWARD AS THE AIRBAG COVER POPPED BACK AND THE AIRBAG WAS INFLATING. THE AIRBAG HIT ME IN THE FACE WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT LEFT MY JAW PERMENANTLY INJURED. I AM AN 5' 5 1/2" TALL AND DO NOT SIT PARTICULARLY CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE IS AN OBVIOUS FLAW WITH THE DESIGN OF THE AIRBAG.*AK”