Problems · by component

2002 Ford Focus air bags problems

78 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Ford Focus cite air bags, 8% of all 1,014 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
78
8% of all complaints
Crashes
48
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
47
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“HUSBAND WAS DRIVING APPROX. 35 MPH WITH HIS MOTHER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT DOWN A COUNTRY ROAD. DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITH NO ACCIDENT. PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG OR COVER BROKE WINDSHIELD. HUSBAND HIT BRAKES.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 30, 2019Air bagsODI 11291969
“I HAVE A 2002 FORD FOCUS ZX5, MY DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AT A SPEED OF 35 MPH WITH ABSOLUTELY NO IMPACT TO THE CAR. DUE TO IT DEPLOYING AND GOING OFF IT HAD HIT MY LEFT SHOULDER AND CAUSED ME TO SWERVE TO THE RIGHT, IF IT WASN'T FOR THE FACT THAT I WAS ALREADY IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE I WOULD'VE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AS THIS ALSO HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF "RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC". I HAVE READ ON OTHER WEBSITES WHERE 2004 AND 2006'S SAME AIR BAGS HAVE DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON W/O ANY KIND OF IMPACT. THE NOISE WAS SO LOUD IN MY LEFT EAR THAT I COULD NOT HEAR OUT OF IT FOR OVER 45MINS, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT THAT WOULD'VE DONE TO MY INFANT IF THEY WOULD'VE BEEN IN THE CAR AT THAT TIME. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER AS I AM 5MONTHS PREGNANT AND IF THE FRONT AIR BAG WOULD'VE GONE OFF IT COULD'VE CAUSED MUCH MORE INJURY TO ME AND MY UNBORN CHILD. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND CONSIDER HAVING THIS MODEL PUT ON THE RECALL LIST.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 7, 2015Air bagsODI 10780660
“I SIMPLY WANT TO KNOW IF MY CAR IS INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT MASSIVE AIR BAG RECALL. I ALREADY CHECKED BY VIN NUMBER. HOWEVER, I AM NOT SURE IF I WENT THROUGH THE CURRENT SOURCE OF INFORMATION REGARDING THE CURRENT BIG AIRBAG RECALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 27, 2014Air bagsODI 10650384
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE IGNITION THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 28, 2014Air bagsODI 10616804
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE U-TURN AND CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO A NEARBY EMERGENCY ROOM TO BE TREATED WITH BACK, SHOULDER AND NECK INJURES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 20, 2014Air bags, Seat beltsCrash reportedODI 10604779
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE FROM THE FRONT END. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO PROVIDE RESTRAINT TO THE DRIVER. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 30, 2014Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10585730

Showing 6 of 78 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.