1998 Ford Ranger air bags problems

“I HIT A DEER WHILE COMMING HOME FROM WORK AT 45 MPH AND BENT BUMPER, DENTED LEFT QUARTER PANEL,BROKE LEFT TURN SIGNAL LENS AND CRACKED PLASTIC GRILE. AIRBAGS DID NOT APPLY OR ENGAGE. I ALSO HAVE TAKEN MY TRUCK TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES TO GET MY DOOR ALARM CHIP REPLACED @ 50 DOLLARS EACH TIME. ON LAST ATTEMPT MY EXTENDED WARANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THEY REFUSED TO HONER THE PROBLEM AND PROMISE TO REPLACE.EVEN THOUGH IT WAS AN EXSISTING PROBLEM. THIS WAS PRIOR TO HITTING THE DEER.”

“DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG STOPPED WORKING FOR NO REASON. FLASHING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING A PROBLEM. WENT TO FORD DEALER (SUBURBAN IN SANDY, OR) AND THEY SAID THE 'RESISTANCE' LEVEL HAD INCREASED CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO NO LONGER FUNCTION. CALLED FORD, THEY GAVE ME A "SENIOR DISCOUNT", ALTHOUGH NOT A SENIOR. SAID THAT AIRBAGS FALL UNDER 5 YEAR/50000 MILE WARRANTY. THE RANGER HAS 56,000. FORD SAID THAT THEY CANNOT GUARANTEE THE FUNCTION OF AN AIRBAG FOR MORE THAN 5 YEARS OR 50,000 MILES. THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO ASCERTAIN IF THE AIRBAG STOPPED FUNCTIONING ALL AT ONCE OR IF MY SAFETY WAS IN JEOPARDY OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME AS THE AIRBAG SLOWLY STOPPED WORKING. AIRBAGS ARE A MANDATORY SAFETY DEVICE AND SHOULD BE COVERED FROM DEFECT FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. I AM EXTREMELY DISSATISFIED WITH FORD'S ATTITUDE ABOUT MY SAFETY. I HAVE THE AIRBAG MODULE AND CAN PROVIDE IT TO NHTSA TO STUDY AND DETERMINE IF THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. BECAUSE OF THE MECHANICS OF AN AIRBAG, I WOULD ASK FOR SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO SEND IT TO YOU. *JB”

“I WAS DRIVING MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR WITH 5 PASSENGERS, AND MYSELF AS THE DRIVER. WE REAR ENDED A CAR ON THE LEFT FRONT BUMPER. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, THAT IS A QUESTION FOR MYSELF. MY 4YR OLD IN BACKSEAT DIRECTLY BEHIND ME SITS IN A HIGH BACK BOOSTER, NOT USING THE 5 PT HARNESS. HE IS IN A REGULAR SHOULDER/LAP BELT. UPON IMPACT MY CHILD FLEW FORWARD SLAMMING INTO MY SEAT AND HAVING HIS GLASSES ALSO FLY FORWARD OFF OF HIS FACE. QUESTION ON SEAT BELT. PLEASE HELP!!!!!*AK”

“I WAS INVOLVED IN A 20-25MPH REAR END COLISION. I HAD RAN INTO THE BACK OF AN OLD GMC PICKUP CAUSING $4000.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF MY TRUCK. BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED. WHILE THE TRUCK WAS IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS THE SHOP HAD FOUND OUT THE AIRBAG SENSOR WAS BAD. THEY TRIED TO REPLACE THE SENSOR BUT WAS INFORMED BY FORD THAT THE SENSOR ON THAT MAKE AND MODEL HAS BEEN CHANGED AND THE LOCATION OF THE SENSOR(S) ARE IN NOW LOCATED IN A DIFFERENT SPOT OTHER THEN ON THE RADIATOR MOUNTS. BECAUSE OF THIS CHANGE BY FORD THE BODYSHOP HAD TO ORDER THE NEW PART AS WELL AS THE PROPER LOCATION OF HTIS NEW SENSOR.”

“XLT, PASSENGER AIR BAG SWITCH WAS IN THE OFF POSITION, LIGHT WAS ON SHOWING IT WAS OFF. CONSUMER HIT A DEER AT 55 MPH, PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. 9 MONTH OLD CHILD WAS IN SAFETY SEAT ON PASSENGER SIDE. SAFETY SEAT BROKE IN HALF AT IMPACT, CHILD'S INJURIES UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN AS WELL. TS”

“WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 40MPH ON HIGHWAY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER VEHICLE HIT A PATCH OF WATER THAT WAS IN A PUDDLE, AND VEHICLE HYDROPLANED, AND FLIPPED FIVE TIMES. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY.*AK”