1999 Ford Taurus air bags problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, A DEER CROSSED IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM VIA AMBULANCE FOR TREATMENT OF INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE. THE CONDITIONS OF THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 167,000.”

“ON FEBRUARY 10TH, 2008, MY FRONT WINDSHIELD SUDDENLY SHATTERED, LEAVING A HOLE IN IT'S CENTER AND "CRACKLING" THE REMAINING PART OF THE WINDOW, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO SEE THROUGH IT. I IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES (THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME) CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK VIOLENTLY TO THE RIGHT 90 DEGREES AND SLAM HEAD FIRST INTO AN ELECTRICAL UTILITY BOX. THE CAR CONTINUED TO SPIN AROUND WHICH DROVE IT OVER AN ISLAND IN THE CENTER OF THE ROAD AND INTO A ROAD SIGN AND WHILE STILL SPINNING, SMASHED INTO A UTILITY POLE NEXT TO THE UTILITY BOX. DURING THIS ENTIRE INCIDENT, I COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD AND WAS NOT AWARE WHAT THE CAR WAS HITTING OR WHAT DIRECTION IT WAS MOVING. WHEN THE CAR HIT THE UTILITY BOX, I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH. AFTER REBOUNDING FROM THE UTILITY BOX INTO THE CENTER ISLAND AND SPINNING TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE I HIT THE UTILITY POLE, THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO REST. DURING THE SPINNING AND HITTING AND BOUNCING (A LIGHT WORD FOR WHAT WAS HAPPENING) THE SHOULDER HARNESS ON MY 1999 FORD TAURUS SE FAILED TO HOLD ME SECURELY AGAINST MY SEAT AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. IT HAS NOW…”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY WAS HINDERED BY DUST FROM THE LARGE STREET SWEEPING VEHICLES. SHE DID NOT SEE THE PRECEDING VEHICLE AND REAR-ENDED THE VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE CONTACT WAS NOT GIVEN AN EXPLANATION AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE DRIVER WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND SUSTAINED NUMEROUS BRUISES AND SWELLING. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT SHE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 140,000.”

“DESIGN DEFECT/SAFETY DEFECT. MY SON JUST RECEIVED HIS DRIVER'S PERMIT AND HAS RECENTLY BEEN DRIVING MY 1999 FORD TAURUS. I PLANNED TO GIVE HIM THIS CAR AND THEN PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR WHEN HE TURNS 16. IN ADJUSTING THE TILT STEERING WHEEL, IT CAUSED THE WIRING MECHANISM THAT CONTROLS THE AIR BAGS TO BREAK. APPARENTLY, WHEN THE WIRE BROKE IT TOUCHED METAL AND SHORTED OUT MY SYSTEM. THUS, I DON'T HAVE THE USE OF MY AIR BAGS AND THEY SAID IT WILL COST $800 TO FIX. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW IF THERE IS A RISK OF A WIRE BREAKING WHEN YOU USE YOUR TILT STEERING WHEEL THAT RENDERS YOU AIR BAGS USELESS AND THEREBY NOT HAVING THE BENEFIT OF AN AIR BAG IN A CRASH. I DON'T BELIEVE I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO HAVE TO PAY FOR WHAT IS DEFINITELY A DESIGN DEFECT! *TR”

“ROUNDED A CURVE AND REALIZED THE ONCOMING CAR WAS IN MY LANE. STEERED LEFT TO AVOID ONCOMING CAR AT THE SAME TIME THE OPPOSING DRIVER CORRECTED. STEERED TO THE RIGHT AND WENT INTO A SPIN. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE THE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO REGAIN CONTROL AND THE WINDSHIELD WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED. ONCE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, THE CAR WAS STILL MOVING AND I HAD TO STEER IT TO SAFETY WITHOUT BEING ABOUT TO SEE AROUND THE AIRBAG. THERE WAS NO IMPACT BEFORE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *TR”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH SOMETHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND SHATTERED IT. THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO OBJECTS THAT SHE COULD NOT IDENTIFY. THE CRASH OCCURRED ON FEBRUARY 10, 2008. THE SEAT BELTS DIDN'T ENGAGE TO KEEP HER FROM HITTIN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WAS 67,473. UPDATED 04/22/08. *LJ”