APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO, WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AND RUNNING OUTSIDE OF MY HOME, I SHUT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, AND THE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS SHUT WITH NO MORE FORCE THAN NORMAL, HOWEVER I WAS LATER TOLD BY THE FORD SERVICE DEPT. THAT EVEN A SLAM SHOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THIS DEPLOYMENT. I OPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, AND DID NOT GO TO FORD, HOWEVER NOW REALIZED I SHOULD HAVE, AS THE VEHICLE WAS THEN IN IT'S LAST MILES OF MY WARRANTY. I AM NOW CONCERNED THAT THE MULTIPLE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH MY DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELTS MAY BE ASSOCIATED OR HAVE CAUSED THE DEFAULT OF MY SIDE AIRBAGS, AS THE DRIVER SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED APPROXIMATELY 3 TIMES JUST PRIOR TO THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYING. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED BY THE RESPONSE FORD PROVIDED, HOWEVER EVEN IF I HAD PLACED A COMPLAINT DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD, ACCORDING TO OTHER FILED COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE WHICH I READ, IT MAY STILL HAVE NOT BEEN COVERED BY FORD. I AM JUST NOW CONTEMPLATING EITHER TRADING THE VEHICLE IN, OR REPLACING THE AIRBAG EQUIPMENT REQUIRED TO MEET SAFETY REGULATIONS, AS UP TO THIS POINT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN OPERATIONAL WITHOUT REPLACEMENT, AFTER ALL, WITH MY MALFUNCTION AND OTHERS NOTED ON THE SITE, AND BY THE FORD SERVICE DEPT, I FEEL THEY ARE MORE A LIABILITY THAN A PROTECTIVE ELEMENT. IT IS A DISTURBING DAY, WHEN FORD DOES NOT STAND BEHIND IT'S SAFETY COMMITMENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE WAS NO CAUSE , PRIOR ACCIDENT, OR IMPACT TO HAVE ACCOUNTED FOR THIS SUDDEN DEPLOYMENT. *TR
2002
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THERE SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND A JERKING MOVEMENT WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED. THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO MOVE ERRATICALLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE BEFORE CRASHING INTO A RETAINER WALL. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE ALSO SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
