PASSENGER HEATED SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE WHEN HEATED SEAT WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET WHEN THE SEAT STARTED TO SMOKE AND FIRE STARTED. THERE WAS A FORD CUSTOMER SATISFACTION RECALL THAT I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF: TSB 04B16. THE FIRE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE LEATHER SEAT AND HEATING MECHANISM. FORTUNATELY ONLY A…
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PASSENGER HEATED SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE WHEN HEATED SEAT WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET WHEN THE SEAT STARTED TO SMOKE AND FIRE STARTED. THERE WAS A FORD CUSTOMER SATISFACTION RECALL THAT I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF: TSB 04B16. THE FIRE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE LEATHER SEAT AND HEATING MECHANISM. FORTUNATELY ONLY A PURSE WAS INJURED AND THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE FIRE FROM SPREADING. THE ATTACHED PICTURES SHOW THE SEAT DAMAGE. THE CAR ALSO SMELLS OF SMOKE. THE EXPERIENCE WAS EXTREMELY SCARY AND AWFUL.
NHTSA ODI #10954254
70,000 miles · Jan 8, 2015
Seats
WHILE I AM DRIVING THE CAR AND IT IS MOVING, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT IS SUDDENLY DISENGAGING, MOVING BACK AND SO LEAVING MY DRIVING POSITION COMPROMISED, AS MY FOOT MOVES AWAY FROM THE GAS PEDAL AND MY ARMS ARE SUDDENLY OUTSTRETCHED REACHING FOR THE DRIVERS WHEEL SO THAT THERE IS A SUDDEN LOST OF CONTROL OF THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPE…
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WHILE I AM DRIVING THE CAR AND IT IS MOVING, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT IS SUDDENLY DISENGAGING, MOVING BACK AND SO LEAVING MY DRIVING POSITION COMPROMISED, AS MY FOOT MOVES AWAY FROM THE GAS PEDAL AND MY ARMS ARE SUDDENLY OUTSTRETCHED REACHING FOR THE DRIVERS WHEEL SO THAT THERE IS A SUDDEN LOST OF CONTROL OF THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES AT THIS POINT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10671113
Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2014
Electrical SystemSeatsFire
3/1/14: DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT BURNED THROUGH UPHOLSTERY AND CAUGHT FABRIC ON FIRE, WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET, I FOUND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER FOCUS OWNERS. THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN (04B16); WHY NO RECALL? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10566563
86,140 miles · Aug 22, 2008
SeatsFire
HEATED SEAT PAD IN BACK OF DRIVER'S SEAT OVERHEATED AND BURNED HOLE THROUGH SEAT WHILE DRIVING. CAR HAD TO BE STOPPED ON SIDE OF ROAD AND BOTTLED WATER POURED ON SMOLDERING SEAT. FUSE FOR HEATED SEATS HAD TO BE PULLED, FUSE DID NOT BLOW ON ITS OWN. FORD TRAVELLING ENGINEERS INSPECTED SEAT AND FORD HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR SEAT A…
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HEATED SEAT PAD IN BACK OF DRIVER'S SEAT OVERHEATED AND BURNED HOLE THROUGH SEAT WHILE DRIVING. CAR HAD TO BE STOPPED ON SIDE OF ROAD AND BOTTLED WATER POURED ON SMOLDERING SEAT. FUSE FOR HEATED SEATS HAD TO BE PULLED, FUSE DID NOT BLOW ON ITS OWN. FORD TRAVELLING ENGINEERS INSPECTED SEAT AND FORD HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR SEAT AS CAR IS 16000 MILES OVER WARRANTY. ADVICE FROM FORD WAS TO CLAIM THROUGH OWNERS COMPREHENSIVE AND LET INSURANCE COMPANY RECOVER MONEY FROM FORD. AFTER SEEKING LEGAL COUNSEL DEALERSHIP HAS OFFERED TO REPAIR DRIVER'S SEAT AND INSPECT PASSENGER SEAT. PARTS ARE ON ORDER, OLD PARTS WILL BE RETAINED IN MY POSESSION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10239382
39,000 miles · Jan 18, 2006
SeatsInjury
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE HEATED SEAT ACTIVATED. AFTER IT WAS ON FOR 30-40 MINUTES A SMOLDERING SMELL WAS DETECTED. THE FOAM LIQUEFIED AND CAME THROUGH THE SEAT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE SEAT. THIS HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES AND THE SEAT WAS REPLACED. ON THE THIRD FAILURE MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10148027
Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 2005
Seats
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING SEAT HEATER/COOLER. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN WAITING SINCE JANUARY. SHE WAS TOLD TWICE THAT THE PARTS WERE IN. HOWEVER, WHEN SHE CONTACTED THE DEALER SHE WAS TOLD THE PARTS DID NOT COME IN. *AK *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10115443
2,100 miles · Nov 10, 2004
SeatsCrashInjury
WHILE AS A SOLE DRIVER AND OCCUPANT OF A 2005 FORD FOCUS, I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND REAR-ENDED BY A FOUR DOOR 1995 DODGE INTREPID AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATLEY 50 MILES PER HOUR. MY DRIVER'S SEAT COLLASPED IN THE COLLISION WHICH JERKED MY NECK AND BACK INTO THE REAR SEAT. AS A RESULT MY THORASIC SPINE, CERVICAL SIPNE WAS …
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WHILE AS A SOLE DRIVER AND OCCUPANT OF A 2005 FORD FOCUS, I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND REAR-ENDED BY A FOUR DOOR 1995 DODGE INTREPID AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATLEY 50 MILES PER HOUR. MY DRIVER'S SEAT COLLASPED IN THE COLLISION WHICH JERKED MY NECK AND BACK INTO THE REAR SEAT. AS A RESULT MY THORASIC SPINE, CERVICAL SIPNE WAS SO INJREUD AS TO CAUSE MY NECK AND BACK INCLUDING MY BOTH ARMS TO SUFFER A DEGREE OF PARALYSIS, AND INJURY TO THE UPPER SPINAL CORD. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10098635
Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 2004
Seats
MY HUSBAND JUST PURCHASED A 2004 FORD FOCUS WAGON AND THE BACK SEAT HAS NO HEADRESTS. THIS MAKES IT USELESS BECAUSE OF THE RISK OF HEAD/NECK INJURIES SHOULD A CRASH OCCUR. SUCH A SIMPLE THING WOULD HAVE MADE SUCH A DIFFERENCE!*AK
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH FOUR OR FIVE DOORS AND ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A BUILD-UP OF CORROSION AT THE PAWL PIVOT AREA OF THE REAR DOOR LATCH CAN CAUSE A BINDING CONDITION OF THE PAWL THAT MAY AFFECT PROPER ENGAGEMENT OF THE PAWL INTO THE CATCH. THE OCCUPANT MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY OPENING OR CLOSING A REAR DOOR, AND EVENTUALLY THE REAR DOOR MAY NOT LATCH PROPERLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF NOT LATCHED PROPERLY, THE DOOR MAY OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. IF AN OCCUPANT FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE, PERSONAL INJURIES COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL HAVE A LOWER ROCKER SEAL ADDED TO THE DOOR AND HAVE THE REAR DOOR LATCHES EVALUATED FREE OF CHARGE. A LATCH THAT PASSES THE EVALUATION WILL BE LUBRICATED TO PREVENT FUTURE CORROSION. A LATCH THAT DOES NOT PASS THE EVALUATION WILL BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, A STICKER WILL BE AFFIXED TO THE REAR DOORS ADVISING THE OWNERS TO USE THE RECOMMENDED LUBRICANT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 9, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
AQ10001 · Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
Opened Nov 18, 2010 · Closed Dec 28, 2015
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other
On November 18, 2010, NHTSA's Recall Management Division (RMD) opened an audit query (AQ10-001) to investigate recall remedy completion by rental car companies on safety recall campaigns.It was expected to provide the agency an indication of how completely and how quickly rental car fleets perform necessary recall-related remedies on the vehicles owned and then rented/leased for use on the roadways.RMD queried three (3) major motor vehicle manufacturers (Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors) and requested data regarding completion figures for fifteen (15) discreet safety recalls.Analysis of this data demonstrated that rental car recalls completion was neither complete nor consistent.The rental car companies representing the largest market share in the industry were then queried as to their respective policies for the rental, lease, and sale of vehicles with open recalls.The data and responses from the manufacturers and the rental car companies can be found in the document repository by accessing the ?Associated Documents link above.In December 2015, Congress enacted the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.One section of the Act prohibits rental car companies from renting, leasing, or selling motor vehicles subject to open safety recalls.With the passage of the FAST Act and its prohibition, there is no continuing need for the agency to investigate rental car recall completions.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The agency reserves the right to open any future investigations, including audits of individual recalls, or groups of recalls, or rental car companies, to examine more closely safety recalls performance and completion issues in this area.
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