NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Air Bags complaints
51 reportsClear category filter32,000 miles · Dec 4, 2008
Air Bags
PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG ALERT COMES ON AT IRREGULAR INTERVALS AND THEN GOES OFF AGAIN. THE DEALER SAYS THEY CANNOT FIND ANY PROBLEM AND SIMPLY RESETS THE CODES, BUT THAT IS NOT SOLVING THE PROBLEM. I HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM AT LEAST FIVE TIMES, BUT THE AIR BAG ALERT IS STILL COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. IF THAT ALERT IS "ON" A…
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PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG ALERT COMES ON AT IRREGULAR INTERVALS AND THEN GOES OFF AGAIN. THE DEALER SAYS THEY CANNOT FIND ANY PROBLEM AND SIMPLY RESETS THE CODES, BUT THAT IS NOT SOLVING THE PROBLEM. I HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM AT LEAST FIVE TIMES, BUT THE AIR BAG ALERT IS STILL COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. IF THAT ALERT IS "ON" AND AN ACCIDENT OCCURS, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10250719
Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2008
Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment
WHERE DO I BEGIN? I'VE HAD ALMOST ALL OF THE ISSUES/COMPLAINTS ALREADY FILED HERE FROM THE DOME/AIRBAG LIGHTS GOING OFF FOR NO REASON, THE KEY GETTING STUCK OR THE CAR STALLING IN NOT STARTING, DISRESPECT/UNPROFESSIONAL FROM FORD REPAIR STAFF OR CALLING FORD CORPORATE, AND THE MOST FAMOUS FOCUS MOMENT OF ALL, WHEN THE CAR SHAKE…
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WHERE DO I BEGIN? I'VE HAD ALMOST ALL OF THE ISSUES/COMPLAINTS ALREADY FILED HERE FROM THE DOME/AIRBAG LIGHTS GOING OFF FOR NO REASON, THE KEY GETTING STUCK OR THE CAR STALLING IN NOT STARTING, DISRESPECT/UNPROFESSIONAL FROM FORD REPAIR STAFF OR CALLING FORD CORPORATE, AND THE MOST FAMOUS FOCUS MOMENT OF ALL, WHEN THE CAR SHAKES AT SPEEDS OF 50 OR ABOVE ON HIGHWAYS. O FORD!, HOW YOU'VE SCREWED US ALL!!!!!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10238859
79,000 miles · Apr 3, 2008
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury
MY DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN OUR 2005 FORD FOCUS SHE HIT SOMEONE IN THE REAR AND THEN WAS HIT IN THE REAR BY ANOTHER CAR. WHEN THE IMPACT HAPPENED THE SEATBELT FAILED TO TIGHTEN UP TO PREVENT HER FROM FLYING AROUND IN THE CAR SHE HIT HER RIBCAGE ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THEN WAS FORCED BACK BY THE IMPACT OF THE SE…
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MY DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN OUR 2005 FORD FOCUS SHE HIT SOMEONE IN THE REAR AND THEN WAS HIT IN THE REAR BY ANOTHER CAR. WHEN THE IMPACT HAPPENED THE SEATBELT FAILED TO TIGHTEN UP TO PREVENT HER FROM FLYING AROUND IN THE CAR SHE HIT HER RIBCAGE ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THEN WAS FORCED BACK BY THE IMPACT OF THE SECOND CAR HITTING HER FROM BEHIND. ALSO THERE WAS $6,000 WORTH OF DAMAGES DONE TO THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED AND ALMOST ALL THE DAMAGE WAS TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10223225
49,821 miles · Dec 1, 2007
Air BagsCrashInjury
MY WIFE'S 2005 FORD FOCUS, GOING 35-40 MPH, RAN HEAD-ON INTO THE SIDE OF A SUV THAT RAN A STOP-SIGN IN FRONT ON HER. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10210465
Mileage unknown · Nov 2, 2007
Air BagsElectrical SystemVisibility
2005 FORD FOCUS WITH AIR BAG LIGHT ON, AND OTHER PROBLEMS. CUSTOMER STATES THAT ALONG WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT CLOSE AND THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. *KB
NHTSA ODI #10208307
26,000 miles · Jun 26, 2007
Air BagsCrashInjury
WHILE DRIVING AT POSTED SPEED LIMIT ANOTHER VEHICLE TURNED IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE, NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP OR AVOID THIS COLLISION I COLLIDED WITH THIS VEHICLE AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE, CAUSING IN EXCESS OF $8,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO JUST MY VEHICLE. BOTH FORNT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY , BUT THE SEAT BELTS DID RETRACT, CAUSING NE…
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WHILE DRIVING AT POSTED SPEED LIMIT ANOTHER VEHICLE TURNED IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE, NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP OR AVOID THIS COLLISION I COLLIDED WITH THIS VEHICLE AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE, CAUSING IN EXCESS OF $8,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO JUST MY VEHICLE. BOTH FORNT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY , BUT THE SEAT BELTS DID RETRACT, CAUSING NECK AND ABDOMEN INJURIES TO BOTH OF US IN THIS VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10194720
29,000 miles · Jun 6, 2007
Air BagsCrashInjury
2005 FORD FOCUS HIT A 1985 TOYOTA PICK-UP THAT FAILED TO STOP AT STOP SIGN, THIS WAS A FRONT IMPACT CRASH FOR THE FORD FOCUS AT 35 MPH, DRIVERSIDE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY
NHTSA ODI #10192604
42,000 miles · May 25, 2007
Air Bags
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO. AFTER SHTTING CAR OFF AND RESTARTING, THE LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT OUT AS IT SHOULD. YESTERDAY THE LIGHT AGAIN CAME ON AND WILL NOT RESET. WILL TAKE CAR TO DEALER AT FIRST OPPORTUNITY
NHTSA ODI #10191750
Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 2007
Air BagsEquipmentPower TrainCrashInjury
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2005 FOCUS WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO 1ST GEAR. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY DURING 7 - 16 MARCH 2007. WHILE DOING THE WORK THEY NICKED THE BRAKE LINE JUST ENOUGH TO CREATE A SLOW LEAK. THE LOCATION OF THE LEAK WAS NEAR THE FRONT LEFT TIRE. AFTER ONE DAY OF DRIVING, ALL THE FLUID LEAKED OUT …
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THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2005 FOCUS WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO 1ST GEAR. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY DURING 7 - 16 MARCH 2007. WHILE DOING THE WORK THEY NICKED THE BRAKE LINE JUST ENOUGH TO CREATE A SLOW LEAK. THE LOCATION OF THE LEAK WAS NEAR THE FRONT LEFT TIRE. AFTER ONE DAY OF DRIVING, ALL THE FLUID LEAKED OUT AND THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IT. THE DEALERSHIP ARRANGED TO PICK UP THE FOCUS WITH A TOW TRUCK. THEY REPAIRED THE BRAKES (19-23 MAR). ON 23 MAR, MY WIFE PICKED UP THE FOCUS. APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE FROM THE DEALERSHIP, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE SHE WAS TURNING LEFT. THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT PUSHED HER LEFT ARM DOWN AND TO THE RIGHT, PULLING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, CAUSING HER TO HIT THE CURB. NO OTHER VEHICLE WAS NEARBY OR INVOLVED. SHE WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE FOCUS INTO THE PARKING LOT OF A MEDICAL TREATMENT FACILITY, WHERE SHE WAS TREATED FOR CERVICAL INJURY. THE DEALERSHIP PICKED UP THE FOCUS WITH A TOW TRUCK. AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY PUT THE FOCUS UP ON A LIFT AND I INSPECTED THE UNDERCARRIAGE ALONG WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AND MECHANIC. THE BRAKE ROTOR WAS COMPLETE SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS BENT AT ABOUT A 20 DEGREE ANGLE FROM NORMAL. THE WHEEL WAS NOTICEABLY SCRATCHED AND THE TIRE WAS CUT. THE SERVICE MANAGER SUGGESTED THAT MY WIFE HIT THE CURB CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. MY WIFE IS ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED CAUSING HER TO HIT THE CURB.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10186152
19,875 miles · Feb 25, 2007
Air BagsCrashInjury
I WAS RECENTLY IN AN ACCIDENT. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE OTHER THREE CARS INVOLVED ALL HAD AIRBAGS AND THEIRS DID DEPLOY. MY CAR HAS BEEN DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. I WOULD THINK THAT IN AN ACCIDENT OF THIS MAGNITUDE THAT THE AIRBAGS WOULD HAVE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. I AM NOT CERTAIN THAT THE EXTENT OF MY BACK INJURY WOULD HAVE BEE…
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I WAS RECENTLY IN AN ACCIDENT. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE OTHER THREE CARS INVOLVED ALL HAD AIRBAGS AND THEIRS DID DEPLOY. MY CAR HAS BEEN DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. I WOULD THINK THAT IN AN ACCIDENT OF THIS MAGNITUDE THAT THE AIRBAGS WOULD HAVE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. I AM NOT CERTAIN THAT THE EXTENT OF MY BACK INJURY WOULD HAVE BEEN LESSENED BY THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYING, I JUST WANTED TO REPORT THE FAILURE IN THE CASE OF A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH OTHER CONSUMERS. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10183462
Official recalls
1Feb 1, 2005
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
1AQ10001 · 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.