I was in a car crash about a month ago. It was a 2002 Ford Focus. The other auto slammed into my car on the passenger side near the front whee. My car was totaled. I had to go to the emergency room because my side hit the steering wheel; my knees also hit under the wheel. No airbag deployed. Why" does a car have to be hit head on for the airbag to deploy? what is oem on your form" I left the no as it was on the form without knowing what it meant.

- Fairfield, OH, USA

While driving 55 mph, the driver side air bag deployed unexpectedly. The consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle and drove it to the dealer for inspection.

- Laguna Niguel, CA, USA

Front wheel bearings, ball joint area on my Ford Focus 2002 came loose and wheel fell off while I was traveling on highway. When car hit wall the airbag did not open and seatbelt did not tighten. There was no warning before accident. Thought I was going to die. Lucky to be alive.

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

Tread separation on a 2002 Ford Focus. Radial tubeless tire. Brand firehawk gta 02 P195/G0R15 87T M45 this occurred yesterday with my 17 year old daughter driving. I am concerned that the other 3 tires are also defective. Could have resulted in her death. Fortunately, she was able to get control of vehicle.

- Thornton, CO, USA

On November 23 2002 I was in a accident where I broke my nose and had numerous burises. The reason I got into an accident was because my wheel and suspension broke & seem to come apart. I had complained to Ford that my wheel had been shaking and that there was something wrong with it. I had taken it back 4 times to get fixed but everytime I got it back and it would shake just as bad. Also when I got into the accident my airbags didnt deploy at all I received a broken nose from hitting my head on the steering wheel. The car was shaking really bad and it seem to pull me off the road then all of a sudden it was like a snap and it went the other direction. I flew sideways up in the air and hit two oak trees luckly I didn't die from this accident if you would see the pictures you would think how did she survive. If the car would have hit the oak trees two feet closer to my door I wouldn't be here to tell you this. The car split in half & was totaled.

- Bella Vista, CA, USA

While slowing down due to intense traffic on a highway we were violently hit by a car driving behind us. The impact was so great that the car was demolished - the bottom rear of the car and tires were totally crushed, the roof was bent in the middle, all windows burst, and doors were jambed shut. We were pushed into the car ahead of us. The airbags did not inflate. Passenger sustained facial injuries and driver sustained injuries to chest. We do not believe the seat belts constrained us in this crash.

- Vienna, VA, USA

Got in accident, air bag did not deploy. Got fixed"?" Ford let me go back out on the road with a brand new safety device and it was not working properly. The time between the accident and the time I got it fixed Ford was very unconcerned and did not answer any of my concerns or questions. My safety was at risk and they did nothing about it.

- Quantico, VA, USA

My 2002 Ford Focus was involved in a collision. The impact of the crash was all on the front end of the vehicle. The motor was shoved back and the vehicle had so much damage it couldn't be repaired. The car was considered a total loss by my insurance provider. My car was traveling at about 40 mph on impact and the air bags didn't deploy. My daughter hit her chest against the steering wheel and is still having some lasting effects of the crash. Please! please! look into this. She could have been killed if she had been on the highway or going any faster. Please respond to this letter.

- New Braunfels, TX, USA

The airbag light flashes on and off at random occasions. It is now at the dealership.

- Hickam Afb, HI, USA

The vehicle was involved in an accident, the air bags deployed, but didn't inflate.

- Villa Park, IL, USA

The air bags failed to deploy in a crash. Scc

- Espanola, NM, USA

When hit at 40mph in the front center of the vehicle the air bag did not deploy causing minor injuries to the consumer. Dealer notified. Air bag monitor had to be replaced.

- Warren, MI, USA

In the short time that I've owned my Focus I've had to return it to the dealership on 3 occasions because the air bag light comes on. The first time I brought it in they had to replace a module to the air bag component. The second and third time I brought it in they found nothing wrong. The third time I brought it back they gave me a recording device that I had to use to record the air bag light because the air bag light was not registering that it ever came on. I had to record the light a total of 3-4 times and then bring it back to the dealership. I did so and returned my car only to find out that this device told them nothing. So not knowing the exact problem they went ahead and replaced the entire airbag. All of these attempts occured late September through mid October. As of 11/8/2002 the light has not come back on. I feel know that I'm left with a false sense of security and the question of if I get into an accident is this air bag going to protect me. I was told that this is an isolated case but I'm not to sure about that. I think this is a major safety issue and should be taken into serious consideration.

- Maple Shade, NJ, USA

We are having problems with our airbag system. We have had componets replaced on 4 occasions. And the problem is still not repaired. This problems is causing the airbag system to be non fuctional. We feel this is a serious safety issue, since if a collision occured they would not work. We have been told that this is a problem that is limited to our model of car and only those that is a 4 door and 5 speed. Ford has been contacted and cannot come up with a fix. I would like to know what has to happen before a recall can be issued so that this problem can be corrected before someone is hurt or killed.

- Eldora, IA, USA

While stopped at a stop sign the drivers side air bag deployed without warning, as a result the driver sustained bruises to his body. The dealer has been contacted.

- Rockwood, MI, USA

Air bag light stays illuminated. After several attempts of repairing the air bag/air bag sensors, the problem was still occuring as of August 15th 2002 and at that time they were waiting on parts. (repairs made at the dealer)

- Sausauto, CA, USA

At 60 mph consumer turned steering wheel, no response, vehicle hit a concrete wall head on. Passenger suffered knee and chest injuries. The vehicle was totaled.

- Auburn, WA, USA