1997 MERCURY TRACER Air Bags Problems

WE HAD TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO GET IT CHECKED BY A COMPUTER AT A LOCAL SERVICE PARTS SHOP. WHEN WE CAME BACK WE STOPPED MY CAR AND IT WAS NOT RUNNING, IGNITION OFF. ABOUT AN HOUR LATER WE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND ITS AIR BAGS HAD GONE OFF, BREAKING MY CAR'S WINDSHIELD AND OBVIOUSLY MAKING A MESS IN MY CAR. THIS CONCERNS ME SINCE MY HUSBAND AND I HAD JUST BEEN IN THE CAR A WHILE AGO AND COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURY TO US WITHOUT CAUSE. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MERCURY TRACER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 02V323000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE). THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISES TO HER HANDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 171,437. UPDATED 01-15-08. *KB UPDATED *JB

Mileage: 171,437

WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER GOT THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASHBOARD. *AK *NM

Mileage: 60,000

THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE'S BUMPER AT AN IMPACT OF 35 MPH, AND NEITHER FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN WRECKED BEFORE. *SC

Mileage: 20,000

02V323000/INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR CONTAMINATION. THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS DEFECT. THE WORK WAS DONE IN 2003. NOW THE PROBLEM HAS RESURFACED AND THE DEALER WANTS THE OWNER TO PAY 4000.00 TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CORRECTED WHEN THE RECALL WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

Mileage: 130,000

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE CONSUMER'S DRIVEWAY WHEN BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DESTROYED BY MOISTURE INTRUSION INTO THE AIR BAG MODULE AND CONNECTORS. AS A RESULT OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT THE WINDSHIELD THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED AND THE DASHBOARD WAS DESTROYED. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK THE CONSUMER LATER LEARNED OF A RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE INTRUSION WAS CAUSED BY A PIN HOLE LEAK IN THE HEATER CORE THEREFORE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER INTENDS TO PURSE THE MATTER FURTHER. *NM

Mileage: 108,000

WHILE DRIVING DOWN AT SPEED OF 65-70 MPH, THE CAR CEASED TO ACCELORATE. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, ONCE THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED IT WOULD NO LONGER CRANK. TODAY WHEN I WENT TO CLEAN IT OUT (HAPPENED AT NIGHT)I SAW THAT A HOLE WAS BURNED THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH BOARD. ALSO I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE/FIRE RESIDUE ON THE WINDSHIELD COMING FROM THE DEFROST VENTS. BEFORE ANY OF THIS HAPPENED THE AIRBAG LIGTS WERE COMING ON AND THERE WAS A BURNT PLASTIC SMELL AND A SCENT OF AMMONIA SMELL COMING FROM GOD-KNOWS-WHERE. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD EVERYTHING LOOKED NORMAL. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GO TO WORK FOR 2 DAYS NOW. PLEASE TELL ME IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO. THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE.

Mileage: 102,000

PROBLEMS WITH AIR BAG MONITOR ON 1997 MERCURY TRACER.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED AN AMMONIA TYPE SMELL BEGAN TO EMIT FROM THE VEHICLE, SOON AFTER, THERE WAS A BURNT PLASTIC ODOR ALSO EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE AND MOMENTS LATER THE AIR BAG AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND FINALLY THE VEHICLE CEASED TO CONTINUE FUNCTIONING WHILE THE VEHICLE BECAME SMOKY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE AIR BAG SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE, RECALL #02V323000. *JB *NM

TWO WEEKS AGO MY CAR (A 1997 MERCURY TRACER) WAS INVOLVED IN AN CAR ACCIDENT IN KINGMAN, (4 HOURS NORTH WEST OF PHOENIX). THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAULT OF THE AIR BAGS SUDDENLY DEPLOYING WITHOUT CAUSE, CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I THEN NOTIFIED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND IT WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP HERE IN KINGMAN. LATER THE NEXT DAY WHILE THE REPAIR SHOP WAS DOING THEIR INVESTIGATION INTO THE CAUSE, THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES FROM THE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT. A COUPLE DAYS LATER THE INSURANCE COMPANY NOTIFIED ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY OF WHICH I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. THEN CONFIRMING THAT TO ME THAT MY CAR WAS IN FACT TOTALED, AND THEY WISHED TO REMOVE THE CAR FROM THE REPAIR SHOP. EARLIER LAST WEEK I SENT AN EMAIL TO FORD MOTORS TELLING OF MY DISGUST OF THE COMPANY BECAUSE I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ON SUCH A SERIOUS ISSUE. ON FRIDAY 11/14 I RECEIVED A CALL FROM FORD MOTORS CUSTOMER SERVICE ASKING FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ACCIDENT. AT THIS TIME I AM WAITING FOR A RESPONSE BACK FROM, WHAT I ASSUME, IS THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT. *LA

Mileage: 119,800

DRIVING ON I-20 EASTBOUND. SMELLED AMMONIA, THEN SMELLED BURNT PLASTIC, AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INTERIOR LIGHT FLICKERED OFF AND ON, CAR BEGAN TO DECREASE SPEED DESPITE PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL. WAS ABLE TO GET CAR INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE BEFORE IT COMPLETELY STOPPED MOVING. HOLE BURNT INTO PASSENGER AREA FROM UNDERNEATH DASH AREA. DEFROST AREA WARPED AND BURNT, BOTTOM OF WINDSHIELD (GLASS PART) BURNT.

Mileage: 102,000

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 5 MPH INSIDE OF A PARKING LOT AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE SHUTDOWN. THE CONSUMER HAD SEEN SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE VENTS, THEN THE VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK THE INSPECTOR STATED THE FIRE STEMMED FROM A SHORT. *SCC THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL REGARDING THE AIR BAG MODULE/SENSOR. *JB

1997 MERCURY TRACER HAS A DEFECTIVE HORN AND AIR BAG.*MR THE HORN AND THE AIR BAG INTERFERED WITH ONE ANOTHER WHICH CAUSED THE HORN TO RANDOMLY GO OFF AND PERIODICALLY BLEW A FUSE, AND DISABLE THE HORN AND THE AIR BAG, TWO DEALERSHIP'S AND A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED IT WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TS *JB

HORN BLOWS NON STOP UNTIL FUSE IS PULLED. BROUGHT TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD ENTIRE AIRBAG HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Mileage: 58,941

VEHICLE'S TACHOMETER AND RPM GAUGE STOPPED WORKING CAUSING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO FAIL. *MR *PH

THE DEALER PERFORMED RECALL#02V323000 REPAIRS AND FELT THE RECALL PROBLEM MAY HAVE AFFECTED THE WIRE ON THE BLOWER MOTOR WHICH BURNED OUT ON TWO OCCASIONS. WATER MAY HAVE DRIPPED ON THE WIRING HARNESS. THE DEALER SEEMED MORE CONCERNED WITH THE RECALL THAN THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. SCC *JB

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A LOW IMPACT FRONTAL COLLISION BUT THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED 4 HERNIATED DISC IN HER NECK, BECAUSE SHE WAS HIT BY THE AIR BAG FROM THE SIDE. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE AIR BAGS, BUT SINCE SHE HAD A PROBLEM WITH HER AIR BAGS BEFORE THE RECALL THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE AIR BAGS. *NLM

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *JB FOUR DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER. RECALL# 02V323000 SCC

Mileage: 82,000

THE AIR BAG UNIT FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. MR SCC *NLM

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD. *JB

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN THE MAIL BUT DEALER STILL STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OVER WARRANTY AND REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE (RECALL#02V323000 AIRBAG). *NLM *SCC

HORN BLOWS CONTINUOUSLY. PULLED FUSE TO STOP. TOLD BY DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT NEED TO REPLACE ENTIRE AIRBAG ASSEMBLY TO RECTIFY. *NLM

Mileage: 54,541

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *JB

THE HORN CONTINUOUSLY BLEW, CONSUMER HAD TO DISCONNECT THE FUSE TO STOP THE HORN FROM BLOWING. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE AIR BAG MONITOR. 8JB

Mileage: 53,201

NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE REGARDING THE RECALL FOR THE AIR BAG, RECALL # 02 V 323 000.*JB

THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL REGARDING THE AIR BAG.)(02V323000)*JB

PE 02 010 & EA 02 008/ WATER INGESTION INTO THE AIR BAG MONITOR, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAIN ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT THE AIR ABG MONITOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *MRTHE PART HAS BEEN REPLACED. *JG

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND THE AIR BAG COULD BE INOPERATIVE IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED.

WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE BROKE DOWN. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT AIR BAG HAD DAMAGED WIRE HARNESS WHICH RESULTED IN BREAKDOWN.*AK

WHILE MAKING A U TURN AND APPLYING BRAKES, VEHICLE JUMPED CURB AND HIT POLE AIR BAGS DIDNOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE TOTALED.*JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO THE PASSENGER. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. NLM

HORN WENT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, AND AIRBAGLIGHT CAME ON DASHBOARD. AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING AND THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE.*JB(CLAIM#18-0629-945)

THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING AND THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE.*JB(CLAIM#18-0629-945)

AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING, AND THERE IS A BEEPING SOUND. ALSO THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG COMPARTMENT. CONSUMER DISCONNECTED BATTERY.*AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A 40 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. NO INJURIES. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 25 MPH CONSUMER REAR ENDED A TRUCK, AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. BUT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

CONSUMER WAS INSIDE OF STORE WHEN HE HEARD HORN GOING OFF. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT HORN ASSEMBLY WAS ATTACHED TO AIRBAG, AND THAT AIRBAG MODULAR UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED AS ONE UNIT. CONSUMER STATED THAT JUST BY TOUCHING ON HORN LIGHTLY IT WOULD GO OFF. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS. NOT SURE IF VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

HORN MALFUNCTIOND ( HORN WOULD CONTINUE TO BLOW). FUSE WAS REMOVED TO STOP IT FROM SOUNDING OFF. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE HORN SWITCH AND AIR BAG WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. CAN NHTSA SHARE SOME LIGHT ON THIS MATTER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH A DEER WAS ON THE ROAD. CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO AVOID HITTING THE DEER AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND HIT A TREE. CONSUMER WENT TO UNHOOK SEAT BELT TO GET OUT OF THE CAR, AND HEARD VEHICLE RUNNING. LEANED BACK TO CUT IT OFF, AND SEAT BELT CAME OUTOF BUCKLE AND KNOCKE DRIVER OUT. ALSO AIR BACK SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON, INDICATING THAT AIR BAGS WERE INOPERATIVE. DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES, WAS HOSPITALIZED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH A DEER WAS ON THE ROAD. CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO AVOID HITTING THE DEER AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND HIT A TREE. CONSUMER WENT TO UNHOOK SEAT BELT TO GET OUT OF THE CAR, AND HEARD VEHICLE RUNNING. LEANED BACK TO CUT IT OFF, AND SEAT BELT CAME OUTOF BUCKLE AND KNOCKE DRIVER OUT. ALSO AIR BACK SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON, INDICATING THAT AIR BAGS WERE INOPERATIVE. DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES, WAS HOSPITALIZED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD A DEER WAS CROSSING. SWERVED TO AVOID HITTING THE DEER, AND CONSUMER HIT A TREE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES. HOWEVER, AFTER TURNING OFF THE CAR AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE SLID OFF THE ROAD AND WENT DOWN INTO A DITCH, AIR BAGS ON THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDES DEPLOYED, BUT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT INFLATE, CAUSING THE PASSENGER TO HIT HER FACE ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOTALLED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK

CONSUMER PARALLEL PARKED WHEN GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK AND VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE REAR AND A PUBLIC TREE. ALSO BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE'S ESTIMATED DAMAGES WAS $4000.00 PLUS. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WER NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK *NLM

FALSE DEPLOYMEN/VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG DURING A MINOR ACCIDENT. CAUSED BURN INJURIES TO THE THUMB AND CHIN.

WITHOUT IMPACT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO HIT A GUARDRAIL. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED. *AK

AIR BAGS: DRIVING APPROXIAMATELY 10MPH AND VEHICLE AHEAD DIDN'T GIVE ENOUGH NOTICE THAT IT WAS GOING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, HIT A VEHICLE IN BACK AND BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITH SO MUCH FORCE THAT THEY SHATTERED FRONT WINDSHIELD AND INJURED DRIVER'S NECK AND BACK. DRIVER'S AIR BAG CAME OUT WITH TO MUCH FORCE. *AK