NHTSA Opens Investigation of 2005 Ford F-150 Airbag

NHTSA Opens Investigation of 2005 Ford F-150 Airbag
By Stephen Markley

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation on the country’s best-selling vehicle, the Ford F-150. The agency will look into several reported incidents of unnecessary airbag deployment that could affect as many as 530,000 pickup trucks.

NHTSA says it has received eight complaints from owners of F-150s from the 2005 model year. The drivers say that the airbags deployed randomly “during ignition or seconds after the engine had started,” causing burns and bruises in a few instances.

Wes Sherwood, Ford's safety spokesperson, says the company is cooperating with NHTSA.

"We will work with the government on this investigation as part of continuing to improve our quality that's now unsurpassed by Toyota and Honda," said Sherwood on Monday night.

The investigation is in the earliest stage, and the only way the NHTSA will issue a recall is if it finds a reason for concern. We’ll keep you posted.

[Source: New York Times via Cars.com]

Comments

Ha HA... here is your chance Toyota guys... Get them ford ******* back. I'd say the air bag problem is some what worse then a freakin floor mat!

The floor mat was a coverup. The real problem was faulty electronics.

"There is also indication that because the transmission is electrically controlled (no linkage between shifter and trans, only wires through a computer), that it is programmed not to respond to a shift change (even to neutral) at that speed (120) to prevent engine damage if there was accidental lever change. This family died needlessly because of this totally electronic crap! The brakes no longer worked because of heat. You will find others on that site that report uncommanded acceleration, WITHOUT any chance of mat interference. My 1st response was to blame the driver, but after I read those posts, I could see easily how it could happen, under the circumstances, at that point they were along for the ride,with absolutely nothing they could do. I am not convinced at all that it was the mat.

By the way, I spent many years in body work and have personally seen twice, a similar thing happen (1 Mercedes, 1 Audi) in cases that positively did NOT involve a mat or hitting the gas instead of the brake. Faulty electronics."

8 complaints out of a possible 533,000 trucks that might have the same issue? hmm...I'm sure it will be investigated but thats not exactly what I call a major finding.

Just goes to show you that people open their traps and dont know what the hell there talking about there is linkage between the gear shifter and trans connected to the manual valve. The electronically controled trans is how it shifts and when it shifts and how hard. This kind of crap is how false rumors get started by idiots.

Ford Tech,
Are you talking about Ford? I was responding to the guy who was bringing up the Toyota case with the floor mats. Apparently, the Toyota tans in this case does not respond to neutral when you go over 120 mph. Is there even any proof that the floor mats were the cause of death or was it faulty electronics?

----

DBD- Go to Club Lexus and go to the Chat forum. There are many pages about. You have to wade through a lot of ignorant posts, but at least you'll have a better idea of what happened by the time your through. I heard the tape of the 911 call on the news and it was for real. It seems the ES350, which is what it was (a loaner) has the "start,stop" button and though he pushed the button repeatedly, it wouldn't shut off because you have to push it for three seconds when you're driving to prevent accidental shut-off and he didn't know that. He was a veteran Ca. Highway Patrolman, so he shouldn't have panicked easily. There is also indication that because the transmission is electrically controlled (no linkage between shifter and trans, only wires through a computer), that it is programmed not to respond to a shift change (even to neutral) at that speed (120) to prevent engine damage if there was accidental lever change. This family died needlessly because of this totally electronic crap! The brakes no longer worked because of heat. You will find others on that site that report uncommanded acceleration, WITHOUT any chance of mat interference. My 1st response was to blame the driver, but after I read those posts, I could see easily how it could happen, under the circumstances, at that point they were along for the ride,with absolutely nothing they could do. I am not convinced at all that it was the mat.

By the way, I spent many years in body work and have personally seen twice, a similar thing happen (1 Mercedes, 1 Audi) in cases that positively did NOT involve a mat or hitting the gas instead of the brake. Faulty electronics."

Eight complaints out of thousands sold. Other companies would be proud of such a quality record. Because it poses a safety issue, they should certainly investigate and issue a recall if there's a problem. But it makes me more likely to buy a Ford F150 - not less.

perhaps the answer lays in this article. http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2009/07/will-mandatory-stability-control-roll-over-the-pickup-truck-aftermarket.html.

~“Everything has to talk,” Tulumello said. “It’s all integrated. They’re not independent systems.”

Customizing a pickup truck could be risky, he said, “depending on how you do it. More and more, as you alter center of gravity, you’ll get yaw sensors that predict rollover and you’ll get false airbag deployments, things like that.”

it would be interesting to see if the 8 complaints had Electronic Stability Control equiped and put on aftermarket lift kits or whatnot.


You were not one to the eight people; maybe I am the ninth and it was a good thing that I was sitting back in my seat when the airbag deployed. I was parked in my 2005 F150 when "BOOM" out of no where the airbag deploys. I was lightheaded for two days. I have 5 small grandchildren that could have been in there with me. Prevention, this is not the first time Ford has had airbag problems it should be on their list of Hot Topics to check before rolling a vehicle out the door..



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