The defect
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR (IABM) CAN BE CONTAMINATED WITH WATER OR OTHER LIQUIDS AND COULD EXPERIENCE INTERNAL ELECTRICAL SHORTING.
The risk
THIS MAY, IN TURN, CAUSE THE AIR BAG READINESS LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND IN VERY RARE OCCURRENCES, AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, MELTED WIRING, OR FIRE MAY OCCUR.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE SHIELD OVER THE IABM AND APPLY NYOGEL GREASE TO THE CONNECTOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 11, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Escort | 1997 |
| Mercury Tracer | 1997 |
Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Escort | 1997 | 543 | 1 |
| Mercury Tracer | 1997 | 142 | 1 |
Other air bags recalls in 2002
20 of the 434 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2002 concerned the air bags; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 02V329000 9 Dec 2002 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 02V308000 14 Nov 2002 | SAAB CARS USA, INC. |
| 02V293000 7 Nov 2002 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 02V275000 9 Oct 2002 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC |
| 02V222000 9 Aug 2002 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 02V213001 9 Aug 2002 | AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. |
| 02V213000 9 Aug 2002 | ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED |
| 02V223000 9 Aug 2002 | BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2002