| When a consumer buys an airbag-equipped | | | | from May 1994 to June 1996. |
| vehicle, they expect the airbags to deploy | | | | - In 2000, Ford Motor Company recalled 3,002 |
| properly in the event of an accident. Thousands | | | | Ford Explorers and Mercury Mountaineers were |
| of lives have been saved by the installation of | | | | recalled due to inadvertent deployment. Certain |
| airbags; however there has been a shocking | | | | 4-door sport utility vehicles equipped with side |
| increase in the number of injuries and fatalities | | | | airbags have a revised level side crash sensor |
| caused by various airbag systems. | | | | that could deploy the side airbag if the ignition key |
| Over the years, there have been many | | | | is in the "run" position and the seatbelt webbing is |
| technological advances, yet new airbag defects | | | | forcibly extracted from a locked retractor with a |
| continue to arise. Airbag defects exist in cars, | | | | jerking motion. This deployment could occur while |
| trucks, minivans, and SUV's made by companies | | | | the vehicle is idling, or while in operation. This recall |
| such as Ford, DaimlerChrysler, General Motors, | | | | includes Explorers and Mountaineer produced in |
| Honda, and Toyota. All of these companies have | | | | June 2000. |
| experienced significant NHTSA recalls due to the | | | | - In 1999, DaimlerChrysler Corporation recalled |
| existence of defective airbags. | | | | 860,00 Chrysler Town and Country minivans, |
| Since 1997 more than 4,000,000 vehicles have | | | | Dodge Caravans, Dodge Grand Caravans, |
| been recalled due to airbag related problems. In | | | | Plymouth Voyagers, and Plymouth Grand |
| addition, there have been millions of formal "airbag | | | | Voyagers. An intermittent short circuit in the |
| defect" complaints made that did not result in | | | | airbag initiator wire can occur shortly after the |
| recalls. The two major problems include: | | | | vehicle is started and could lead to an inadvertent |
| non-deployment and inadvertent deployment. | | | | airbag deployment. This recall includes production |
| Inadvertent airbag deployment appears to be | | | | from 1993 to 1995 for all models. |
| used as the main reason for recalls, however, the | | | | - In 1999, Chrysler Corporation recalled 263,000 |
| complaints made by motorists consists mainly of | | | | Dodge Rams. On certain van and wagon model |
| problems related to non-deployment. | | | | vehicles, if water or road salt gets on the interior |
| An airbag that does not inflate when it is designed | | | | floor of the vehicle in the proximity of the airbag |
| to is a common defect found in the manufacture | | | | electronic control module, this module can corrode, |
| of airbag systems. Recalls and complaints have | | | | which can cause the driver's side airbag to |
| been directed to manufacturers such as | | | | inadvertently deploy and cause serious injury. This |
| DaimlerChrysler, Honda, and Ford corporations for | | | | recall includes 1995 to 1997 models. |
| the non-deployment of airbags at intended times. | | | | - In 1999, Chrysler Corporation recalled 30,400 |
| - In April 1998, Chrysler Corporation recalled 1,600 | | | | Dodge Ram Vans. On certain van used for |
| Jeep Wranglers due to airbag non-deployment | | | | conversion, if a heavy object strikes the metal |
| problems. In manual steering Wrangler vehicles, | | | | casing of the airbag electronic control module, |
| the driver's side airbag "clock spring" wiring | | | | located under the driver's seat, the module could |
| harness can break when turned to the "full clock" | | | | cause the airbag to inadvertently deploy. This |
| turn position. In the event of an accident, the | | | | recall includes Dodge Ram Van produced in 1998. |
| airbag does not deploy, increasing the risk of | | | | - In 1998, General Motors recalled 675,302 |
| serious injury to the occupant. This recall includes | | | | Chevrolet Cavaliers and Pontiac Sunfires. An |
| Jeep Wranglers manufactured from January 1996 | | | | inadvertent airbag deployment could occur in a |
| to July 1997. | | | | low speed crash or when an object strikes the |
| - In March of 2006 the NHTSA began | | | | floor pan due to certain calibrations in the airbag's |
| investigating DaimlerChrysler Dodge Caravans, | | | | sending and receiving module. This recall includes |
| Grand Caravans and Chrysler Town and Country | | | | Cavaliers and Sunfires that were produced form |
| minivans due to airbag non-deployment problems. | | | | April 1995 to May 1997. |
| The front airbag sensors may corrode as a result | | | | - In 1998, General Motors recalled 102, 627 |
| of water seeping into the sensor assembly. The | | | | Cadillac Eldorados, Devilles, Selvilles, and Concours. |
| investigation included 805,000 minivans produced | | | | Inadvertent deployment can occur due to water |
| from 2005 to 2006. | | | | intrusion into the Sensing and Diagnostics Module, |
| - There have been multiple complaints against | | | | located below the driver's seat. This recall included |
| additional DaimlerChrysler models. These models | | | | models produced from April 1994 to February |
| include the 2001, 2000, 1998, 1997, and 1994 | | | | 1995. |
| Dodge Ram Pickup's, 2000 Dodge Durango, 1999 | | | | - In 1997, Chrysler Corporation recalled 125,000 |
| Dodge Conversion Van, 1998 and 1995 Dodge | | | | Jeep Grand Cherokees, Jeep Wranglers, Dodge |
| Neon, 1996 Plymouth Neon, and 1993 Chrysler | | | | Dakota Trucks, Dodge Neons, Plymouth Neons, |
| Concorde. | | | | and Dodge Vipers. The electrical circuit design |
| - There have been excessive complaints made | | | | allows the potential for an inadvertent airbag |
| about Ford automobiles due to airbag | | | | deployment when the vehicle's ignition is turned |
| non-deployment as well. These complaints against | | | | off. This recall includes models produced from July |
| Ford include the 2001 Escape, 2000 Taurus, 1998 | | | | 1996 to September 1996. |
| Escort, 1999 Mustang, 1999 F250 Super Duty, | | | | - In 1997, Toyota Motor Company, Ltd recalled |
| 1998 Windstar, 1996 Explorer, 1994 Probe, and | | | | 61,202 Toyota Corollas. If the airbag computer in |
| F350 Super Duty pickups. | | | | a vehicle experiences a mechanical shock within a |
| There have been multiple recalls and complaints | | | | very short time after the engine is started (e.g. |
| due to the inadvertent deployment of airbags. An | | | | rapidly moving the front seat back against the |
| airbag that deploys at a time that it is not | | | | stops or the sudden release of the parking |
| designed to can cause serious injury or death to a | | | | brake), the airbag can deploy inadvertently. This |
| vehicle occupant. Recalls and complaints have | | | | recall includes Corollas produced from May 1996 |
| been directed to manufacturers such as General | | | | to December 1996. |
| Motors, Ford, DaimlerChrysler, Honda, and Toyota | | | | These are only a portion of the recalls and |
| for problems with airbags that inadvertently | | | | complaints that have taken place due to airbag |
| deploy. | | | | defects. Defective airbags can cause serious |
| - In 2000, General Motors Corporation recalled | | | | injury, yet manufacturers continue to cut corners |
| 268,146 Buick Regals and Oldsmobile Cutlass | | | | and reduce costs at the expense of public safety. |
| Supremes due to inadvertent airbag deployments. | | | | The standards set by the NHTSA are obviously |
| Corrosion of the airbag inflator's internal wiring, | | | | not adequate. There are many airbag systems |
| which can occur over time, could cause the | | | | that pass the current crash test requirements |
| inadvertent deployment of the driver's airbag. This | | | | despite the recalls and criticism they have |
| deployment could occur during vehicle start-up, | | | | endured over the years. This epidemic must be |
| while the vehicle is parked or idling, or while in | | | | stopped. The government must demand more |
| operation. This recall includes models produced | | | | stringent requirements from car manufacturers. |