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