NHTSA Complaint #10070672 — 1997 MAZDA 626

MY WIFE STRUCK A CURB WITH THE RIGHT-FRONT TIRE AT ABOUT 25-30 MPH. THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, THOUGH NOT THE PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN I LOOKED ON THE DOT WEBSITE I FOUND THAT 97 626 DRIVERS-SIDE AIRBAGS HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR DEPLOYING TOO EASILY. WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE DEALER THEY SAID THAT MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL. MY INSURANCE COMPANY PAID FOR THE REPAIR, LESS OUR $300 DEDUCTIBLE, AND PUT IN A COMPLAINT ON THE AIRBAG. BECAUSE THEY WERE PAYING AROUND $1800, I THOUGHT THE INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD INVESTIGATE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. MY QUESTION IS, IF THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR, WHY DID THE AIRBAG DEPLOY WHEN THERE WAS NO BODY DAMAGE, AND WHY DIDN'T THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOY WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS STRUCK? EITHER THE DRIVER'S SIDE DEPLOYS TOO EASILY, OR THE PASSENGER SIDE DOESN'T DEPLOY WHEN IT SHOULD.