NHTSA Complaint #10075408 — 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

WHILE TURNING LEFT FROM A STOP SIGN AT ABOUT 5 MPH, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SKIMMED A POTHOLE. THE PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AND SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS THANKFUL I WAS NOT DRIVING AT A FASTER SPEED BECAUSE THE ENTIRE CAR FILLED WITH POWDERY SMOKE AND I COULD NOT SEE OUT MY WINDSHIELD FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. IN ADDITION THE NOISE STARTLED ME SO MUCH, I AM PRETTY SURE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HARD TO CONTROL THE CAR AFTERWARDS HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ALSO THANKFUL MY INFANT SON WAS NOT IN THE CAR. MY RIGHT EAR WAS BOTHERING ME FOR ABOUT A DAY AND A HALF AFTERWARDS, I'M SURE HAD MY SON BEEN IN THE CAR, HIS SENSITIVE EARS MAY HAVE BEEN PERMANENTLY DAMAGED, NEVER MIND THAT IT WOULD HAVE TRAUMATIZED HIM. VOLKSWAGEN CLAIMS THE CODES THEY DOWNLOADED FROM THE CAR INDICATED A SIDE IMPACT OCCURRED AND THAT A "MARK" ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE VERIFIES THAT THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED CORRECTLY. I'M PRETTY SURE THAT WITH 90K ON THE CAR THERE ARE SEVERAL "MARKS" ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE. CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THE DEALERSHIP WERE UNMOVED BY THE INCIDENT AND CLAIMED NO RESPONSIBILITY. CLAIM WAS FILED WITH METLIFE, WHO COVERED THE $3500 REPAIR BILL TO REPLACE THE AIRBAGS AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT COVER. NO REPAIRS WERE REQUIRED TO THE CAR FRAME, UNDERCARRIAGE, AXLE, REAR TIRE ETC, YET STILL THEY CLAIM AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED!*AK