NHTSA Complaint #10088081 — 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

AFTER I WAS PULLED OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, THE DOORS CLICKED AS IF THEY WERE GOING TO LOCK AUTOMATICALLY AS THEY NORMALLY DO AT 10 MPH. THE CLICK SOUNDED FUNNY, SO I LOOKED AT THE DOOR LOCKS AND NOTICED THAT THEY HADN'T LOCKED. SOON THEREAFTER, THE BATTERY ON THE CAR STOPPED, WHICH I NOTICED BECAUSE I COULDN'T ACCELERATE AND I COULDN'T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN, WITHOUT A PROBLEM. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON AND STAYED ON AND I NOTICED THAT THE LIGHTS IN THE BACK SEAT OVER THE DOORS STAYED ON THOUGH. I TRAVELED TO MY NEXT STOP AND THE LIGHTS IN THE BACK SEAT WENT OUT. I THEN STARTED TOWARD MY NEXT STOP AND HAD REACHED 25 MPH WHEN THE SIDE AIRBAG IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT EXPLODED. I CALLED THE DEALER TO SEE IF THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE, THEY SAID IT WAS. I THEN STARTED DRIVING TO THE DEALER WHEN THE BATTERY CUT OUT AGAIN; I COULD TELL BECAUSE I COULD NOT STEER AND I COULD NOT ACCELERATE. I PULLED OVER TO A SAFE SPOT AND CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK. WHILE I WAS SITTING IN THE PARKED CAR WITH THE A/C ON WAITING FOR THE TOW TO ARRIVE, THE PASSENGER-SIDE CURTAIN AND SEAT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER SO THEY CAN INVESTIGATE IF THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION. NO, I'M NOT KIDDING, THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID. *JB