NHTSA Complaint #10095804 — 2000 DODGE CARAVAN

AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY, WITHOUT ADEQUATE CAUSE ON SUNDAY AUGUST 7, 2004 AT AROUND 5 P.M. I WAS TRAVELING IN MY 2000 DODGE CARAVAN ON A LIGHTLY TRAVELED GRAVEL SURFACE ROAD THAT IS ROUGH IN SPOTS, AT 10 MPH OR LESS WHEN BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS . I STOPPED IMMEDIATELY, UNAWARE OF WHAT HAD CAUSED THEM TO DEPLOY IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY FRONT END OR SIDE COLLISION. GIVEN THAT I WAS SEATED UPRIGHT AND NOT THROWN FORWARD BY ANY COLLISION, THE DRIVER SIDE BAG SLIGHLTY CONTACTED THE LEFT SIDE OF MY FACE, SCRAPING IT. MY READING GLASSES, PLACED ON THE PASSENGER SEAT, OPEN, UPSIDE DOWN AND WITH LENSES FACING FORWARD, WERE FLATTENED BY THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND SURVEYED THE SITUATION. A HAED-SIZE STONE HAD CONTACTED THE LEADING EDGE OF THE MUFFLER AND BEEN ROLLED UP AND FREE. OBSERVING NO DAMAGE OF ANY SIGNIFICANCE, I CONSULTED MY OWNERS MANUAL, STUFFED THE AIRBAGS BACK INTO THEIR CAVITIES AND DROVE HOME, SOMEWHAT SHAKEN BY THE EXPERIENCE. I CONTACTED DAIMLER CHRYSLER. THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS TEAM HAD THE VEHICLE EXAMINED. IT RESPONDED, STATING THAT IT FEELS THAT THE AIRBAGS OPERATED PROPERLY BY DEPLOYING IN THIS SITUATION. I CHALLENGED THE FINDING AND REQUESTED A COPY OF THE INVESTIGATION REPORT. MY REQUEST WAS DENIED BY DAIMLER CHRYSLER CLAIMING THE INFORMATION IS PROPRIETARY. IT ADVISED ME TO PERSUE REPAIRS THROUGH MY INSURANCE COMPANY, OR HIRE MY OWN INVESTIGATOR AND ATTORNEY. THE REPAIR ESTIMATE OF RECORD IS $2893.63, MINUS A $500 DEDUCTIBLE. I HAVE NOT ACCEPTED A SETTLEMENT OR HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED FOR FEAR THAT MY INSURER WILL RAISE MY RATES TO RECOVER THE LARGE PAYOUT.*AK