NHTSA Complaint #10114612 — 2002 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

THE SEAT-MOUNTED SIDE AIRBAGS AND SIDE-CURTAIN AIRBAGS FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR DEPLOYED WITH NO SIDE-IMPACT CRASH. I WAS IN A PARKING LOT MAKING A RIGHT TURN WHEN THE ABOVE MENTIONED AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, SO THERE WERE NO INJURIES AS A RESULT. I TOOK MY CAR INTO A VW DEALERSHIP AND THEY RAN SOME DIAGNOSTICS ON IT. THEY CLAIM THAT MY CAR'S COMPUTER REGISTERED A COLLISION AND THAT'S WHY MY AIRBAGS WENT OFF, THOUGH THEY NEVER PROVIDED ME WITH A COPY OF THE RESULTS OF THE DIAGNOSTIC. I TOLD THEM THERE WAS NO WAY MY CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AT THE TIME THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, OR WITHIN THE PAST YEAR BEFORE THEY HAD DEPLOYED, AND THEY SAID THAT I MUST HAVE HIT A POTHOLE OR SOMETHING AND THAT I SHOULD CONTACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY. MY INSURANCE POLICY DOES NOT COVER THE REPLACEMENT OF AIRBAGS WHEN NO COLLISION WAS INVOLVED, AND THE ADJUSTER FEELS THAT THEY MUST HAVE DEPLOYED AS A RESULT OF FAULTY WIRING. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED FAIRLY RECENTLY, AND I REFUSE TO PAY THE $3500 FOR THESE REPAIRS OUT OF POCKET, SO THEY HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED YET, AND WILL NOT BE REPLACED UNTIL I SPEAK FURTHER WITH VOLKSWAGEN.