NHTSA Complaint #10116710 — 1999 CHRYSLER CHRYSLER

I CRASHED INTO SAND BARRELS AFTER I WAS CUT OFF THE ROAD AND USING MY BEST JUDGEMENT, TRIED TO UTILIZE THE EXIT. THE CENTER TO LEFT OF MY 1999 CHRYSLER 300M WAS CRUSHED AND THE CAR WAS TOTALLED AT OVER 80 PERCENT DAMAGE. I RECEIVED ONLY WHIPLASH AND A BRUISE FROM THE SEATBELT. SO WHERE WERE THE AIRBAGS? CHRYSLER CLAIMED, DURING A PHONE CALL, THAT AIRBAGS ARE SMARTER AND THE COMPUTER SENSES THE EXTENT OF NECESSITY FOR AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. WHEN THE COLLISION SHOP DECLARED THE AUTO A TOTAL LOSS AT FIRST SIGHT, ALONG WITH THE ALLSTATE APPRAISOR, I HAD TO QUESTION THE VALIDITY OF THE CHYRSLER STATEMENT. CHRYSLER SAYS THAT THE COMPUTER CAN ESTIMATE THE TIME THAT THE CAR GOES FROM (I.E) 60 TO ZERO AND MAKES THE DECISION TO DEPLOY. OTHER CARS IN THE COLLSION LOT HAD SIMILAR DAMAGE AND THEIR AIRBAGS WERE HANGING OUT OF THEIR DASHBOARDS.*AK