NHTSA Complaint #10116756 — 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

ON 4/5/05 @ 5:15PM.... MY WIFE (DRIVER), 11 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER(REAR FACING CAR SEAT IN BACK CENTER), & I (FRONT PASSENGER) WERE AT A COMPLETE STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHEN WE PROCEEDED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION (WITH CARS IN FRONT/BACK OF US) WE HIT A SMALL POT HOLE AFTER COMPLETING THE LEFT TURN ONTO ROUTE 117. ONCE WE HIT THIS SMALL POT HOLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED (CURTAIN & PASSENGER SEAT BAGS) WE IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE WARWICK POLICE DEPT. OFFICE THEODORE INSISTED THAT THIS HAD TO BE A MALFUNCTIONING AIR BAG. PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WASN'T ANY OTHER DAMAGE TO THE CAR... NO FLAT TIRE... NOTHING EXCEPT FOR THE MALFUNCTIONING AIRBAGS IN THE CAR HAVING BEEN DEPLOYED AND CAUSED INTERIOR DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I WENT TO THE VW DEALER AND THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE AND SUGGESTED GOING THROUGH MY INSURANCE (LIBERTY MUTUAL), WHO ALSO REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. INTERIOR DAMAGE: CEILING PANEL, CURTAIN AIRBAG, PASSENGER LEATHER SEAT RIPPED AND ITS AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AND I AM NOT SURE WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT BUT I NEED THE CAR TO BE REPAIRED SINCE WE NEED IT FOR TRANSPORTATION... SO I MAY NEED TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE IT REPAIRED AT MY COST FOR NOW. (BETWEEN $2,000 - $3,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE). *AK